War Memorial Hospital
The Eastern Panhandle ’ s War Memorial Hospital is an integral part of the Berkeley Springs community , with a history as rich and prosperous as the area itself . In 1934 , the facility was constructed as a treatment care center for post-paralysis patients — known as The Pines Crippled Children ’ s Hospital — and inspired by the local mineral springs and their supposed therapeutic and healing properties .
During the late 1940s , the clinic was shut down , but civic leaders saved the site and were able to transform it into a community hospital . In 1947 , it was renamed War Memorial and its purpose changed to serve the residents of Morgan County . Since then , it has grown to become a licensed critical access hospital with 25 inpatient beds , 16 long-term care beds and an eight-bed emergency department in an 87,000-squarefoot facility .
War Memorial has been part of the Valley Health System — a nonprofit network of hospitals , services and providers based in Virginia — since 1989 and was acquired by the network in 2010 . In 2012 , War Memorial moved locations and opened a new facility with updated general and specialty services , an emergency department , cardiac rehabilitation and an outpatient rehabilitation and wellness facility .
The previous site of War Memorial was recently renovated to become the Pines Opportunity Center , where it will continue to serve the community in a different capacity . Though no longer a hospital , this site ’ s spirit of service lives on , while War Memorial continues to do the same . ability to communicate to patients at all levels what is going on and what needs to be done ,” says McLaughlin . “ If I can get the students to understand that , it will help them long after they leave the rotation in our ER . The art of teaching , educating and empowering is motivation for me . It ’ s great seeing students implement what they ’ ve learned into practical care .”
McLaughlin also dedicates his time as the deputy health officer for the Berkeley- Morgan County Board of Health . Between his positions , McLaughlin has witnessed firsthand many of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic , but , in the same vein , has been able to do what he can to fight it . Early in the pandemic , after losing a friend ’ s mother to COVID-19 , McLaughlin began doing everything in his power to educate his community .
“ With her memory clear in my mind , I have been an advocate of masking , physical distancing and hand hygiene ,” he says . “ From social media to being on the radio for interviews , I try and be straight forward about what I know and understand about the virus . As an ER physician , I see the clinical side of the virus . I see the public health side from the messaging that goes out to the public from the state to the struggles of testing and all of its intricacies to the planning for the vaccine roll out .”
While McLaughlin ’ s responsibilities have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic , his commitment to his community and helping others has not wavered .
“ COVID-19 has added another layer to the whole situation ,” says McLaughlin . “ From leadership zoom meetings to swabbing part time for the drive through clinics that were required to being a person the staff could call and try and get answers from the state leadership at the health department , I try to be the person who helps out wherever needed .” •
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