MORGANTOWN – WVU Medicine cut the ribbon on Thursday on its new Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at University Town Centre, adjacent to its outpatient clinic building.
The $30 million, two-story building totals 60,000 square feet. The rehab center fills the first level. The second level will house clinical services to be determined.
Several WVUM leaders and public officials spoke before the ribbon cutting.
Vice President and Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer Darin Rogers said, “These much-needed therapy services will help the good people of West Virginia and the surrounding areas to regain their quality of life along the road to wellness and healthy recovery.”
The center will offer physical, occupational and speech therapy services and WVUM’s first consolidated sports medicine clinic with 14 treatment rooms. It will open for business on Monday.
Monongalia County Commissioner Sean Sikora commented on the county’s growth in the past decade. “WVU Medicine’s been a big part of that,” he said. “WVU Medicine has been a very good partner to this community.”
Rogers mentioned the area has about 22,000 people who need the services the center will provide. And Dr. Michael Evans, WVUM chief medical officer and vice dean for Clinical Affairs, said, “It’s always a great day when we can bring more services to more patients, and it’s even better when we can do it in a beautiful facility like this that’s conveniently located for our patients.”
WVUM President and CEO Albert Wright said the WVU health system exists for two reasons: to improve the health trajectory of the state and to support the teaching, innovation and research of WVU.
Mon County and Morgantown, he said, are arguably the most important part of the state to attract new residents, businesses and physicians. To serve everyone, “it’s very important that we have comprehensive healthcare in Monongalia County.”
After the ribbon cutting, attendees could go inside and take a tour, guided by one of the therapy team members.
Mark Hose, a Morgantown resident and physical therapist for 24 years, led one group. “It’s very exciting we’re getting to open this facility,” he said.
The lobby and registration area feature a decorative wall made of coal and adorned with a giant flying WV. Hallways are adorned with photo collages of WVU athletes.
The tour wound through the main clinic area with eight private treatment rooms, five open treatment rooms and two speech therapy rooms.
The aquatic therapy pool has two underwater treadmills and stays at a cozy 89 degrees. It can accommodate up to four patients per hour, Hose said.
A walking track circles around the exercise equipment in the open gym – brightly lit with large picture windows on its outside walls.
A staff lounge at the back of the center features windows overlooking Morgantown.
Along with the aquatic therapy, other treatment options available at the center will include manual and exercise-based therapies, soft tissue and joint mobilization, post-surgical care, stroke care, functional capacity evaluations and lymphedema care.
The clinic will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday. The sports medicine clinic will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WVUM broke ground on the center a year ago. Wrapping up the tour, Hose re-emphasized his enthusiasm. “This is an exciting time. We’ve been looking forward to this for a very long time.”
Email: dbeard@dominionpost.com
