MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s Children’s Hospital Week, and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito spent Thursday morning at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown.
The facility is also celebrating six months of operation.
“It’s just a magnificent facility, far exceeding the number of patients they would have, so really great for the WVU team,” Capito said.
WVU Medicine Children’s opened its doors Sept. 29 as the region dealt with what was called the “tridemic,” the coronavirus, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu. The facility has been operating with a wait list since opening, serving primarily West Virginians but also some from Pennsylvania and Maryland.
“We’re working with our hospitals around the state to partner to get the kids in as fast as we can, and of course we have a birthing center here,” Amy Bush, chief administrative officer said.
The beds but the reasons are varied, according to Bush. While full, the facility is meeting its purpose of providing quality care to families without having to travel a long distance to get it.
“We’ve made it through the RSV surge, and now we’re seeing a combination of things—things that are medical and things that are surgical,” Bush said. “We are really grateful that patients and their families are entrusting us to take care of the little ones.”
Capito was also able to gain information about the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act of 2022. Authored by Capito and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the STAR Act improves treatments and increases surveillance and resources for families working through recovery.
“It’s a much more comprehensive look at childhood cancer, and they’re really using it here,” Capito said. “We kicked it off here four years ago, and it was nice to hear the doctor talk about all the different ways it is helping.”
Through Wednesday, more than 1,600 surgeries have been performed, more than 1,200 births, nearly 7,000 emergency room visits, and more than 4,300 hospital visits.
The facility is offering top-quality care and includes the only level IV neonatal intensive care unit in the state. According to Bush, the hospital and its amenities are made possible by the many donors and supporters of kids and WVU.
“It’s something we can all be proud of as a state, and the services they’re offering are not offered close by,” Capito said. “Families want to be with each other, and this hospital provides that.”