System to operate under West Virginia University Health System name
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia United Health System announced today that it will now operate under the name West Virginia University Health System, the health system component of WVU Medicine.
“To reflect our historical university roots and look forward to our future, the West Virginia United Health System, WVU, and WVU’s four clinical practice plans made the decision last year to develop the WVU Medicine brand to reflect our common commitment to healthcare no matter where the Flying WV is flown. To further align ourselves, the System Board authorized WVUHS to operate under the trade name West Virginia University Health System,” Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of the System, said.
“By doing so, we take a great leap forward in signaling to the nation and beyond, that our health system is West Virginia’s health system and proudly aligns our mission with that of West Virginia University. This will not alter the corporate names of hospitals and clinics across the System, rather it signals our commitment to work more closely together as a part of the WVU Medicine family.”
In 1996, the West Virginia Legislature created the “West Virginia Health System,” the original members of which were Ruby Memorial Hospital at West Virginia University and the United Hospital Center in Clarksburg. At that time, “West Virginia United Health System” was the corporate name chosen in order to reflect the union of the two institutions, anchored by their common missions to serve the citizens of north central West Virginia and the entire state of West Virginia through patient care, education, research, and outreach.
Over the last 20 years, the System has continued to grow. With seven hospitals, plus an affiliate hospital in Garrett County, Maryland, its footprint spans from the Potomac River to the Ohio River.
“Our providers staff clinics that serve eastern, southern, central, and northern West Virginia. We have grown to more than 12,000 employees, more than 900 hundred physicians, and nearly 83,000 admissions per year,” Dr. Colenda said. “This places the West Virginia University Health System as the largest healthcare provider in the state and the state’s second largest private employer. Each day, we strive to bring the science and art of healthcare to the patients we serve and in so doing we help transform their lives.”