WVU Health System welcomes five new hospitals

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, Frick Hospital, Latrobe Hospital, and Westmoreland Hospital, as well as their affiliated physician practices and outpatient facilities, officially joined the West Virginia University Health System today (Oct. 1). Previously operated under the Independence Health System brand, the hospitals will begin operating under the WVU Medicine brand immediately.

"This marks an exciting and important moment for these hospitals and the communities they serve as they join our network of care across the region," Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said. "We are grateful to the board members and leaders of these hospitals for placing their trust in us to build upon their success and create new opportunities for growth. We take that responsibility seriously."

The WVU Health System has committed $800 million over the next five years to modernize the hospitals, including Butler Memorial Hospital's emergency room and Westmoreland Hospital's campus; grow clinical services; and expand access to high-quality care across the communities they serve.

"We will invest in their people, programs, and physical infrastructure to ensure the hospitals remain strong for generations to come," Wright continued. "We're here for the long term, and together, we're going to do great things."

In January 2025, WVU Medicine Westmoreland Hospital partnered with WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital to enhance Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services for the county's most vulnerable patients, a partnership that ultimately led to a broader affiliation and today's announcement.

Patients can visit WVUMedicine.org/WesternPA for answers to frequently asked questions about the transition, including what it means for their care, providers, appointments, insurance, and other important aspects of their healthcare experience.

Recognized for their excellence in cardiology, orthopedics, and surgical services and committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care close to home, the hospitals have a combined bed count of 925, more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, and nearly 7,000 employees. They serve a population base of 750,000 across a footprint spanning more than 10 counties in Pennsylvania.

About the WVU Health System
The West Virginia University Health System is a West Virginia-based academic health system that provides the full continuum of healthcare services at 30 hospitals in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. With more than 47,000 employees, of which 7,200 are providers, and $10 billion in total operating revenues, the WVU Health System is anchored by an 890-bed academic medical center and the 150-bed WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. To learn more, visit WVUMedicine.org.

–WVU MEDICINE–

Media Inquiries:
Angela S. Jones, WVU Health System Assistant Vice President of Media and Marketing Communications, [email protected] 

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SOURCE West Virginia University Hospitals Inc