Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Medicine and Charleston, W.Va.-based Vandalia Health have proved to be powerhouses for acquisitions and growth over the last few years, both in West Virginia and in neighboring states — with no signs of slowing down.
WVU Medicine comprises 25 hospitals and more than 39,000 employees, a spokesperson confirmed with Becker’s. Its hospital roots have expanded from West Virginia to two facilities in Ohio, one in Maryland and one in Pennsylvania, with multiple care locations throughout each state.
Most recently, WVU Medicine broke ground Aug. 26 on the WVU Medicine St. Clairsville (Ohio) Community Hospital. The $56 million facility will comprise two stories, 55,000 square feet, inpatient beds, a full-service emergency department, outpatient imaging and laboratory services, primary care and specialty care.
The health system is also planning continued expansion in Pennsylvania.
West Virginia University Health System signed a definitive agreement Aug. 6 for McConnellsburg, Pa.-based Fulton County Medical Center to join the system. It committed up to $17 million to modernize the hospital over the next seven years, including the installation of Epic’s EHR platform.
On June 2, WVU Health System also signed a definitive agreement to acquire Greensburg, Pa.-based Independence Health System, a five-hospital system with nearly 7,000 employees, including 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers. That deal is expected to close in late September or early October, with the system planning to invest $800 million in the facilities.
“One of the anchors of WVU Medicine 2035 — our 10-year strategic plan — is to become the national leader in rural population management by transforming rural healthcare through innovative care models and applied academic medical center research,” Albert Wright Jr., PharmD, DrPH, president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said in an Aug. 6 news release.
Like WVU Medicine, Vandalia Health has care locations across Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Vandalia Health, which is made up of CAMC Health, Davis Health System and Mon Health System, comprises 17 hospitals, including two affiliates. It has more than 220 outpatient locations and more than 14,500 employees and over 2,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, a spokesperson confirmed with Becker’s.
While slightly smaller than its competitor, Vandalia has grown from just four hospitals to 17 in under five years.
Most recently, Vandalia Health acquired Grafton (W.Va.) City Hospital Sept. 1, which will be renamed Vandalia Health Grafton Hospital. While the acquisition is new, Vandalia Health member Mon Health System has provided management services to the facility since 2019.
Vandalia Health also plans to open its 18th hospital, Mon Harrison Neighborhood Hospital in Bridgeport, W.Va., in October.
In June, Vandalia president and CEO Jeff Sandene told Becker’s one of the system’s biggest focuses right now is “organic growth.”
“We don’t have to merge with someone, nor does someone have to merge with us,” he said. “There’s other kinds of business ways we can drive together. There’s joint ventures that we can look at differently … and so we’re going to be looking for different partnerships that help us drive our costs lower and improve our quality across the communities that we serve.”
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