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GuardCare

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What to expect with GuardCare

The Ohio Adjutant General's Department and the Ohio Department of Health have created a unique partnership to allow Ohio National Guard medical personnel to provide free health services in Ohio communities while providing training and professional development opportunities for members of the National Guard. The Ohio National Guard initiated the GuardCare program in 1995 after Congress authorized the use of National Guard personnel in medically underserved communities through its Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program.

The Chief of the National Guard Bureau enters into an agreement with Ohio's governor and state or county health departments or other service agencies to carry out a weekend-long GuardCare event. Services are provided by certified doctors, dentists, nurses and other qualified health care personnel who serve in the Guard one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

Services typically provided

Medical

Female airman gives giving a shot into patient's arm

Optometry

Airman administrates an eye exam.

Dental

Airmen in blue scrubs work on patient's mouth

Services typically provided include  medical screenings and examinations, physicals, complete blood counts (CBC), pap smears/cervical prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, examinations, blood sugar screenings, dental examinations/screenings, cholesterol screenings, vision and glaucoma testing.