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 round of the stomach flu 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 committed to being a reliable support system for your entire family—from the first day of school and through the summer.
Here are a few back-to-school reminders of how we can help keep your kids (and you!) healthy and moving forward this school year:
Primary Care
At COPC, our primary care and pediatric physicians and providers are not just medical professionals; they are your healthcare partners. By forming a long-term relationship with their patients, they become knowledgeable about their medical history and lifestyle, providing preventative care, treating common illnesses, and managing chronic conditions at the right time.
Through regular checkups (annual wellness visits) and timely screenings, a primary care provider helps prevent illness and monitor potential health problems before they get serious. If you do require more advanced care, your primary care physician will refer you to necessary specialists and will continue to coordinate your treatment plan with any preexisting conditions and manage medications. For kids and teenagers, they can also provide a sports physical exam to make sure they are healthy and ready to participate in school sports.
Connected Care
With all COPC health services, your primary care doctor will stay updated on your care, whether you seek care at a SameDay Center or Orthopedic Urgent Care. Connected care goes both ways; any COPC provider caring for you or your child beyond primary care can access your medical history and current treatment plans to ensure the most effective and efficient care possible.
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, so call the service, (614) 891-4705, or check with 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 care after hours, 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 it is possible to self-schedule online. If your regular PCP is available, a SameDay Center may not be visible as a possible 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 12+)
Sprains, strains, or sports-related injuries don't always happen during office hours. That's where our Orthopedic Urgent Care comes in.
Skip the ER or general urgent care and head straight to the COPC network you know and trust. Our specialized orthopedic professionals treat non-emergency injuries quickly, affordably, and 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 focused on restoring 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 if you have symptoms that can be addressed by physical therapy treatment.
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 12 years of age and older for any acute musculoskeletal injury, including sprains, strains, tendonitis, 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. Because raising healthy kids isn't a one-time event—it's an ongoing journey. And we're proud to walk that path with you.
Are you new to COPC?
Find a primary care provider near you that is accepting new patients.