PCH cuts ribbon on new endocrinology clinic, providing access to diabetes and thyroid care

PRINCETON, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) officially opened its new Endocrinology Clinic today, marking a pivotal step in expanding specialty care for residents across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. President and CEO Karen Bowling joined clinical leaders and staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the region’s first endocrinology program of its kind, which is designed to close long-standing gaps in care.

 

Bowling emphasized the profound need for this service in the region, where rates of diabetes and related health complications remain high.

 

“When we examined our community health statistics, the need was unmistakable,” Bowling said. “Endocrinology was a significant gap in care. Our goal is to bring services here that truly improve the long-term health and wellbeing of the people who live in this region.”

 

The new clinic offers patients expanded access to high-quality diabetes, thyroid, and hormone-related care through an innovative hybrid model. Patients are seen in person by Stephanie Hamilton, PA-C, a physician assistant specialized in endocrinology, and simultaneously via telemedicine with the state’s top academic endocrinologists at WVU Medicine’s Department of Endocrinology in Morgantown.

This model ensures patients receive comprehensive specialty care close to home without sacrificing academic-level expertise.

 

“In essence, patients get the same quality of care they would receive in Morgantown, but they get to stay right here in Princeton,” Bowling said. “Stephanie completes the hands-on assessment, and our endocrinologists join virtually, creating a seamless experience.”

 

The clinic is designed to serve PCH’s full 10-county region and beyond. With most endocrinologists located in northern West Virginia, Bowling noted that many patients previously faced long travel times and limited appointment availability.

 

Patients may be referred by their primary care provider or transfer seamlessly from WVU Medicine locations in Morgantown, thanks to shared electronic health records. Those currently seeing endocrinologists outside the WVU Medicine system can also transfer care by providing appropriate medical records and a referral from their primary care provider.

Primary care providers across the region have been eager for this resource.

 

“Our providers have been asking us for over a year, ‘When will we have someone to help with diabetes and thyroid disorders?’” Bowling said. “Today, we were finally able to say ‘it’s here’.”

 

Bowling underscored the long-term impact this clinic will have on quality of life throughout the region.

 

“Diabetes is a debilitating, progressive disease if it’s not managed well,” she noted. “Over time, it leads to vascular disease, eye disease, and heart problems. But when patients can be seen sooner and managed appropriately, we can prevent those serious, life-altering complications. This clinic has the potential to transform lives.”

 

The endocrinology clinic opening is part of PCH’s broader commitment to expanding access to specialty care and addressing the region’s most pressing health challenges.

 

The Endocrinology clinic is located at 608 New Hope Road in Princeton. The phone number is 304-327-1195.

 

About WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital
WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital is leading healthcare in the two Virginias. With 420 physicians and mid-level providers, PCH operates a fully accredited 203-bed acute care medical facility, a 64-bed psychiatric hospital, and an emergency room and outpatient services facility in Bluefield. PCH operates seven primary care clinics, 11 specialty clinics, and three rural imaging clinics offering a wide range of care to a 10-county region.