For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Doug Bentz
(304) 927-6200
Tuesday, August 14th, 2026
Spencer, W.Va. — Roane General Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of rheumatology services at Roane General Medical Clinic through its partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals. The new specialty service brings expert care for patients with arthritis, autoimmune diseases and other rheumatic conditions closer to home.
WVU Medicine physicians Muhamed Abubacker, MD, and Ahsan Iqbal, MD, are now accepting patients at Roane General Medical Clinic. Board-certified in rheumatology, they provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for a wide range of rheumatic and autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, osteoporosis and other inflammatory disorders.
“Our partnership with Roane General Hospital reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality specialty care across the region,” said Dr. Greg Rosencrance, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals. “By bringing rheumatology services closer to home, we’re helping patients receive the expert care they need without the added burden of traveling long distances. This is another important step in strengthening healthcare access for the communities we serve and demonstrates what’s possible when hospitals work together to meet local healthcare needs.”
The addition of rheumatology services expands Roane General Hospital’s growing network of specialty care providers, allowing patients throughout Roane County and the surrounding region to receive specialty care without traveling far.
“Expanding access to specialty care close to home is a priority for Roane General Hospital,” said Doug Bentz, Roane General Hospital CEO. “Our partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals allows us to bring experienced rheumatology specialists to our community, making it more convenient for patients with complex conditions to receive expert care.”
Patients experiencing persistent joint pain, swelling, stiffness or symptoms of autoimmune disease may benefit from evaluation by a rheumatology specialist. Referrals can be made by a primary care provider or another specialist. For more information, please call 304-927-6822.
About Roane General Hospital
Based in Spencer, W.Va., Roane General Hospital (RGH) is a health system dedicated to the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective health care across its primary and secondary service areas of Roane, Calhoun, Jackson and Wirt counties. The RGH network includes a critical access hospital with a 25-bed inpatient, acute-care unit; a 35-bed Swing Bed rehabilitation unit; a Level IV Trauma Center; five rural health clinics; a Long-Term care facility; and the Center for Wellness complex. RGH offers a wide range of services that include primary care, acute walk-in care, cardiology, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, general surgery, imaging services, infusion services, interventional pain management, neurosurgery, oncology and more. In recent years, RGH has become increasingly focused on improving the health of its patient population through its innovative Prescription for Your Health (P4YH®) Program. For more information about RGH, visit roanegeneralhospital.com.