Valley Health System and Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) have announced
their intent to begin construction in 2018 on a new, contemporary medical
campus on Leach Run Parkway in Warren County. If the project proceeds
as planned, Valley Health anticipates the new facility will open in late 2020.
Valley Health leaders have recognized that the 65-year-old hospital on
North Shenandoah Avenue was less than optimal for delivering the efficient,
technology-driven healthcare of the future. WMH has served the Front Royal
and Warren County community effectively and favorably since opening in
the early 1950’s, and the Board agreed with management that a replacement
facility is the best option to continue to serve the residents of Warren
County and its surrounding areas. In 2008, Valley Health purchased the
Leach Run Parkway site. Since 2014 leadership has been methodically moving
forward with planning, design and site improvements. A Letter of Intent
was submitted to the Virginia Department of Health in November, stating
Valley Health’s intent to pursue approval from the Commonwealth
of Virginia to build a replacement facility; the required application
for the Certificate of Public Need will be submitted in January. Valley
Health anticipates receiving the Commonwealth’s decision by June.
“We are thrilled to be moving forward and are confident that the
state will approve our plan,” said Floyd Heater, Valley Health Vice
President – Southern Region, and Warren Memorial Hospital President.
“On behalf of our patients and staff, I would like to extend my
sincere thanks to the Valley Health Board of Trustees for the tremendous
support it continues to give to the Front Royal/Warren County community.
The Board’s approval to build a thoroughly-modern replacement facility
demonstrates its commitment to continue to serve the Warren County community
and to growing services to meet the changing healthcare needs of our community.”
The new hospital campus will occupy about 28 acres of the 150-acre parcel.
The facility is designed to offer a modern and efficient environment of
care, with flexibility to meet patient, provider, and community needs
into the future. A three-story hospital and adjacent medical building
will total approximately 177,000 square feet, and will have plentiful
parking. Consistent with industry trends in consumerism and outpatient
care, the hospital will have 36 private inpatient rooms, 18 Emergency
Department rooms (plus shell space for four additional), six “Observation”
rooms (for patients needing additional treatment of less than 24 hours),
three Operating Rooms, two endoscopy/procedure rooms, and a cardiac catheterization
lab. Green space and walking trails will encourage staff, patients and
visitors to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.
“I applaud and thank the Valley Health Board of Trustees for their
commitment to build a modern health campus for the citizens of Front Royal/Warren
County,” said Valley Health President and CEO Mark H. Merrill. “While
numerous major expansions and renovations since the 1950s provided needed
capacity and services at the current hospital, this new, modern campus
will deliver greater convenience and efficiency, as well as staff, patient
and community pride in an uplifting environment of care.”
Valley Health Board of Trustees Chairman Joe Silek, a resident of Warren
County, appreciates the impact that a vibrant, appealing healthcare campus
will have on his community’s economic development. “With projections
of a 4.5% population growth in the town and county over the next five
years, and nearly 22% increase in residents age 65 or better, we need
to position WMH and Valley Health more favorably to meet the demand for
healthcare services,” Silek said. “Significant improvements
have been made recently in Front Royal and Warren County infrastructure,
schools and housing, and we want excellent healthcare on a modern campus
to be part of what compels healthcare professionals, residents and new
investment to come here and stay.”
Warren Memorial Hospital will open a cardiac catheterization lab in early
2018 to provide lifesaving heart care to Warren County residents. This
service enhancement will relocate to the new campus.
Obstetric services will not be provided at the new hospital, due to static
delivery volumes in Warren County and capacity and service enhancements
in maternity, high risk pregnancy and neonatal ICU care offered at Winchester
Medical Center, Valley Health’s regional referral center less than
25 miles away. Demographic projections predict nominal increase in women
of childbearing age, with significantly greater growth in senior adults.
Valley Health Obstetrics and Gynecology | Front Royal and Front Royal
Family Practice will continue to provide well-women, prenatal and postpartum
care at their offices. Valley Health will work closely with pregnant residents
in 2019 to ensure their seamless transition to WMC services.
After the hospital’s relocation to Leach Run Parkway, Lynn Care Center,
Warren Memorial Hospital’s 120-bed long-term care facility, will
remain in its current location at 1000 N. Shenandoah Avenue. Valley Health
is reviewing other possible uses for the vacated hospital based on identified
community needs.