LRMC CEO highlights community health fair as hospital marks 100 years
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Shana Nelson | WVOW News
LOGAN As Logan Regional Medical Center marks its 100th anniversary, hospital leaders say the milestone is not just about looking back. It’s also about improving community health today, particularly through efforts to raise awareness and prevention in the area.
In the latest episode of “LRMC and You” on WVOW, CEO Justin Turner highlighted several initiatives the hospital is focusing on this year, including a community health fair centered on Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
The event is scheduled for March 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chief Logan Recreation Center and will feature a range of free health services and educational opportunities.
The fair will include free lab work, blood pressure checks, diabetic education, hernia screenings, stroke education, giveaways, and more. Medical professionals will also be on hand to answer questions, including Dr. Salem.
The Marshall Health Network “Marco Bus” will also be at the event offering free screenings, while diabetic education services will be provided in partnership with Coalfield Health Center.
Turner said partnerships like these help expand access to healthcare services.
“In today’s healthcare scene, we have to do more partnerships… Because it's for the betterment of the community too. It’s more access to people. And you know, working together is always better than working against each other,” Turner explained.
For Turner, the upcoming fair also carries a personal connection.
He shared that about ten years ago, LRMC hosted a similar event. Turner encouraged his father, then in his late 50s, to attend and learn more about screenings. After participating, his father scheduled a colonoscopy, where physicians discovered colon cancer.
Turner credits early detection with saving his father’s life. He said the experience showed him the importance of routine screenings and community outreach events that encourage people to take proactive steps with their health.
In addition to the health fair, Turner discussed other efforts underway at the hospital. One recent addition is a drive-through laboratory service, designed to make routine testing more convenient for patients.
Located near Doctor’s Park by the Kruger Building, the service allows patients to remain in their vehicles while staff perform blood draws. Turner said the option can be particularly helpful for patients with mobility challenges or families with small children.
Turner, who became CEO last year, said the hospital’s mission is rooted in its staff and the community it serves. That philosophy is reflected in LRMC’s new tagline, “This is Home." He said the phrase reflects the culture of the hospital and the relationships among employees and patients.
“When you have people that have been there 56 years, 52 years, 50 years, 40 years… There are several people that have spent their life there, that have grown up there. This is not just a place to work,” Turner said. “It’s a place to come to family.”
As part of its 100-year celebration, the hospital is also planning a community event later this year, which could include a concert on the island in Logan. While details are still being finalized, Turner said organizers hope to hold the celebration sometime in August.
LRMC also continues to expand patient support programs, including a monthly stroke support group held on the last Thursday of each month for stroke survivors, caregivers, and family members.
Turner said the hospital remains focused on upgrading technology, strengthening partnerships, and improving convenience for patients as it enters its next century of service.
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