The start of a new school year brings fresh routines, full calendars, and plenty of unknowns. Will this be the year someone sprains an ankle at soccer practice? Or a stomach bug that sweeps through the house right before a big test, competition, or meeting?
While no one plans to get sick or injured, it helps to know that when life throws the unexpected your way, you’re not facing it alone. At Central Ohio Primary Care (COPC), we’re here to support your family.
Here are a few back-to-school reminders of how we can help keep your kids (and you!) healthy this school year:
Primary Care
At COPC, our primary care physicians, pediatricians, and advanced practice providers aren’t just medical professionals—they’re your healthcare partners. By building a long-term relationship with their patients, they become familiar with their medical history and lifestyle, providing preventive care, treating common illnesses, and managing chronic conditions.
Through annual wellness visits and recommended preventative screenings, a primary care provider helps prevent illness and monitor potential health problems before they get serious. If you require more advanced care, your primary care physician will coordinate your care with specialists while helping manage chronic conditions and medications. Children and teens can also receive a sports physical exam to make sure they are healthy and ready to participate in school sports.
Connected Care
Whether you visit a SameDay Center, Orthopedic Urgent Care, or another COPC service, your care team has access to your medical history and treatment plan. That means better communication, fewer repeated tests, and more coordinated care.
Pediatric Support Centers (Ages 0-17)
When your child spikes a fever on Saturday morning or develops a rash after hours, you don’t have to rush to urgent care or the emergency room. COPC Pediatric Support Centers located in Northwest Columbus, Westerville, and Reynoldsburg offer after-hours and weekend appointments for newborns through age 17 with non-emergent medical needs. It’s the same trusted care you expect from your pediatrician—when your normal provider isn’t available. Plus, it’s billed the same as a regular office visit.
Appointments are required. Call Pediatric Support Centers at (614) 891-4705 or contact your primary care provider’s office for availability.
SameDay Centers (Ages 18+)
Sometimes adults get sick or hurt, too. Our SameDay Centers support COPC patients ages 18 and up for non-emergent medical needs, located on our main medical campuses in Northwest Columbus, Westerville, and Reynoldsburg. Providing high-quality, compassionate after-hours care, our SameDay Centers offer the same convenient care you expect, with limited wait times and lower costs—the same price as your office copay. As an alternative to emergency rooms and urgent care clinics, our SameDay Centers serve as an extension of your COPC provider’s office.
While appointments are not required, they are strongly recommended to be seen in a timely manner and to prepare our clinical team.
- Call your PCP’s office. If your COPC provider is unavailable, the office can schedule a SameDay Center appointment for you.
- Check MyChart to see if you can self-schedule online. If your regular PCP is available, a SameDay Center may not appear as a scheduling option.
- After office hours, call Care Navigation. They can help evaluate your condition over the phone to determine where you should go to get care. Call Care Navigation at (614) 865-3125 anytime from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
- In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
Orthopedic Urgent Care (Ages 8+)
Sprains, strains, or sports-related injuries don’t always happen during office hours. That’s where our Orthopedic Urgent Care comes in.
Skip the emergency room or general urgent care center and head straight to the COPC network you know and trust. Our specialized orthopedic professionals treat non-emergency injuries quickly and affordably, with the follow-up support you deserve.
Call (614) 895-3344 to make an appointment.
Physical Therapy (Ages 12+)
When injuries slow you or your child down, our Physical Therapy services offer personalized, one-on-one care to restore strength, mobility, balance, and endurance. Whether your teen is recovering from a sports injury or you’re addressing your own everyday aches and pains, our physical therapy team can help you get back to your goals.
Ask your primary care provider whether physical therapy may be right for you.
COPC Sports, Spine & Joint (Ages 12+)
Whether your student-athlete has a lingering issue or you’re dealing with your own back, bone, or joint pain, our Sports, Spine & Joint team takes a whole-person approach to care. We focus on improving performance, relieving discomfort, and—when needed—helping you through surgery and recovery with compassionate support every step of the way.
This team treats patients aged 12 and older with acute musculoskeletal injuries, including sprains, strains, tendinitis, and fractures.
Talk to your COPC primary care provider to see if this is a fit for your needs.
Year-Round Support You Can Count On
Whether it’s a minor injury, a mid-season illness, or support for long-term recovery, COPC is here for you—every week, all year long. Raising healthy kids doesn’t stop after the first day of school, and neither does our commitment to your family’s health.
Are you new to COPC?
Find a primary care provider near you who is accepting new patients.
FAQ:
Where should my child go for a fever after hours?
If your child is a COPC patient and has a non-emergency illness, Pediatric Support Centers provide evening and weekend appointments for children from birth through age 17.
Does my child need a sports physical every year?
Many schools and athletic organizations require an annual sports physical before participation. Your primary care provider can complete this during a wellness visit or a separate appointment if needed.
When should I go to a SameDay Center instead of the emergency room?
SameDay Centers are appropriate for many non-life-threatening illnesses and minor injuries. For severe symptoms or life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What is connected care?
Connected care means your COPC providers share access to your medical record, helping coordinate treatment across primary care, specialty care, and after-hours services.
