BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Mon Health Systems has applied for a Certificate of Need to bring a small format hospital to Harrison County.
Mon Health President and CEO David Goldberg said they have been looking for the last year or so for the right location and they believe they found it.
“This is a significant amount of patient opportunity to reduce ER wait time and improve access to care,” Goldberg said. “We’ve been looking around Harrison County area and we are pleased to be able to come to Charles Pointe.”
Charles Pointe is just off Interstate 79 and and is a blend of commercial, recreational and residential options.
Health care will be added to that list, Goldberg said.
“It has eight ER bays or rooms, 10 private rooms with telemetry ability for medical patient with low-level heart issues or other issues that would need a medical bed,” Goldberg said.
This facility will be very similar to the Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital in Marion County. That facility opened last year following the closure of the Fairmont Regional Medical Center. Goldberg said the estimated cost of the building will be $22.5 million.
In this case, the facility is proposed due to the rate of growth around the Bridgeport area.
“It will have board certified ER physicians, providers, nurses and the same for our hospice program and telemedicine for medical consults and we think this is a great answer,” Goldberg said.
The new hospital could open about 18 months after the CON is approved by the state Health Care Authority.
Goldberg also announced Monday the expansion of the Mon Health Scholars program to Alderson Broaddus University. Nursing students that qualify can complete clinical training with Mon Health and go right to work there after graduation.
“Tuition forgiveness, some stipend dollars to help nurses work through clinicals and labs,” Goldberg said. “If they accept the tuition reimbursement program they work with us for a couple years and we help payoff some of their student debt.”
Nursing schools throughout the state report robust enrollments. West Virginia University expanded its nursing programs to the United Hospital in Bridgeport in order to help meet growing post-pandemic demand for nurses.
“We’re seeing better retention rates, better transition from LPN to RN, or just RNs in general getting in the job and staying in the job, Goldberg said.