WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center (FMC) is refurbishing its facility and expanding services to better accommodate the increase in patients seeking healthcare services in north central West Virginia, according to hospital officials.
In January, Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Health Care Authority approved WVU Medicine's emergency request to add 32 additional acute care beds at FMC as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. FMC currently has 10 beds.
Also, FMC has added or expanded the following services:
- Medical step-down unit – The unit will provide an intermediate level of care between the intensive care units (ICUs) and the general medicine units as the facility continues to evaluate and cater to the healthcare needs of the community.
- Heart and vascular services – FMC is now providing a full range of heart and vascular services, including a new cardiology clinic with David Tingler, MD, with specialists rotating from the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute based at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. In mid-March, FMC will add cardiovascular testing, including Holter monitors, stress echocardiography, echocardiograms, and cardiac stress tests.
- MRI and ultrasound – MRI services became operational at the facility on Jan. 25, and ultrasound services start on Feb. 15. Clinics that would like to schedule a patient appointment can call 304-293-7521, option 1.
Outpatient lab services are being planned for the future, along with telemedicine consulting services.
According to hospital officials, the additional beds and expanded services will allow WVU Medicine to decompress both WVU Medicine J.W Ruby Memorial Hospital and United Hospital Center, both of which continue to treat a high number of COVID-19 patients. By decompressing these hospitals, WVU Medicine will be able to manage patient throughput more effectively and efficiently, and start to resume many of the surgeries that were postponed due to the surge in COVID-19 patients.
“Rather than true construction, we are refurbishing Fairmont Medical Center, adding new equipment, upgrading some areas, repainting, and re-allocating existing space to better serve patients,” Aaron Yanuzo, assistant vice president of support services, said. “We want patients in the area to know that we are a viable option for their emergency and acute care needs and that often they don’t need to go to Ruby or UHC for these services.”
Yanuzo added that he’d like to thank WVU Medicine team members for all their hard work and efforts to make these services a reality for Marion County.
