Valley Health Care begins construction
MILL CREEK — Valley Health Care, a community based provider of medical services with locations in Mill Creek and Elkins, Randolph County, is beginning construction on renovations of a new 8,000 square foot health center facility in Elkins.
The $1.3 million project is funded by Citizens National Bank and is expected to be completed early next year. The new facility will provide improved access and convenience for medical care and services for Randolph and surrounding county residents. This new site will replace the current Elkins Valley Health Care site also known as Arbor Community Health Center located on Nathan Street in Elkins.
The new health center site will be located at 240 Allegheny Highway, Route 33 East, formerly Wheeler Sports. The new Elkins site will provide much needed additional space to accommodate our growing patient population.
“This is such an exciting time for everyone at Valley Health Care,” said Sandra Elza, CEO. “We had simply outgrown our current space. We needed more patient care area, provider space and patient parking to accommodate the increased growth we have been experiencing over the past two years. Patients will be seen more quickly and comfortably, and the children will love our themed pediatric rooms.”
John Kabler, chairperson for the Valley Health Care Board of Directors, stated, “On behalf of our Board of Directors, I sincerely thank all the folks who have come together and worked so diligently to make our new Elkins health center a reality. Special thanks to Sandra and our management team at Valley Health Care; to Thrasher Engineering, our engineering and construction management firm; to Lombardi Construction, our primary contractor who is doing most of the work with local contractors and to Citizens National Bank, who are providing the funding. We are excited about realizing our vision to better serve the health care needs of our patients in the Elkins and surrounding communities.”
Valley Health Care operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHC’s are community based organizations that provide comprehensive primary and preventive care, including health, oral, and mental health/substance abuse services to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status. Their mission is to enhance primary care services in rural and under-served communities. Valley Health Care is one of 28 FQHC community health centers across West Virginia that provide free or low-cost medical care to approximately one in six people who live in our rural communities.
Patients with or without insurance can make Valley Health Care their primary health care provider and receive services that include: daily walk-in/urgent care; yearly physicals; medical evaluations; laboratory services; diabetes and hypertension screenings; chronic care management; pediatric care; specialty care referrals; mental health counseling; immunizations; employment, school, sports and Department of Transportation physicals; and pharmacy services.
Valley Health Care has been in operation and serving the communities of Randolph and surrounding counties since 1989. In addition to the Elkins facility, Valley Health Care staffs a primary and urgent care clinic in Mill Creek and nine school-based health centers throughout Randolph County.