05/29/2026
WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) today announced a major expansion of its healthcare infrastructure with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art 28-bed medical-surgical unit.
Specifically engineered with a specialized respiratory focus, the unit directly addresses critical respiratory care needs across North Central West Virginia through early intervention and multidisciplinary teamwork.
In tandem with this physical expansion, UHC is the premier site chosen to launch Intelligent Patient Rooms. This AI-powered initiative, which will expand across WVU Medicine and was developed in partnership with hellocare.ai, uses HIPAA-compliant cameras and digital room technology to support a virtual care model, enhance patient safety, and increase care coordination.
"Our expansion and the launch of the Intelligent Patient Rooms represent a massive leap forward in how we deliver care to West Virginians and beyond," David F. Hess, M.D., UHC president and CEO and Central Region president of the WVU Health System, said.
"By combining a highly specialized, team-based respiratory unit with cutting-edge AI technology, we are ensuring our patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Furthermore, UHC will pilot additional digital room technologies in this space prior to a System-wide rollout across WVU Medicine."
Intelligent Patient Room Technology
Designed to complement bedside caregivers rather than replace them, the new rooms integrate several cutting-edge features:
• AI-Supported Virtual Observation: Non-recording cameras detect high-risk behaviors, such as fall-risk movements, and alert staff early. The system also supports pressure-injury prevention, sleep quality monitoring, and ambient safety surveillance.
• Digital Whiteboards: These whiteboards sync directly with Epic’s electronic medical record to automatically display patient care teams, daily goals, pain scores, and rounding information, minimizing manual updates.
• Digital Room Signs: External signs display crucial information, such as fall risks or isolation precautions, outside the room utilizing colored lighting for easy, at-a-glance recognition.
• Virtual Nursing: Approved care team members can securely connect with patients for virtual rounding, patient education, and admission/discharge support.
Specialized Healing Environment
The new medical-surgical unit features private rooms designed for clinical excellence and patient comfort. Key upgrades include wireless cardiac monitor for continuous monitoring and advanced patient beds built for safety, mobility support, and comfort.
By expanding access to specialized services in a high-need region, this education-driven approach directly aligns with the broader WVU Medicine mission to address health disparities, invest in workforce development, and improve health literacy for patients and their families.
