On April 30, 2021, WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital (PVH) acquired the family practice owned by Charles Bess, M.D., located at 514 New Creek Highway, Keyser, West Virginia. PVH will operate the clinic under the name Potomac Valley Family Practice. 
Dr. Bess opened the practice in 1994, following the completion of his family medicine residency. Since then, he has offered family medicine services to the residents of Mineral County and surrounding areas. PVH will continue these services with the added benefit of being part of the West Virginia University Health System.
“My primary goal has always been to provide high quality care within the community,” Bess said. “This partnership with Potomac Valley Hospital and the WVU Health System will strengthen our services and increase continuity of patient care between my practice and the hospital.”
Bess has worked with PVH for many years, having served as its medical director since 2010. In this position, he plays an integral part in the development and improvement of strategies within the hospital, focusing on hospital policies, protocols, and procedures. Bess has also had a leadership role in the Virtual ICU Program, which is a joint partnership with intensivists at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital to care for patients in the ICU at PVH.
“The hospital has innovated by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years, and I’m thrilled to be working more closely with the hospital and its leadership team,” Bess said.
As a clinic of PVH, Potomac Valley Family Practice will continue serving the residents of Mineral County, much as it had before. Patient care will still continue with Bess and Martie Helmick, N.P., for all primary care services. Lab draws, as well as x-ray radiographic services, will continue to be available at this location.
“This is an important step for Potomac Valley Hospital, Potomac Valley Family Practice, and the community of Mineral County. I’m honored to work with Dr. Bess and have been since the day we met,” Mark Boucot, president and CEO of Potomac Valley Hospital, said. “He is a great doctor and one of my most trusted colleagues. He has a lot of great ideas, and we are a great team working together to improve the hospital and grow services for the community.”
Potomac Valley Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital that serves Mineral County and surrounding areas. It provides inpatient and outpatient care, including 24/7 Emergency Department services. PVH employs more than 250 healthcare professionals, including more than 50 physicians, who are dedicated to the mission of striving to treat every patient like family. PVH officially became a member of the WVU Health System in 2014.