Dec 7, 2017 5 min read

Monongahela Valley Hospital is teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve and the Mon Valley Leathernecks, a group of former Marines who do the legwork for the local Toys for Tots program.

“Monongahela Valley Hospital’s employees have been involved in the Toys for Tots program in the mid-Mon Valley since it began,” says John Bogdan, RN, BSN, nurse manager of the Behavioral Health Unit, who helps coordinate the event for the Hospital. “We look forward to this opportunity to help our neighbors in the community.”

Through Dec. 14, Monongahela Valley Hospital has placed Toys for Tots collection boxes throughout the hospital and at the Monongahela Valley Hospital HealthPlex in Rostraver. Anyone interested in participating may drop off new, unwrapped toys at MVH’s Gift Shop or Welcome Desk and at the collection boxes in the HealthPlex. Checks also are welcome and should be made payable to “Toys for Tots” and mailed to Wally Fronzaglio, Toys for Tots Program Coordinator, 204 Brokaw Ave., Donora, PA 15033 before Dec. 14. Checks and toys received after that date will be used for the 2018 drive.

WHS part of Rose Parade float

Executives from Washington Health System signed a rose vial that will be used on the Center for Organ Recovery & Education’s annual Donate Life Rose Parade float featured at the 2018 Tournament of Roses Parade. President and CEO Gary Weinstein and WHS Greene President Terry Wiltrout signed vials.

This year’s float entry, “The Gift of Time,” reflects the parade’s theme of “Making a Difference.” The float celebrates the power of kindness and the generous acts of people throughout the world who are making a positive difference in the lives of others. A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and improve the lives of as many as 75 more by donating their corneas and tissue.

As the world’s most visible campaign to inspire organ, tissue and cornea donation, the goal of the Donate Life Rose Parade float is to inspire viewers to help more than one million people in need of transplants each year.

“More than 35,000 life-saving transplants were performed in the United States last year, but tragically, 21 people still die each day waiting for a life-saving organ transplant,” says Susan Stuart, CORE president and CEO. “We hope the Donate Life Rose Parade float will call attention to this message, and we are inspired that Washington Health System has symbolized their commitment to donation by signing a rose vial to adorn the float.”

For information, visit www.core.org.

Children’s tower to be added on

to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital

WVU Hospitals have announced plans to construct a 10-story tower dedicated to WVU Medicine Children’s to address capacity issues and better serve the healthcare needs of all of West Virginia’s women and children. As a result of the project, 150 beds will be added to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

“As West Virginia’s leading academic medical center, we have a responsibility to the children of our state and their parents to provide the highest level of care close to home,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, says. “The demand for our services has increased so that we must grow in order to meet their needs.”

The $152-million tower will take three years to complete. It will include:

• Entry, registration, administration, outpatient clinics, and building services
• Loading dock, dietary services, diagnostic imaging, and connection to the Southeast Tower (the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute tower)
• Operating rooms, cardiac catheterization, and endoscopy facilities
• A 20-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and 10-bed procedure/sedation unit
• A 50-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• A 40-bed pediatric acute care unit
• A 30-bed obstetrical unit with potential for expansion
• Pediatric sub-specialty and maternal-fetal medicine clinics

All of the inpatient rooms will be private. The tower will also include a satellite pharmacy, laboratory, respiratory therapy, and a cafeteria.

“This new building will allow us to match our expanded programs for the women and children of West Virginia with a state-of-the-art facility,” says J. Philip Saul, M.D., executive vice president of WVU Medicine Children’s.

The tower is anticipated to be open to its first patient in late fall/early winter 2020.