BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking today (June 5) for its new Bluefield Campus, a transformative $25 million expansion and renovation project that will significantly enhance emergency, outpatient, imaging, and behavioral health services for southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia.
The Bluefield Campus project includes a 24,000-square-foot addition and an 18,000-square-foot renovation to an existing facility that currently houses PCH’s 64-bed behavioral health hospital. The expansion will consolidate PCH’s Bluefield services into a single, purpose-built facility designed to be highly visible from Route 460, the main traffic artery through Mercer County.
“As someone who grew up in this region, I know firsthand how much this investment means,” Karen Bowling, president and CEO of Princeton Community Hospital, said. “This project is about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about giving our families, friends, and neighbors access to the kind of care they deserve, right here at home. WVU Medicine is making a promise to this region, and I’m proud to be part of delivering on that promise.”
“This project exemplifies WVU Medicine’s unwavering investment in delivering high-quality, accessible care to West Virginians,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., WVU Health System president and CEO, said. “By expanding services and upgrading facilities, like here at the Bluefield Campus, we’re not only enhancing patient care, but we’re also reinforcing our long-term commitment to advancing health outcomes in southern West Virginia.”
Expanded Emergency and Observation Services
- The new emergency department (ED) will include:
- 20 exam rooms, including two rooms designed for psychiatric intake
- Two resuscitation rooms and two triage rooms
- OB-ready and trauma rooms
- Centralized care team support stations
- Dedicated patient and ambulance entrances
Adjacent to the ED, the new 10-bed observation unit will provide flexible capabilities for extended monitoring. Each observation room will include an in-room toilet, and the unit will feature an “Individual of Size” room to ensure inclusive care.
Advanced Medical Imaging, Lab, and Diagnostic Services
The new facility will also offer a comprehensive range of outpatient and diagnostic services, including lab services (for both walk-in and inpatient care) and respiratory therapy services.
The Imaging Suite will feature:
- Diagnostic Radiology — two radiology rooms
- Computed Tomography (CT) — one CT scanner
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) — one MRI scanner (a new service for Bluefield)
- Ultrasound — two ultrasound rooms (a new service for Bluefield)
Safe Haven Baby Box
As part of its commitment to protecting vulnerable lives, the Bluefield Campus will install a Safe Haven Baby Box, becoming just the fifth location in West Virginia, and the first in southern West Virginia, to offer this life-saving resource.
This climate-controlled, padded device allows parents in crisis to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn up to 30 days old, as permitted under West Virginia’s Safe Haven Law. Once a baby is placed inside, a silent alarm immediately alerts hospital staff to respond and provide care.
Reimagining Behavioral Health
As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, PCH also unveiled a new name for its behavioral health services, which will now be known as the PCH Behavioral Health Center (BHC). The BHC will continue to offer inpatient adult and geriatric mental health services and traditional and intensive outpatient counseling services.
This rebranding reflects the evolution of the organization and a deeper alignment with WVU Medicine’s mission to provide comprehensive, whole-person care. By co-locating behavioral health services with emergency, laboratory, and diagnostic capabilities at the new Bluefield Campus, patients will benefit from more seamless access to the full spectrum of care they may need.
