FAIRMONT, W.Va. – WVU Medicine has announced a multi-phase plan to expand the former site of the Fairmont Regional Medical Center, now a campus of Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Albert Wright, President and CEO said the plan is a $110 million, multi-year plan to expand services and improve the infrastructure of the hospital.
“The next thing you’re going to see will be small infrastructure upgrades like the creation of a central energy plant for the boilers and chillers,” Wright said,” You don’t need a certificate of need approval for that.”
Following the bankruptcy of then operator Aletco the hospital abruptly closed in early 2020. It was then WVU Medicine officials agreed to open an emergency department, and about 10 beds, on-site imaging, including x-ray, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT), and laboratory services.
“Over the next year we’ll start to add clinics. We’ve got a clinic space upstairs with 10 or 11 exam rooms we’re doing stress tests and things up there,” Wright said,” We will add a neurologist, there are three or four other specialties we’ll be adding.”
The plan includes increasing the number of beds from 42 to 80,renovating operating rooms and procedure rooms and adding 30 skilled nursing beds.
“I’m leaving the hospital, but I’m not ready to go home I’m going to need a 25 to 30-day stay,” Wright said,” I think a lot of those people will come from Ruby, but technically they could come from any hospital.”
When the hospital closed residents feared they would have to travel great distances for care. Additionally, local leaders worried about the economic impact, effect on quality of life and the future of the community.
“One of the things along with great schools that folks want to have when they move to a community is great healthcare,” Wright said,” That’s one thing WVU Medicine can help control.”
Governor Justice played a key role in the reopening and attended the event. The governor said many pulled together to get to this point, but the work is not done.
“These people deserve so much credit. You deserve so much credit,” Justice said,” I believe because you believe and really at the end of the day, what a day-could not possibly make anyone prouder than me.”