SPENCER, W.Va. — Construction is beginning on a renovation project at Roane General Hospital in Spencer.
The hospital will use $5.4 million to improve its air handling and wiring systems.
Hospital CEO Doug Bentz said some of the much-needed updates came to light even more during the covid pandemic.
“After going through covid we realized we had several deficiencies on the floor, most notably some of our air changes and items related to infectious control,” Bentz said. “We’re dealing with 50-year-old technology from our original hospital.”
The project includes improving fiber connections making telemedicine more available in individual rooms.
Bentz said Roane General is one of five remaining hospitals in West Virginia that are locally owned and operated.
“We would like to sustain that for our community,” he said. “Maintaining our physical plant and having the ability to independently manage our facility and financial requirements is essential to maintaining that local control. The funding that the USDA has provided helps us do just that. We are tremendously grateful for their support.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is providing a $3 million direct loan for the project. State Director Ryan Thorn said this is the kind of project they can get behind.
“This will ensure that quality health care services will be provide for the services of not just Roane but the surrounding communities for many years to come and that’s incredible,” Thorn said.
An additional $1 million in funding Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant from Rural Development.
Bentz said the work will further enhance a $28 million renovation project completed in 2021.
“We’re just building on the fact that the hospital is continuing to slowly grow and expand,” he said. “We’re trying to better our community by bringing as many services close to home as possible.”