Preston Memorial Hospital to join Mon Health System

Preston Memorial Hospital

Kingwood, W.Va. - Preston Memorial Hospital (PMH) and Mon Health System (MHS) have signed a Letter of Intent to make Preston Memorial Hospital a member of the Mon Health System. The combination will be subject to approval from the West Virginia Health Care Authority. In addition to PMH, the Mon Health System is comprised of Monongalia General Hospital, Mon HealthCare, Mon EMS and The Village at Heritage Point.

"We are very pleased to welcome Preston Memorial Hospital into the Mon Health System family,” said Glenn Adrian, Chairman of Mon Health System Board of Directors. Adrian, Preston Memorial Hospital President and CEO Melissa Lockwood and Mon General Hospital CEO Darryl Duncan made the announcement at an event at Preston Memorial on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

“PMH’s Board of Directors, medical staff and management are excited for the opportunity to join such an excellent health system with an outstanding reputation,” Lockwood said. “Both hospitals are community hospitals committed to providing the highest quality care at the most affordable cost.”

“Local patients will be the biggest beneficiaries of this affiliation.  Many people are already patients of both hospitals,” Adrian added.  “Together PMH and MHS will be able to improve the coordination of care and high-quality services for patients, as well as provide streamlined communication regarding medical records and testing between facilities.”

“The region’s community will benefit from this affiliation in the form of improved coordination of care for our many shared patients, expanded services and enhanced communication of patient health across the entities,” Duncan noted.

“Since 2007, we have been committed to building a replacement facility to ensure that healthcare remains in Preston County,” Lockwood said.  “This Letter of Intent solidifies our commitment to Preston County residents that they will have local access to high-quality care and expanded services.”

The deal also will aid in the financing and construction of a new Preston Memorial Hospital facility (just one mile from its current location in Kingwood). The new facility, which will replace the existing 60-year-old one, will be built on the Elisha Thomas property (adjacent to Preston High School) that PMH received earlier this year from the Preston County Commission.

Lockwood explained that the approximately 83,500 square-foot hospital will provide added space for expanded physician offerings in family practice, cardiology, pulmonology and orthopedics, to name a few. The new hospital will include 25 private rooms with a family zone to accommodate patients’ families and promote healing.  Other features will include an expanded emergency department, state-of-the art surgical suites and an integrated medical office wing to accommodate current and future expected growth.

Lockwood says the estimated cost of the new facility will be about $27 million, and an additional $11.5 million will be set aside for equipment upgrades, site preparation and other costs associated with the project.

The construction is being financed by a direct loan from WesBanco.  PMH has applied for a Community Facilities Direct Loan from the USDA’s Rural Development Program that will provide permanent financing for the hospital if approved.  “We are appreciative of the assistance that has been provided by the USDA’s office in Weston,” Duncan said.  “The direct loan program is important in helping health providers such as Preston Memorial meet the changing health environment and providing quality health care in rural areas.”

The PMH Foundation is currently raising $3.0 million as part of their Building for a Healthy Future Capital Campaign.  All money raised as part of this campaign will continue to be used to support the replacement hospital project.

Lockwood said groundbreaking on the new facility is expected in September with a projected completion date of March 2015.  Both Lockwood and Duncan said they don’t anticipate any staffing changes to occur from the new relationship.

About Mon General Hospital

Mon General Hospital is 189-bed hospital located in Morgantown, W.Va. and is the cornerstone of Mon Health System.  It has a strong commitment to providing high quality, lower cost, personalized care and service with compassion and respect to North Central West Virginia and the surrounding region. The hospital offers a full range of services, including General Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Imaging, Oncology and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Birth Center.

About Preston Memorial Hospital

Preston Memorial Hospital (PMH) is a state licensed, 25-bed critical access, acute care facility, located in Kingwood, W.Va. The hospital is a leader in rural health care delivery. Preston Memorial incorporates state-of the-art procedures and equipment to care for its patients. PMH opened its doors on July 16, 1955 and was dedicated on September 29, 1955, during the annual Buckwheat Festival. Preston Memorial Hospital was dedicated to the memory of the men and women of Preston County who served in the armed forces and to those who paid the supreme sacrifice.