OSU Wexner Medical Center to expand east

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus has signed an affiliation agreement with Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corp., a two-hospital system based on the Ohio-West Virginia border.

Both organizations will retain independence, said OSU spokeswoman Marti Leitch. The deal is centered on OSU providing specialty care to local patients at Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, W.Va., and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry, Ohio, so they don't have to travel to Columbus, roughly a two-hour drive. The two systems may partner on cancer, cardiology, neurosurgery, urology, diabetes treatments, telemedicine and wellness programs.

OSU also may use OVMC and EORH as clinical sites for its medical students under the agreement.

“We’re excited that this affiliation will expand access to specialized medical care for many more people in our region,” OSU Wexner Medical Center CEO Dr. Steven Gabbe said in a news release. “We also see many opportunities to increase medical education and clinical research in the area, and to help OVMC/EORH create innovative health solutions for the community.”

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