Surgical services return to Marion County at Fairmont Medical Center

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center (FMC) celebrated the completion of its brand-new surgical services unit, marking a significant step in  its ongoing expansion of healthcare services in Marion County. 

The new surgical services unit, set to open on Oct. 19, represents an investment of more than $27 million and includes four new operating rooms and a new Sterile Processing suite. The completion of this long-anticipated project provides the infrastructure needed to expand the range of surgical procedures at FMC while improving local communities’ access to care.

“Today marks far more than the opening of four new operating rooms, it marks the return of surgical services to Marion County and another significant step in rebuilding Fairmont Medical Center into the full-service medical center this community deserves,” Aaron Yanuzo, Fairmont Medical Center chief operating officer, said.  

“This is an investment in our patients, our physicians, our team members, and the future of healthcare in Marion County. By bringing more surgical care closer to home, we are creating new possibilities for our community while laying the foundation for continued growth, innovation, and access to care throughout North Central West Virginia.” 

WVU Medicine departments expanding surgical services to FMC include Cardiology; Endoscopy and Gastroenterology; Orthopaedics, including hand surgery and total joint replacement; Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat); Pain Management; Plastic, Cosmetic, and Reconstructive Surgery; Podiatry; and Urology.  

Each of these specialty areas will offer patients additional opportunities to receive care in their own community, rather than traveling outside Marion County for procedures that can be safely and effectively performed locally.  

“Marion County residents deserve orthopaedic care that meets the same world-class standards we hold at WVU Medicine Orthopaedics, and now they can get it close to home,” Matthew Dietz, M.D., Orthopaedics professor and chair, said.  

“These operating rooms let us bring total joint replacement, hand surgery, and specialized podiatry care directly to Fairmont. While Dr. Ryan Murphy will lead our group's efforts, this has truly been a team effort among administrators, surgeons, anesthesia, nursing, and physical therapy to reintroduce these services to Fairmont. I'm confident our patients will feel the difference that local, high-quality surgical care makes.” 

For physicians, the new operating rooms provide the resources needed to practice locally while remaining connected to the broader resources and expertise of a large academic medical center.

"Our department has proudly held an ENT clinic in Fairmont for over 15 years, establishing a deep-rooted commitment to the ear, nose, and throat health of this community,” Hassan Ramadan, M.D., Otolaryngology professor and chair, said.  

“With the opening of these state-of-the-art operating rooms, we can finally elevate that care. We are thrilled to transition from offering only outpatient clinic visits to performing surgeries on Marion County patients closer to home, eliminating the burden of travel for critical surgical interventions.” 

While the new procedure spaces are the facility’s most visible additions, FMC's new Sterile Processing suite is a critical component of the project. Sterile processing teams ensure  surgical instruments are properly cleaned, sterilized, and prepared for procedures, an essential part of providing safe surgical care. 

The project is the latest of WVU Medicine’s ongoing investments in Fairmont Medical Center. WVU Medicine reopened the medical center as a campus of WVU Hospitals in June 2020 after the closing of Fairmont Regional Medical Center in March of that year. The opening of FMC began an ongoing effort to rebuild the medical center’s capabilities and expand access to healthcare services in the surrounding community. 

The project is part of a broader commitment to the future of Fairmont Medical Center and the community it serves, and follows the recent additions of a Skilled Nursing Unit, expanded imaging services, and the WVU Cancer Institute at Fairmont Medical Center. 

The next phase of planned expansions at FMC includes a new three-story support services and ambulatory clinic building, along with other potential projects to increase services and physician availability. 

To learn more about WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center, visit WVUMedicine.org/Fairmont.