Compiled by Kenzie Dye
The expansion of health care facilities in West Virginia will help improve accessibility, enhance patient care and drive economic growth throughout the state. By bringing state-of-the-art medical services closer to home, these expansions will reduce travel times for patients, offer a wider range of specialized treatments and create valuable job opportunities.
Elkins Corridor Medical Center
By David F. Hess, M.D., President & CEO, WVU Medicine United Hospital Center
WVU Medicine United Hospital Center’s (UHC) Elkins Corridor Medical Center is an ambitious venture that will transform health care in Randolph County and the surrounding region. The initiative is driven by its dedication to bringing vital health care services closer to home, improving accessibility and patient-centered care for local communities.
The construction of the Elkins Corridor Medical Center is a strategic response to the growing demands in the area. As it has become a health care hub for central West Virginia residents, UHC responded to the needs of the Tygart Valley region and made a commitment to bring state-of-the-art medical care to their doorstep. It aims to set a new benchmark by ensuring access to essential medical services without the inconvenience of long-distance travel.
The WVU Medicine approach delivers more comprehensive rural care than any other health system in the region, ensuring that advanced medical services are readily accessible while consistently promoting overall health and well-being. To that end, the Elkins Corridor Medical Center will offer an array of services, including lab collection, primary care, infusion and an urgent care clinic with extended hours, seven days a week. Additionally, the facility will provide comprehensive imaging services such as CT, X-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography and vascular screening. A variety of rotating physician specialty clinics will also be available, including cardiology, endocrinology, ENT, gastroenterology, infectious disease, oncology, orthopaedics, pain management, pulmonology, thoracic surgery, rheumatology and urology.
The Elkins Corridor Medical Center represents a significant economic investment, with the projected cost around $37 million. Scheduled to open in fall 2025, the 38,000-square-foot facility will not only enhance health care delivery but also boost the local economy by advancing capabilities in the medical sector and creating nearly 30 jobs, providing valuable career opportunities and extensive training.
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Statewide Campus
By Arthur B. Rubin, D.O., FACOP, MHA, Associate Dean for Predoctoral Clinical Education, WVSOM & James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., President, WVSOM
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s (WVSOM) Statewide Campus system trains about 60 third-year students and 60 fourth-year students in Charleston and surrounding areas extending into the southern coalfields. This building represents the next step in providing opportunities to the upcoming generation of WVSOM students. It will be a place for students and staff to network, learn, set goals and take initiatives. The space is important in serving as a hub that can be utilized by WVSOM’s employees and alumni to engage in developing partnerships with businesses and organizations in the area. It will become a base of operations for WVSOM students, faculty and staff. This building will provide administrative office space, teaching classrooms and conference space as well as a student lounge and study areas.
WVSOM students provide community service to several local charities and nonprofit organizations. They frequent local stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. Exposure to local residency programs at CAMC is an important recruitment tool for students to continue graduate medical training and subsequent medical practice in the area. The new venue will also allow students to hold health care events for the community.
It’s important that WVSOM continues to foster its relationship with CAMC and Vandalia Health as the hospital continues to be a major medical facility in West Virginia for osteopathic medical student training and residency. This expansion benefits Charleston because students are in the city delivering health care for hospital systems and contributing to the city’s economic vitality. When WVSOM conducted its last study in 2020, its economic impact was $4.2 million in the South-Central Region of our Statewide Campus. Those numbers are higher now, and that amount will grow with a facility like this.
Williamson Memorial Hospital
By Tim Hatfield, CEO, Williamson Memorial Hospital
Williamson Health & Wellness Center purchased Williamson Memorial Hospital in 2020 with a vision of health for everyone in the Tug Valley. Since then, its work has been focused on returning this critical and beloved facility to the community better than ever, fully modernized with a complete renovation. The addition of state-of-the-art equipment will help ensure the highest quality of care while also providing the kindness and compassion for which this facility has long been known.
Returning Williamson Memorial to the community means neighbors no longer have to cross state lines or drive a half-hour or longer to receive acute care. Now, they can receive that same care in a fully modernized facility in their own community. Because of the integrated model working with Williamson Health & Wellness Center, the community gets a full continuum of care through adult medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health and dental and podiatry clinics as well as school-based health operations and farmers markets, all directly connected to the hospital. The new Williamson Memorial also means the return of jobs lost during the facility’s closing under previous ownership in 2020.
Already, the return of Williamson Memorial has brought 50 jobs back to the community at a payroll of more than $2 million, and many more jobs will follow with the return of the hospital’s emergency department and operating room. This impact will ripple across the valley as employees shop and spend money in the community. The work to renovate the facility and repave the parking lot and road leading to the facility has created additional jobs. Because of our purchases both during renovations and the operation of the facility, the new Williamson Memorial has generated dollars beyond our boundaries.
WVU Medicine Children’s Northern Region Outpatient Center
By Jessica Rine Moore, Associate Vice President of Foundation and Community Relations, WVU Medicine Wheeling & Reynolds Memorial Hospital
Children and families in the Ohio Valley deserve a health care space just for kids. Giving children a positive health care experience at a young age is vital to how they treat their health in adulthood.
Eliminating barriers and streamlining care is at the forefront of focus at WVU Medicine. WVU Medicine Children’s Northern Region Outpatient Center will give easy access to children and their families by having wrap-around pediatric care under one roof, including a dedicated pediatric lab and pediatric imaging.
The WVU Medicine team understands the stress from parents or caregivers and children when kids aren’t feeling well. Separate parking and street level access makes the pediatric health care experience more comfortable for families. Also, separate building entrances and exam rooms for sick children will help control contamination. A huge benefit to this center is that it will be open after hours to give families the opportunity to see a pediatrician after work and school. The new center will have four offices dedicated for specialists to see children that have specific health concerns. For example, having a dedicated nutritionist or endocrinologist on hand could have long-term effects on childhood obesity. Housing an adolescent behavior health specialist could provide a warm, seamless handoff to children with mental or behavioral health issues. Having office hours for specialists, like a pediatric oncologist, would prevent the burden of travel for consultation appointments for families of children with a cancer diagnosis.
Having a space that is child-friendly will make children feel comfortable, likely making them more open to seeking medical attention into adulthood. WVU Medicine is thrilled to be a recipient of an Austin’s Playroom from the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which will give kids a fun experience at the new center. Also, each exam room will have hidden-image wall murals so families will have a fun distraction finding images and counting objects leading up to their appointment. The building is located across the parking lot from Wheeling Hospital. The floor is gutted and ready for this $11 million WVU Medicine Children’s Northern Region Center build out. The project has received generous community support during its fundraising campaign and still has several naming opportunities available. Businesses and families are welcome to support the project. WVU Medicine plans to start the build out in 2025.
WVU Medicine Thomas Orthopedic Hospital
By Kristin Anderson, Vice President of Marketing & Philanthropy, WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals
WVU Medicine Thomas Orthopedic Hospital is West Virginia’s first comprehensive orthopedic hospital offering expanded inpatient, outpatient, physical therapy, occupational therapy and skilled nursing all under one roof.
As a member of WVU Medicine, Thomas Hospitals has worked throughout the last two years to transform into a destination for advanced health care that serves Southern West Virginia and beyond. With an increased need for specialty orthopedic procedures, this expansion benefits patients in receiving the care they need close to home, whether that be through an advanced surgical procedure or minimally invasive treatment.
The renovation was done in an effort to provide patients with increased access and continuity of care while allowing Thomas Hospitals to deliver on its promise of providing high quality care without the need to travel far from home.
The opening of the Thomas Orthopedic Hospital marks the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation project that includes six state-of-the-art operating rooms, two new orthopedic clinics, a walk-in clinic, an onsite coffee shop and a dynamic new front entrance that will allow for easy patient drop-off.
The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons provide advanced care for adults and children and perform an array of complex bone and joint surgical procedures, including total hip and knee replacements. This is one of the few orthopedic teams in Southern West Virginia offering robotic-assisted total knee replacement using the Zimmer Biomet ROSA robotic surgical assistant that provides more accurate alignment and placement of implants.
WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals has created a best-in-class, full-service orthopedic hospital that will serve all of Southern West Virginia. It is a unique asset for the region and a major investment in the downtown Charleston community. The hospital’s proximity to the recently announced Capital Sports Center near the Charleston Town Center Mall will make it convenient for athletes of all ages and skill levels to receive the care they need.
