BSC and PCH sign MOU

                Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that affirms their commitment to explore opportunities for repurposing the Princeton Community Hospital/BRMC facilities.  The collaboration would create the opportunity for BSC to utilize current excess capacity at the former Bluefield Regional Medical Center facility to provide educational training for high demand health care professionals.  PCH Chief Executive Officer Jeff Lilley and BSC President Robin Capehart signed the MOU during a news conference and agreement signing ceremony at PCH/BRMC on Tuesday.

The mutual commitment of PCH and BSC to providing high quality health care services to this region’s residents serves as the foundation for the MOU.  The College’s health sciences programs would be relocated to the PCH/BRMC facility, new health science programs could be offered in high-need fields identified by either PCH or the College, and student housing could be provided by BSC at PCH/BRMC.

                 PCH CEO Jeff Lilley commented, “Change in our environment and community has certainly been prevalent in 2020. This opportunity for PCH to collaborate with identifying common needs and goals with BSC is a tremendous achievement in the making.  PCH looks forward to this relationship and is interested in finding early wins with strategies developed for the long-term.”

 “The opportunity for Bluefield State College to collaborate with Princeton Community Hospital and utilize the former BRMC facility holds tremendous potential for everyone,” noted President Capehart.  “The PCH/BRMC building is an outstanding structure and can be adapted readily for use as an educational facility, benefiting our current and future students, our faculty, and ultimately the residents of this region.  We are also exploring aspirational health care programs.  In addition, we believe that we can create student housing on site for 150 students.”

The MOU sets forth the parameters for the collaboration for “repurposing a portion of BRMC for educational use.”  Noting that the availability of food services is important to both BSC students and hospital employees, the hospital and BSC agree to negotiate a plan to provide such services within the facility.

PCH Board Chairman Rusty Sarver stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for students in our region to have additional career and educational options close to home. Expanding healthcare education in Mercer County will be beneficial to our community, residents and hospital.”

“The collaboration between Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State is the embodiment of the ‘college-community’ relationship that improves life for everyone,” BSC Board Chair Garry Moore added.  “The BRMC building, which has long been so important to the City of Bluefield and the region, can once again come alive as this MOU evolves.  The result can be a blessing for all of us.”

(photo cutline)—Princeton Community Hospital CEO Jeff Lilley (left) and Bluefield State College President Robin Capehart the Memorandum of Understanding they signed on behalf of PCH and BSC during a September 1 ceremony at PCH/Bluefield Regional Medical Center.  The MOU affirms their commitment to explore opportunities for repurposing the PCH/BRMC facilities.  The College’s health sciences programs would be relocated at PCH/BRMC, new health science programs could be offered in high-need fields, and student housing could be provided by BSC at PCH/BRMC.