WVU Health System ’ s patients are connected to all the clinics and hospitals with an electronic medical record so that if patients need to travel within the system to a specialty clinic the continuity of their care is seamless .
“ If a child needs our care , whatever the setting might be — in the hospital , the ER , the outpatient clinics or the community — it is all about building healthier futures and delivering the best outcomes ,” Bush says .
Wright says that the hospital ’ s reach goes even beyond the clinics and communities , right into patients ’ homes with telehealth capabilities .
“ There aren ’ t a lot of silver linings that came out of COVID ,” Wright says . “ But the embracement of telehealth and telemedicine is one of them . Behavioral health especially lends itself exceptionally well to telemedicine , and we have some significant behavioral health challenges around the state with families torn apart by the opioid epidemic . Telemedicine increases access in a rural state , and it provides a relaxed setting for the caregiver and patient . I am very proud of our behavioral health providers . They have really embraced telehealth and made it a win-win .”
The new children ’ s hospital also means new opportunities for people in the community and economic boosts for the state . The hospital ’ s payroll dedicated to children has more than doubled since its opening , going from 500 staff members to just above 1,000 staff members .
Bush says the new hospital also makes recruiting physicians , surgeons and staff an easier task . WVU Medicine Children ’ s Hospital was the result of dogged determination , meticulous financial planning and the generosity of many donors .
“ We try to control our expenses and live within our means ,” Wright says . “ We are not flush with pots of gold , but we were able to stow away enough to build the hospital . We also have some very generous donors , and they contributed about $ 80 million toward the project .”
While Wright ’ s packed schedule leaves him busy , the day the children ’ s hospital opened caused him to pause and reflect on the importance of this work .
“ I believe the Children ’ s Hospital will be one of our legacy projects for the foreseeable future ,” he says . “ We take our responsibility as the largest health care provider in the state very seriously , so we have to stay disciplined in our spending every day . But when the children ’ s hospital opened , it was a special day for me and quite gratifying .”
Bush , whose credentials include a bachelor ’ s degree in nursing , an MBA and Certified Nursing-Operating Room certification , joined WVU Medicine in 2015 as the vice president of operations . Although she has been involved with many expansive hospital initiatives , she agrees that opening a place that can give families so much hope fills her heart .
“ When Albert asked me about leading this project , I thought this is it , a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of a legacy with a team that is going to help people for generations to come ,” she says . “ I am passionate about helping to make a difference , and it is so important to have people not need to travel for their health care . I tell people the top five experiences in your lifetime are different personally and professionally , but this is right at the top of both for me .” •
Photo by WVU Medicine Children ’ s .
Photo by WVU Medicine Children ’ s .
Photo by WVU Medicine Children ’ s .
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