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Wheeling Hospital welcomes Acuity LTAC

WHEELING – A healthy relationship is flourishing between Acuity Specialty Hospitals of Ohio Valley and Wheeling Hospital, where Acuity operates a “hospital in a hospital” to provide long-term acute care.

A welcoming reception was held Monday in Wheeling Hospital’s auditorium for administrators, doctors and medical personnel of both hospitals. Acuity, which is leasing space from Wheeling Hospital, opened a long-term acute care facility on the hospital’s sixth floor in April to serve patients who are discharged from a hospital but need additional care before going home.

Acuity also has been operating a 32-bed facility in Bellaire at Belmont Community Hospital, a division of Wheeling Hospital, since 2010. In addition, Acuity has sites at Weirton Medical Center and Trinity Medical Center East in Steubenville.

John DeBlasis, Wheeling Hospital senior administrator who serves as a liaison with Acuity, said having the Acuity LTAC on campus gives patients in the area a needed boost of care.

“They don’t have to leave town,” he said.

“Our working relationship with Wheeling Hospital has been nothing short of wonderful,” said Virgil Hughes, chief operating officer of Acuity Specialty Hospitals of Ohio Valley. “They’ve welcomed us in this community.”

A specialty hospital provides long-term services for people with multiple acute needs.

“Being right here, we’re a hospital in a hospital. It’s actually the best thing for the patients,” Hughes said.

A patient who requires extended care after hospitalization or doesn’t have a caregiver available at home could be admitted to an Acuity center for an additional three to four weeks of care.

“Having that at both Belmont Community and Wheeling Hospital gives the patient an opportunity to not have to travel,” DeBlasis said. “We get patients from all the area hospitals and some of the nursing homes.

“It’s very good for the hospitals, for both Belmont Community and Wheeling, and for Acuity. Most importantly, it’s good for the patients.”

After being treated at Acuity, a patient could be discharged to go home or transferred to a skilled unit if a longer recovery time is necessary.

As an employer, Acuity offers “great, good-paying jobs” in the medical field, Hughes said.

Chris Heilman, administrator and chief clinical officer for Acuity, said the company has 75 employees for its Wheeling Hospital site, including nurses, clinical case managers, medical records and business office.

“We have 230 employees total between the four locations,” Heilman said.

Regarding potential expansion of Acuity’s services, Hughes said, “We always are looking for opportunities and continuing to work with hospital administrators to identify what the future might hold.”

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