Valley Health has acquired land for a replacement facility for the Hampshire Memorial Hospital and is currently seeking approval from West Virginia Healthcare Authority.  The 50-acre lot was purchased by East Mountain Health Advantage (EMHA), Valley Health’s West Virginia cooperate entity.  The parcel is located directly behind the Hampshire Wellness and Fitness Center on Route 50 in Romney.
According to Tom Urtz — director of marketing and public relations for Valley Health — the new facility  will be much like the old facility and will offer fourteen acute-care beds and 30 long-term care beds. Despite those familiar trappings, however, the hospital will also offer a more state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
The cost of the project is estimated at $30 million.
Urtz said he’s optimistic for about gaining approval for the new facility. “I think we have a strong case for need,” he said. “We have had strong community backing for this project.”
He said construction couldn’t begin until the facility was approved and the approval process could take up to two and half months.  Once approved, it’ll be two years before construction is complete.
“This project will allow for a recommitment to health care in Hampshire County and will also aide the construction business,” he said. “Constructing this new facility makes the best sense.”
Urtz noted that the current Hampshire Memorial
Hospital sits on land owned by the Hampshire County board of education.
Valley Health, which is based in Winchester, Va., currently owns Winchester Medical, a 411-bed facility,  along with Warren Medical Hospital in Front Royal and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock.  Also under valley’s wing: Valley Medical Transport, an inter-facility ambulance service that also serves West Virginia.
Valley Health established a presence in Hampshire County last year with $5.5 million Hampshire Wellness and Fitness Center.