MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine completed its one millionth outpatient visit for the year today (Nov. 28) marking the first time the feat has been accomplished in the system’s history.
“While we are seeing more patients than ever before, we have significantly decreased the time it takes for a new patient to be seen by our providers while receiving the highest patient satisfaction scores we’ve ever had,” Darin Rogers, vice president of ambulatory operations, said. “Altogether, that’s quite an accomplishment and a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of the providers and staff who work in our outpatient clinics. We couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Annual outpatient visits in Morgantown and Fairmont have been on a steady incline over the last couple of years. In 2016, WVU Medicine finished the year with 850,989 visits, and in 2017, total visits for the year climbed to 951,027.
To meet the increasing demand for services and to decrease patient wait times for appointments, WVU Medicine has been recruiting new primary care physicians and specialists. The addition of clinics at the University Town Center, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cranberry Square in Morgantown and the one off the Gateway Connector in Fairmont have contributed to the increased capacity of providers and services offered.
Approximately 5,000 total patients are seen each day in Morgantown and Fairmont.
There have been significant gains in improving the access for our patients to get an appointment. Many of our providers are able to offer same day appointments and offer more timely appointments.
“The quality of care is still most important to us,” Kim Trimble, assistant vice president of ambulatory operations, said. “By building more clinical rooms, we are able to see a higher volume of patients without compromising patient care.”
WVU Medicine plans to continue to expand with the construction of an outpatient clinic in Waynesburg, Pa. The addition of new employee parking structures will also allow for easier patient access at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.