a partner to unify with — one that reflected its culture and goals as an institution . Over the past year , Thomas Health has become an affiliate of WVU Medicine and the two have worked together to improve the health care of the region and the state of West Virginia .
In a further attempt to improve West Virginia ’ s health care , Upton is currently preparing to switch Thomas Health ’ s electronic medical records to allow the hospital to fully integrate into the WVU Medicine statewide network of hospitals and physicians — which will allow patients ’ records to be available to any physician or provider in the WVU Medicine network . Overall , this will improve access , reduce duplication of services and allow for the further development of population health initiatives .
Upton hopes to secure the future of Thomas Health and Saint Francis Hospitals as they merge with WVU Medicine .
“ Being able to merge our culture , patients , physicians and staff into their network will bring levels of care to our community that we have not been able to offer in the past ,” says Upton .
His goal is to see that their hospitals are secure so they can grow and thrive into the future .
Separate from his work with Thomas Health , Upton served as a board member for the West Virginia Board of Medicine from 2013 to 2018 and was a past Potentate for the Beni Kedem Shriners in 2008 .
As a lifelong resident of West Virginia , Upton says his family has benefitted from the services of the local hospitals and physicians in the Mountain State . In addition to staying in West Virginia to be close to family , Upton and his wife , who is a fellow physician , stay to contribute to the health and well-being of their community .
“ West Virginia faces many challenges when it comes to health care , and working together to improve the health of our state is very important to me ,” says Upton . •
Thomas Health Merges with WVU Medicine
Thomas Health has always shown dedication when it comes to caring for the people in its communities , even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent bankruptcy it faced during that time . There were several contributing factors when it came to Thomas Health addressing its financial situation — declining population in West Virginia , reduction in commercial payers , socioeconomic challenges and more — according to Chief Medical Information Officer and Chief Medical Officer Matthew Upton , M . D . In the end , the health system emerged as an independent entity , stronger and determined to find a partner that had a similar culture and goals . Thus , Thomas Health became an affiliate of WVU Medicine in anticipation of improving West Virginia ’ s health care .
“ Our new affiliation with West Virginia
University Health System allows us to take that care even further as we expand and share access to even more services and subspecialized care in the future ,” Upton says . “ As one , we will continue to serve our community , the region and the state of West Virginia today and tomorrow as we work to be West Virginian ’ s first choice for medical care .”
Patients and employees have already been seeing the benefits of the partnership . Some of the biggest benefits are increased access to care , the addition of physicians who will provide new services and even the elimination of the cost to park at Thomas ’ hospital campuses .
As health care continues to be everchanging , institutions like Thomas Health , an affiliate of WVU Medicine , will choose to evolve in order to meet the needs of their community .
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