MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Health System and the Pennsylvania-based Fulton County Medical Center have signed an affiliation agreement that defines a path for FCMC to become a member of the WVU Health System.
The non-binding letter of intent to join the WVU Health System was executed in April. Since, the WVU Health System has conducted significant due diligence and worked collaboratively with FCMC to finalize the affiliation agreement and develop a long-term strategic plans for the merger.
The WVU Health System has agreed to invest up to $17 million over the next seven years to modernize FCMC, including the installation of EPIC, which will provide seamless integration of the hospital’s electronic medical records and revenue cycle management. The agreement also sets the path to grow clinical services and expand access to high-quality care across the community it serves.
“The FCMC Board of Directors and Executive Team are excited to be one step closer to full affiliation with WVU Medicine,” Mike Makosky, president and CEO of Fulton County Medical Center, said. “We look forward to completing the final steps, so we may begin fully integrating the enhanced patient services WVU Medicine will bring to our local communities.”
FCMC is a 21-bed critical access hospital located in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, that employs more than 415 workers. The hospital has an emergency department; cardiology; rehabilitation, laboratory, and diagnostic imaging services; home health; a community wellness center; and a 67-bed nursing home. It has served Fulton, Bedford, Blair, Franklin, and Huntingdon counties in Pennsylvania for more than 75 years. It is the only hospital and skilled nursing facility in Fulton County.
“This partnership will allow patients across Fulton County and the surrounding region to continue to have access to high-quality healthcare close to home,” Congressman John Joyce, M.D., said.
“By expanding services, modernizing facilities, and creating more opportunities for medical education and training, it will improve patient care and help build the healthcare workforce our communities need. At a time when underserved communities continue to face physician shortages, encouraging doctors to train close to home, and to practice where they train is more important than ever. Since coming to Congress, developing a stable pipeline of talented healthcare professionals has been a top priority, and I look forward to strong continuation of my Homegrown Health Care Initiative.”
The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected on or about Jan. 1, 2027. The closing is expected to happen shortly after the closing of the WVU Health System’s affiliation with the five hospitals of Greensburg-based Independence Health System.
Collectively, these transactions will further expand the WVU Health System’s network of hospitals, outpatient facilities, and specialty services into rural Pennsylvania, extending expert care to underserved communities.
“One of the anchors of WVU Medicine 2035 – our 10-year strategic plan – is to become the national leader in rural population management by transforming rural healthcare through innovative care models and applied academic medical center research. We believe in bringing the specialized care with which WVU Medicine has become synonymous to patients in rural and underserved areas, where they are surrounded by their support systems,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said.
“By bringing Fulton County Medical Center into our Health System, we aim to deliver the same kind of world-class care to residents in Southcentral Pennsylvania.”