FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont Regional Hospital is expected to close by the end of the week.
Hospital owner Alecto is already slowing down operations. It announced plans to close the facility in February. WVU Medicine plans to take over the emergency department about a month after the closure, Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, said.
“Replace some equipment, get the place in shape from what I understand,” Caputo said. “For WVU to come in and start operating the emergency room with limited beds.”
That limited bed facility, announced last week, will be operated until the new WVU Medicine 100-bed hospital opens near the Gateway Connector exit of Interstate 79. Mon Health also plans a small hospital for the area.
Caputo said things didn’t look good right after Alecto’s initial announcement for hundreds of workers but it now appears they and the residents of Marion County will have options.
“I’m just tickled to death there’s going to be a good modern hospital in Fairmont that could create 500 to 700 jobs in Marion County,” he said. “But, more importantly to continue the continuity of health care.”
Caputo said it’s sad to lose the Fairmont Regional.
“It’s bittersweet too, this hospital has been around since the early 1900s and has employed thousands of people and has given quality medical care to thousands of people for the last 100 years,” Caputo said. “It’s kind of sad to see it close.”
Caputo said he appreciates the efforts of his fellow lawmakers and Gov. Jim Justice.
“Delegate (Michael) Angelucci, (Linda) Longstreth and I met with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and we really pushed hard, the governor saw the need and got involved,” Caputo said. “Hopefully, Marion County will continue to have good health care.”
Aletco is no longer admitting patients and is relocating other patients.