WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital (PVH) has begun offering a new program called FARMacy to qualifying participants. This program is a West Virginia based program that focuses on the concept of using healthy food to help fight chronic disease. Operating under a joint concern for the health of West Virginians, this program is possible only through community partnerships. Local partners who have helped make this program possible include Flying W Farms, WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program, Mineral County Family Resource Network, Try This WV, and Grace United Methodist Church.
The first program at PVH will consist of 15 patients who were referred by their local primary care provider. Through a 12 week session, participants will participate in mini class sessions, super market shopping tours, and will receive a weekly produce box supplied by “Flying W Farms.” Each part of the program is designed to provide participants with new opportunities: to try produce they have never tried, new or updated recipes, and examples of how to shop with both health and budget in mind. Participants will complete measurements for blood pressure, weight, and waist circumference, lab values, and surveys before and after the program. By the end of the program, participants will be able to recognize the benefits of healthy foods and be able to continue with the lifestyle changes necessary to help control and prevent their chronic disease.
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.