Berkeley Medical Center Expands Emergency Services

The photo shows leaders from WVU Hospitals East cutting the ribbon on the new Emergency Department Observation Unit at Berkeley Medical Center.

WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center officially opened its new Emergency Department (ED) Observation Unit on Monday (Aug. 25).

Local officials, hospital leadership, physicians, nurses, and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

The new ED Observation Unit provides short-term care for patients who need additional evaluation, testing, or treatment but do not require overnight hospital admission. This model – considered best practice in leading hospitals nationwide – allows care teams to make well-informed decisions while keeping emergency beds available for patients in critical need.

“This is about people – our friends, our families, our neighbors,” Mark O’Hern, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals East, said. “We’ve all seen loved ones spend long hours in the emergency department, uncomfortable and anxious. With this Observation Unit, patients can rest in a private space, with a bathroom and meal service, while waiting for the care they need. It means faster answers, shorter waits, and better outcomes. The benefits are real for patients and for the entire community.”

“This model is vastly better for patients,” Doug Benkelman, MD, medical director of the ED Observation Unit and Bed Command Center, said. “Many patients are too sick to go home but do not require a full hospital stay. In this unit, they can recover in a calmer, more focused environment while we complete testing and make decisions about next steps. It eases stress, improves outcomes, and keeps our emergency rooms available for those in the most urgent need.”

The opening of the unit is paired with an expansion of Berkeley Medical Center’s emergency medicine workforce, including additional physicians, nurses, and support staff. Only a handful of hospitals in the region offer a dedicated Observation Unit.

“This is an investment in the health and future of our community,” Mark said. “As our region grows, we will continue to expand and innovate to make sure world-class care is always available close to home, delivered in a way that is comfortable, compassionate, and timely.”