Hinton, WV (WOAY) Summers County Appalachian Regional Hospital recently began construction on a new expansion to its emergency department.
CEO Angela Rivera says the hospital is glad to finally get the long-awaited construction project underway:
“We are super excited to finally get started on our construction project… About three years ago, we put in for a grant with Senator Manchin, and we were awarded $3 million. So over the [last] three years, we’ve got designs together, we’ve got a timeline, and as you can see behind me, we started groundbreaking… The timeline is about a year. So in March or April 2027, we should be complete.”
Rivera explained that the new addition will support a better workflow for patients and staff, including a separate emergency room entrance, ambulance entrance, and multiple rooms for trauma care and lab spaces. All of it, Rivera says, is to better serve the needs of the community that made it possible.
“The community made this possible. They have been asking to make sure that this hospital is going to stay put—that they have emergency care. We went to our government officials. Then Senator Manchin…supported us 100%, got the money, and we’re here to stay, and we’re here to take care of the community… Hinton and the surrounding areas need this space for health care. We have our clinics here. We have our hospital here, and now we’ll have this brand new ER here to really be the stopping point to make sure that people have access in their backyard.”
Rivera says the hospital plans to invite the community to an official groundbreaking ceremony sometime around the new year. But until the expansion’s opening next spring, it’s business as usual at Summers County ARH.
“It’s going to be great, and it’s going to be cumbersome, but it does not take away from anything that we’re doing on a day-to-day basis. The door’s open, we’re open, clinics are open. Come see us. We have signs for wayfinding. We will help you. Great people here will get you where you need to be.”
