Mountain State Times

Lawmakers from the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate toured two more state facilities as part of the West Virginia Department of Health Facilities’ (DHF) ongoing effort to enhance patient care.

Participants included Chair of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability (LOCHHRA) Del. Amy Summers, Del. Bob Fehrenbacher, Del. Ric Griffith, Del. Heather Tully, Sen. Michael Oliverio, Del. Joey Garcia, Del. Phil Mallow, Del. Mike DeVault, Del. Michael Hite, Del. D. Rolland "Buck" Jennings, Del. George Street, Sen. Jay Taylor, and Del. Matthew Rohrbach.

“I am so grateful our dedicated public servants were able to see the passion the hospitals’ staff have in caring for some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” Caruso shared. “I look forward to future partnerships as we work to overcome challenges and celebrate successes together.”

“We appreciate the DHF coordinating these site visits to allow legislators the opportunity to view the care residents are receiving, as well as the facilities themselves,” Chairwoman Summers added.

The group, led by DHF Cabinet Secretary Michael J. Caruso, spent the morning visiting John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center in Fairmont before traveling to Terra Alta for an afternoon tour of Hopemont Hospital. Both facilities hold a four-star designation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for rising above the national average in providing quality care.

In May, LOCHHRA members visited Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley as part of these scheduled tours. Prior to that, they visited Mildred-Mitchell Bateman Hospital in Huntington and William R. Sharpe Jr., Hospital in Weston.

John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center offers intermediate nursing and clinical services at affordable costs targeting indigent residents who cannot obtain these services elsewhere in the community.

Since its inception as Miners Hospital Number 3 in 1899, this facility has been a cornerstone for continuing health care for Marion County residents and surrounding areas.

Hopemont Hospital is a 98-bed licensed Medicaid-certified long-term care facility located in Terra Alta that originally cared for tuberculosis patients but has operated as a long-term nursing facility since 1987.

Hopemont provides services to geriatric residents requiring long-term care and behavioral interventions aimed at maximizing their functioning ability and independence.