Thousands of dollars in free healthcare services available this month as researchers tackle rising pregnancy complications and medication side effects.
CLEVELAND — Northeast Ohio residents will have access to comprehensive free medical and dental care later this month when MedWish Medworks hosts its annual two-day clinic at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland.
The clinic, scheduled for Nov. 21-22 at 300 Lakeside Ave. E., opens its doors at 7 a.m. each day. Adults can receive dental screenings, cleanings, extractions, fillings and temporary partials, while children will receive dental screenings and sealants. Medical services include women’s health exams, primary care, vision and hearing screenings, podiatry services, HIV and glucose testing, flu shots and mammograms.
No identification, insurance information or income verification is required, and translation services are available.
Last year’s clinic served 1,014 individuals, with each person receiving an average of $1,400 in free healthcare services. The clinic aims to improve health outcomes for medically underserved populations throughout Northeast Ohio.
Meanwhile, doctors at Mass General Brigham hospitals are investigating a concerning trend in maternal health. Cases of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication involving dangerously high blood pressure, have increased 25 percent over the past two decades according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.
The condition can lead to serious complications including stroke, kidney failure and liver damage, and remains a major cause of preterm delivery and maternal complications. Doctors noted that rising rates of hypertension and diabetes in the general population, combined with more women becoming pregnant later in life, may contribute to the increase.
New diagnostic tools are helping doctors better manage the condition. A blood test now being used in Texas can predict whether a patient’s preeclampsia will worsen, helping physicians determine if hospitalization is necessary. In the first quarter of 2025, Texas Health Dallas conducted 64 tests, with 36 patients identified as high risk. The test provides doctors with critical information to make treatment decisions and potentially prevent severe complications.
In other health research news, a major study has found that metformin can effectively manage weight gain in young people taking medications for bipolar disorder. The $12.9 million study, led by University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital researchers, examined 1,565 patients aged 8-19 who were taking second-generation antipsychotics.
These medications, while effective for mental health treatment, often cause increased appetite and significant weight gain, sometimes leading patients to stop taking their prescribed medications. The MOBILITY trial, recently published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found that metformin—typically used to treat Type 2 diabetes—can prevent this weight gain when combined with healthy lifestyle interventions.
The study’s pragmatic design included broad enrollment criteria and was conducted at various clinics, including community mental health centers without prior research experience. All participants received guidance on healthy eating and exercise, with half also receiving metformin. The results suggest metformin should become a standard care treatment for managing weight in this population.