A planned 30,000-square-foot health facility in Eaton is intended to widen care options in Preble County, where officials describe provider shortages as a long-standing problem.
The project, expected to be finished in 2027, would bring dental services, pharmacy access and primary care together at one site. Its stated goals include reducing the local patient-to-provider ratio and addressing transportation barriers that keep residents from reaching care.
Justin Sommer of the Preble County Development Partnership said the county has about 1,100 residents for each mental health provider, while Ohio's average is about 350-to-1. He also said the state offers roughly three times greater access to mental health services than Preble County does. Those figures were cited as the reason the partnership approached the health organization.
Stephen Roller, president and CEO of Primary Health Solutions, credited the partnership for bringing the organization to the county and said combining dental and primary care in one convenient location, particularly for vulnerable populations, is something the organization is humbled to take part in.
The organization also said it wants to keep engaging with the community, including local officials, schools and other groups, to learn what services are most needed in the area.