DHS, Vandalia announce partnership

ELKINS -- Davis Health System and Vandalia Health announced a strategic partnership agreement as representatives from both entities gathered to celebrate the merger Friday in the Marketplace at Davis Medical Center.

The agreement, which will increase access to certain highly specialized services and innovative care for patients at DMC, will benefit everyone in the area seeking healthcare, officials said.

"This agreement affords us the ability to provide some new services and new capabilities that we haven't had," said DHS President and CEO Vance Jackson, FACHE. "Those services will benefit our patients in being able to keep more of them in our area, instead of transferring them out."

The two health systems have identified immediate needs for support in certain service lines. One of those is with DMC's cancer center, which Jackson announced has already begun work with CAMC Cancer Center in Charleston, which treats more patients with cancer than any other hospital in West Virginia. 

"It's critical in cancer care that you collaborate and have colleagues to work with," Jackson said. "So our cancer center staff will be working with the cancer center staff at CAMC and we are very excited about that for our patients, especially."

Jackson said DMC is getting ready to begin a new inpatient dialysis program at the hospital. It is expected to be up and running within the next three or four months.

"We've always wanted to do that, but haven't had the capabilities," Jackson said of the dialysis program. "So CAMC is going to provide medical direction and oversight for us to begin an inpatient dialysis program. We transfer about 100 patients a year out of Davis because we don't offer that service."

David Ramsey, president and CEO of Vandalia Health, told those in attendance that his organization is excited about the new partnership with Davis Health Systems.

"We're very excited, a lot of great things have been happening for our system across the state and this is just another wonderful, wonderful opportunity that we have to take care of people closer to home," he said. "And keeping people closer to home is the focus… One of the biggest issues for patients and communities is transportation. So we're doing everything we can within our power to try and keep people local. Keep people closer to home, take care of them at home."

Ramsey said Vandalia just formed a few months ago through the CAMC merger with MonHealth.  

"We're now at about 11,000 employees and soon to have 10 hospitals," said Ramsey. "It's been a terrific journey so far and DMC joining the system in an affiliated role is really spectacular.

"We are really excited about what we can do moving forward…We are thankful that DMC has chosen us to be a partner and we will do everything in our power to ensure that we are successful together."

With the partnership, telemedicine centers at DMC, Webster and Broaddus Critical Access Hospitals will bring easier access to CAMC specialists. Advanced technology will allow patients to connect with specialists without leaving their community.

"We went around with the truck yesterday to Webster, Broaddus and here," said Davis Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Catherine "Mindy" Chua, DO. "In my own clinic, I can't tell you how many times I've tried to refer somebody who really needed care at a higher level, and they've just said no, I can't, I don't have a car that can get me there, I don't have money for gas. So taking that truck out to these smaller communities and even here in this community, was so absolutely satisfying.

"The staff at Webster was just over the moon and I had a couple people come up today and say, 'You mean I don't have to drive two hours to an appointment anymore.' So to me, this is the height of practicing medicine in rural West Virginia, being able to take access to people who need it."