New grant helps Boone Memorial Health expand [Video]

BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Christmas came early to eight rural hospitals Tuesday, as Gov. Jim Justice distributed $40 million in the Rural Hospital Grant Funding.

When Boone Memorial Health Dr. Amy Sayre returned home, she wanted to offer new services to patients and the community.

“I am always excited for any new services I can offer,” Dr. Sayre said. “Anything that we can do to help this area.”

Boone Memorial Health was awarded a $5,894,527 grant through Gov. Jim Justice’s rural hospital grant program.

“I’m really ecstatic,” said Boone Memorial Health CEO Virgil Underwood. “I’m really, really happy.”

The grant will support the development of the first cancer center in Boone County’s history, construct a behavioral health clinic in Chapmanville, more observation beds at Boone Memorial Hospital, and invest in robotic surgery equipment.

Dr. Sayre says that offering these services closer to home is crucial for patients.

“They can come here and get …