Roane General Hospital receives $3.7 million from Gov. Justice’s Rural Hospital Grant Program

Spencer, W. Va. – Roane General Hospital (RGH) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $3.7 million through Governor Jim Justice’s Rural Hospital Grant Program. 

RGH Chief Executive Officer Doug Bentz was on hand to receive the funds at a ceremony with Governor Justice on December 10, 2024, in Madison. 

The $40 million Rural Hospital Grant Program, which launched in October, will improve healthcare infrastructure and services at rural hospitals across West Virginia. Roane General Hospital was one of eight providers to receive funding. 

“Our rural hospitals are truly the lifeblood of our state,” said Governor Justice. “So many of us depend on the care, compassion, and love you all provide to our neighbors, friends, and families. You don’t just show up for work—you answer the call daily. With these funds, we’re putting a stake in the ground and saying we stand with our rural hospitals.”

Roane General Hospital will use the $3.7 million to fund several projects that include establishing a conference and community education center, purchasing new, state-of-the-art diagnostic radiological technology, and completing infrastructure and mechanical upgrades to the hospital’s main campus.

“For almost a half-century, Roane General Hospital has continuously worked to enhance healthcare services in Roane and surrounding counties,” said RGH Chief Executive Officer Doug Bentz. “The grant funds we’ve been awarded will help us sustain our commitment to providing high-quality care close to home and programs that address health disparities experienced by those in our region. We are tremendously grateful for this financial support.” 

Using the grant funds, Roane General Hospital intends to purchase the Freshwater Sylvanius property (formerly the McIntosh Mansion) that sits immediately adjacent to the hospital’s main campus so that it can be renovated for use as a new conference and community education center. The property, which has been a part of the area’s local history for more than 100 years, will afford the hospital the necessary space to expand its health education programs, including Prescription For Your Health®. 

“Health education plays an integral role in our ongoing initiative to improve overall community health and wellness,” said RGH Chief Clinical Officer Julie Carr. “We are excited to have the opportunity to acquire this piece of history and transform it into a space that our community members can utilize and benefit from for years to come.” 

Funding will also be used to purchase new, state-of-the-art imaging equipment for the hospital’s radiology department. Advanced technology for nuclear medicine, x-ray, and computed tomography (CT) will enhance the hospital’s ability to screen, diagnose, and treat conditions like lung cancer and cardiac disease that disproportionately affect the hospital’s patient population. 

Earlier this year, Roane General Hospital announced plans for facility upgrades to its main campus, including the installation of a new HVAC mechanical system for the hospital’s inpatient care unit. Additional funding from the Governor’s Rural Hospital Grant Program will allow RGH to expand the scope of that renovation project to include other critical functional upgrades. Renovations are expected to begin in early 2025.

For more information about Roane General Hospital and available services, visit roanegeneralhospital.org or call 304-927-4444.