Press Release: Concerns Mount Over West Virginia Health Facilities
Charleston, W.Va. – Ongoing issues within the West Virginia Department of Health Facilities have sparked renewed criticism from Disability Rights West Virginia. Michael Folio, Legal Director of the organization, highlighted a stark contrast between improvements in the Department of Human Services and the persistent opacity within the Department of Health Facilities during a recent interview on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
Folio expressed concern over practices at the William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital, where contract workers with histories of abuse have reportedly been rehired. He indicated a culture of retaliation exists against employees who report issues. At Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital, reports surfaced of staff falsifying safety checks following a serious patient injury.
Folio lamented the excessive operational costs at the Sharpe facility, which have reached $671 million over the past eight years, suggesting funds could be better spent on community care alternatives. He noted the state spent $100 million on contract workers last year, advising that more cost-effective solutions exist to address patient needs.
With the data publicly available, Folio urges state leaders to take action to improve outcomes and reduce costs, emphasizing the pressing nature of the ongoing crisis in West Virginia’s health facilities.
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