Kingwood, West Virginia – Preston Memorial Hospital celebrated a significant milestone on March 15, 2024, with a beam-signing ceremony marking the expansion of its healthcare facilities. The event emphasized the commitment to providing specialized medical care within the community, ensuring that residents can access services close to home.
During the ceremony, Melissa Lockwood, Chief Administrative Officer of Preston Memorial, expressed her dedication to community-based healthcare. “In my heart of hearts, it’s really the ability to provide this specialty care right here in our community,” she stated. Lockwood highlighted the hospital’s promise to deliver exceptional healthcare locally, a commitment she believes has been fulfilled.
The expansion project includes a two-story, 12,000-square-foot addition that will enhance hospital-based services, particularly in oncology. This new facility will feature an oncology infusion center equipped with eight private rooms, dedicated clinic space, and a separate entrance to improve patient experience. Additionally, the project will increase the number of exam rooms and provide space for other medical services on the second floor. Hospital officials aim to complete the expansion by early July, contingent on weather conditions.
Despite harsh weather on the day of the event, which included freezing temperatures and snow, state and local officials, along with hospital staff, gathered to celebrate the occasion inside the hospital before stepping outside to sign the beam. Randy Smith, President of the West Virginia Senate, praised the efforts of Vandalia Health, the parent organization of the hospital. “They really support rural health. I have more deer, turkeys, and cows in my district than I do people because it’s such a rural area. This has been really important,” he noted.
Local leaders expressed their gratitude for the hospital’s commitment to expanding healthcare services in a predominantly rural area. Don Smith, President of the Preston County Commission, remarked, “The things that you all have done to expand rural health in this area is just phenomenal. It comforts me knowing you are trying so hard to help the community.”
The event also featured Randall Reid-Smith, who represented Governor Jim Justice. Reid-Smith read a message from Justice, highlighting his role in securing $1.5 million in state funding for the project through the West Virginia Rural Hospital Grant program. Justice described the expansion as “a life-changing investment in high-quality healthcare close to home.”
Dr. Jason McNair, Chief of Staff at Preston Memorial and a local resident, shared his personal connection to the hospital. “Having grown up here, I’ve seen the importance of having a hospital dedicated to excellent patient care, with compassion, within our community,” he said. Previously, patients requiring specialized cancer care faced long journeys to Morgantown, but the new facility will offer these services locally, significantly reducing travel times.
Lockwood concluded the ceremony by emphasizing the importance of the investment in the hospital’s future and the community it serves. She acknowledged the support of federal officials, noting that Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin also contributed by securing $3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for the expansion. “It’s about our community… the reassurance that world-class healthcare is available right here at home,” she asserted.
As the beam-signing ceremony came to a close, Lockwood reflected on the true essence of healthcare, stating, “All the people here are really what makes this an amazing hospital, a great community to deliver care, and that’s why we want to be here.” The expansion at Preston Memorial Hospital represents a significant step forward in improving healthcare access and quality for residents in the area.
