Clinic sees drop in derailment-related cases

When worries over short and long-term health continued to rise in East Palestine and the surrounding communities following February's Norfolk Southern train derailment, East Liverpool City Hospital and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) came together to establish a permanent clinic in East Palestine. The idea was to provide residents impacted by the derailment a place to take their medical concerns.

One year later, those concerns have waned, a sign that normalcy is returning to the village turned upside down by the derailment.

"When we first opened up, the majority of our visits were derailment-related, which was expected. People had concerns and worries. Some were experiencing health symptoms, " said Lauren McIntosh, a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine at the clinic. "But as time has gone on, those numbers have decreased. The majority of patients now come for primary care. We still see derailment cases here and there, but not nearly as many when the clinic first opened."

The priority of the clinic, which officially opened its doors on April 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine and ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, was always to provide primary care, but it was fast tracked to provide the public with much-requested screening and base-line testing -- as outlined by Ohio Department of Health -- and specialized care in the wake of the rail disaster.

East Liverpool City Hospital CEO Krista McFadden said the hospital "saw a need and filled a need" by opening the clinic, and while the rail disaster created that initial need, East Palestine, before the events of Feb. 3, was an underserved area.

"I definitely think one of the positive things that came in the wake of the derailment was this clinic," McIntosh said. "Mercy Health was already in the village but now residents are able to have two options and more access to services, and we're happy to provide those services in East Palestine and operate as a primary care clinic. We provide care for people from birth to death and everything in between."

The permanent clinic evolved from and replaced the temporary health assessment clinic that was opened inside the First Church of Christ on Feb. 24 by the Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health Department. The main objectives of the temporary clinic were to complete ACE (Assessment of Chemical Exposure ) surveys in East Palestine, conduct initial evaluations and triage what was necessary.

The permanent clinic was meant to offer treatment and ongoing care. DeWine first announced plans for a permanent clinic in the village during his testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on the derailment on March 22.

Less than three weeks after his announcement, the clinic opened. Vanderhoff called the speed in which the clinic was established "a remarkable achievement".

Despite less derailment-related visits seen at the clinic, McIntosh reminded residents that derailment-related services and care are still offered.

"We want the public to know that we can still perform the derailment health screenings. Even though it's been a year, we can still screen people who haven't been screened yet," she said. "And those screenings are based on recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health. So for residents who have not been screened and maybe now, for whatever reason, they would like to, that is something we certainly do here and are happy to do."

Gretchen Nickell, Chief Medical Officer of East Liverpool Hospital explained in April that based on the findings of those screenings and exams, the clinic will come up with a response on an individual basis.

Nickell, who has been on the ground since the derailment first as the primary physician staffed at the temporary clinic and now as the chief doctor at the permanent one, has done her part to dispel rumors regarding the clinic.

During a public informational session on public health following the derailment this summer, she addressed claims that the clinic would not screen for certain chemicals or provide certain diagnoses. While Nickell said the clinic was not checking specifically for vinyl chloride as part of the screening, she maintained the clinic was willing and able to do so.

When asked what screenings are provided by the clinic, Nickell explained the clinic's recommended testing procedure in detail, calling it a "complete blood count" with a comprehensive metabolic panel, including all electrolytes, kidney numbers and liver numbers. Nickell's also said the clinic can provide referrals to toxicologists for more advanced testing.

McIntosh also dispelled rumors. She reminded the public that the clinic is in no way affiliated with the railroad, reiterating that the clinic is a partnership between the ODH and East Liverpool City Hospital.

"I know that's something people have expressed apprehension about and I've gone to local businesses and around town to get the word out that Norfolk Southern has nothing to do with the clinic," she said. "We are here to provide primary health care to community members, and we encourage the community to come see us. We welcome new patients and we encourage questions."

The clinic is located at 139 North Walnut St. Appointments can be made by calling (330) 383-6020.