West Virginia health leader wins national patient advocate award

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) – A West Virginian has won a national award for making sure that healthcare patients have a voice and that their stories and needs have a place in healthcare decision-making. The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics has named Dr. Angie Settle the Patient Advocate of the Year. Settle is […]

Faye Carroll is the UHC August 2026 iCARE Recipient

WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) is excited to announce that this month’s iCARE Award was presented to Faye Carroll, LPN, for being recognized by patients/families for exceeding expectations and motivating others to emulate his following attributes:. C=Connect with Patients. A=Anticipate Needs. R=Respond with Kindness. E=Exceed expectations. Faye was...

Water violations lawsuit continues in West Virginia county

A graphite manufacturer in Harrison County, West Virginia, is asking a federal court to toss out a lawsuit filed by local environmental groups. The case involves the company’s facility near Ann Moore Run, a stream within the broader watershed of the upper Monongahela River. Olivia Miller, executive director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, one of the groups involved in the case, said the lawsuit is asking the court to require Amsted Graphite Materials to comply with its permit, stop Clean Water Act violations and pay penalties. Miller noted the company has hundreds of violations related to chemical dumping reported from 2023 through 2026 on the books. "They can harm aquatic life. And when you see repeated exceedances over time, that raises real concerns about whether the treatment system is adequate and whether the company is doing what it is legally required to do," Miller explained. Amsted Graphite Materials said it has entered agreements with both the EPA and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to make upgrades to its manufacturing plant and reduce environmental impact. In a motion to dismiss filed earlier this month in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, the company

Funding to expand medical transportation coming to West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – The Mountain State is receiving funding to help advance medical transportation for West Virginia. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday announced funding totaling approximately $2.34 million through the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). According to the governor’s office, the funding comes as part of the Rural Health Link (RHL) […]

Grafton Hospital investigating possible data breach

GRAFTON, W.Va. — Officials from the Grafton City Hospital Inc. (GCH) believe some personal information may have been compromised during a recent data breach. The hospital has issued a notice of a data security incident after an email account was compromised May 6, 2026. After the incident hospital officials...

UHC Surgeon Celebrates 3,000 Robotic Surgeries

WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) proudly recognizes Sugam B. Vasani, MD, general surgeon with UHC General Surgery, for achieving a major milestone: 3,000 robotic-assisted surgeries. “Reaching 3,000 robotic-assisted surgeries is a milestone that reflects years of dedication to advancing minimally invasive care for our patients,” said Sugam B. Vasani,...

Rural health services set for expansion as state approaches $39 million funding deal

West Virginia is finalizing agreements covering approximately $38.8 million in first-year Rural Health Transformation funding. State officials say candidates have been selected and the funding has entered the obligation/award process, but some contracts and grant agreements still must be fully executed before recipients are publicly identified. Health Secretary Dr. Arvin...

Governor Morrisey Announces More Than $1M Investment to Expand Care Programs for Older West Virginians

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $1.25 million funding opportunity through the State’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to support the development of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), an all-in-one care model that coordinates medical care and daily support to help older West Virginians with serious health challenges stay […] The post Governor Morrisey Announces More Than $1M Investment to Expand Care Programs for Older West Virginians appeared first on West Virginia Daily News .

Valley Health goes out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage on October 1, two weeks before Medicare’s enrollment window opens

Three dates now sit within a six-week span for older adults in Virginia and West Virginia who get their care at Valley Health and carry a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage card. The contract between the health system and the insurer terminates on September 30, 2026. Valley Health’s hospitals, facilities and physicians become out of network for […]

Hospital Association’s Kaufman stepping down

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Hospital Association President and CEO Jim Kaufman has announced he’s stepping down. Kaufman, who was named to the position in 2020, helped lead the association and its member hospitals through the covid pandemic. He’s also been known for his advocacy on behalf of hospitals to state lawmakers and the state’s congressional delegation.

West Virginia investing in care programs for senior citizens

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – West Virginia is investing more than $1 million to expand care programs for West Virginia’s senior citizens. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $1.25 million “funding opportunity” through the Rural Health Transformation Program and released through the Smart Care Catalyst Initiative, in which organizations can apply for funds to start up or […]

Free medical clinic offers care in Wheeling

Wheeling, W.Va (WTRF) – A free medical clinic opened Friday at WesBanco Arena, offering no-cost medical, dental and vision care to residents across the Upper Ohio Valley. Newbridge Church is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to host the clinic from Aug. 21 through Aug. 23. Doctors and other medical professionals are on-site to assist patients throughout […]

Free medical clinic offers care in Wheeling

$1 million secured for Ritchie County water line extension project

A water line extension project in Ritchie County received a huge boost on Friday through federal funding.

WVU dental school cuts ribbon on first phase of renovations, adds 4 clinics

Morgantown-based West Virginia School of Dentistry cut the ribbon on a new clinical space, according to an Aug. 19 report from MetroNews. The renovation adds four new dental clinics, which include orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, a dental innovation center and the school’s dental group practice. The upgrades were funded by...

Encompass Health Morgantown named top rehabilitation hospital in West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) - Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Morgantown has been named the No. 1 rehabilitation hospital in West Virginia by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026-2027 Best Rehabilitation Hospitals rankings. The recognition places the Morgantown facility among fewer than one-third of rehabilitation hospitals nationwide to earn...

Wheeling discussing drainage expansion, diversion to ease Elm Grove flooding

WHEELING, W.Va. — After repeated heavy rains left water backing up into basements and other areas in Elm Grove, Wheeling officials say a fix may finally be taking shape at a trouble spot in the Elm Terrace parking lot. Officials say the flooding problem is coming from rain running...

State Methadone Clinic Ban Faces Court Challenge

A federal judge declined Friday the state’s request to dismiss a lawsuit brought by West Virginia’s largest overdose prevention group, Solutions Oriented Addiction Response of West Virginia (SOAR.) The group is suing to overturn the state’s nearly 20-year-old moratorium on new methadone clinics. The ruling allows the case...

West Virginia Establishes Prehospital Pediatric Readiness State Recognition Program

In a recent press release, the West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services announced that it has achieved the Health Resources & Service Administration’s (HRSA) National Performance Measure criteria for Emergency Medical Services for Children, thereby establishing a state Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program and increasing vital awareness around appropriate pediatric emergency treatment.

UHC Welcomes Andrea M. Garrison, DO to Medpointe Family Medicine

Andrea M. Garrison, DO, is joining Medpointe Family Medicine, coming from Summa Health, part of Akron City Hospital, Akron, Ohio. As an internist in the greater Akron area, she provided comprehensive primary care services, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult health conditions. Dr. Garrison's osteopathic training emphasizes a whole-person approach to healthcare, considering how different body systems work together to promote overall wellness.