Posted on 10/20/2021
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) Affiliation Board of Administrators, the Metropolis of Princeton, and the West Virginia College Well being System have signed a letter of intent for the WVU Well being System to grow to be the only member of PCH and absolutely combine the hospital into the System.
“West Virginia’s terrain is likely one of the issues that makes it an attractive state. Sadly, it additionally makes it tough for individuals within the extra mountainous areas of the state to entry the healthcare they want. That’s why it’s necessary for us to convey Princeton Group Hospital into the WVU Medicine household, in order that the oldsters within the southernmost areas of West Virginia don’t should cross state traces to search out prime quality care,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Well being System, mentioned. “As the tutorial medical heart of the state’s land-grant college, we’re accountable for caring for all West Virginians, and this may assist us higher serve the individuals in southern West Virginia.”
PCH entered into a management agreement and clinical affiliation with WVU Hospitals in December 2020. In July, Karen Bowling, government vp of presidency affairs for the WVU Well being System and president and CEO of WVU Medicine Summersville Regional Medical Center, was named president and CEO of PCH.
“All through my time at Summersville Regional Medical Middle, I’ve seen firsthand the advantages that come from being a member of the WVU Well being System – it’s a win for neighborhood, it’s a win for our staff, and, most significantly, it’s a win for our sufferers,” Bowling mentioned. “I do know that the identical will maintain true for Mercer County, the staff of PCH, and our sufferers, who could have higher entry to the specialty and subspecialty care that WVU Drugs offers.”
PCH, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2020, is a completely accredited 203-bed acute care multispecialty medical facility serving a 10-county area in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia. It provides superior medical applied sciences and procedures, from state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging to minimally invasive surgical procedure. As well as, PCH offers behavioral well being companies at The Behavioral Well being Pavilion of the Virginias, a 64-bed psychiatric hospital in Bluefield, and likewise operates PCH Bluefield, a full-service emergency division in Bluefield (previously Bluefield Regional Medical Middle).
“I couldn’t be extra excited for the way forward for healthcare in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia. Turning into a part of WVU Drugs will guarantee expanded companies, higher entry to healthcare, and the best high quality of healthcare in our area,” James “Rusty” Sarver III, president of the PCH Board, mentioned. “With this settlement, I’ve little doubt we’ve secured healthcare for our service space for the subsequent 50 years.”
Mayor David E. Graham mentioned he believes the transfer won’t solely profit healthcare within the area however will profit the native economic system as nicely.
“The Metropolis of Princeton could be very happy to be part of the enlargement of top quality healthcare for the whole area. This enlargement won’t solely have a optimistic influence on healthcare, however will supply many further alternatives for the expansion of companies and employment,” Graham mentioned. “We look ahead to WVU Well being System membership and all the advantages of expanded companies for the long run.”
The events anticipate closing to happen in late 2022 upon receipt of all obligatory governmental approvals.
In regards to the West Virginia College Well being System
The West Virginia College Well being System, West Virginia’s largest well being system with greater than 1,800 beds and largest non-public employer, is comprised of 16 member hospitals, together with a kids’s hospital; three managed hospitals; and 5 institutes, all anchored by a 700-bed tutorial medical heart in Morgantown, West Virginia. For extra info, go to WVUMedicine.org.
For media inquiries:
Angela Jones-Knopf, WVU Well being System Company Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs, 304-285-7259, knopfa@wvumedicine.org
Richard Hypes, Princeton Group Hospital Director of Advertising, 304-487-7339, richard.hypes@pchonline.org
