Central Ohio Primary Care – Striving to be The Best for Our Patients, The Best For Each Other and The BEST FOR PRIMARY CARE

With nearly 500 physicians spread across 120 practices throughout central Ohio, Central Ohio Primary Care (COPC) is the largest physician-owned primary care group in the United States. The company’s mission is rooted in three pillars – Clinical Excellence, Modernization of Primary Care, and Mindful Service.

Primary Care is an essential service for all people. Through our dedication to Mindful Service, COPC is committed to fostering relationships with patients across all cultures and backgrounds. To enhance our brand in the Central Ohio Community and create these important relationships, COPC created its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

COPC created a DEI Committee in 2020. This committee is comprised of 14 individuals including physicians, executive leaders, and employees. The group’s mission is to ensure an inclusive, equitable, culturally competent, and supportive environment where all staff and patients are welcome, can contribute, and benefit.

The first task of this committee was to initiate a climate assessment, which led to the hiring of its Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Sydni Howard in 2021. Based on the results of the assessment, COPC is focused on educating all levels of the organization on unconscious bias and cultural competency.

Our DEI group strives to under- stand the diverse needs of our staff and patients. Successful initiatives include updating our patient demographic forms to include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) fields. This update has increased patient comfort in initiating conversations about gender identity, assisting clinicians in understanding any healthcare needs associated. Changes like this, help to reduce bias in healthcare.

We have also increased our community engagement and philanthropy. One such example is the establishment of the first-ever “Bridges the Gap Scholarship.” Through fundraising efforts, the DEI Committee helped raise over $50,000. This year, three high school graduates were awarded a $5,000 scholarship. These scholarships aim to help promote diversity in future healthcare professionals.

To promote youth literacy and education on diversity, both of which are important to overall wellness, the committee created the Great Beginnings Book Club and the COPC Summer Reading Program. Nearly 500 children ages four to 18 have signed up to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Children can read books and be awarded a small pizza from Donato’s.

As a leading healthcare organization, Central Ohio Primary Care will continue to lead, grow, and develop our DEI efforts to be an employer of choice, while being THE BEST FOR PRIMARY CARE.

Saluting Central Ohio’s TOP