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By Dr. Heather Ratliff, board certified in internal medicine and nephrology It’s a common disease that is not commonly discussed. According to recent estimates, 30 million (or 1 in 7) US adults have chronic kidney disease and millions of others are at increased risk. Most people are born with two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. The kidneys are part of your urinary tract and, when functioning properly, perform the vital function of filtering the blood and removing waste and excess salt and wat... ... Read More

RONCEVERTE, WV-If you’re thinking, “A colonoscopy?! Isn’t that a test for older people,” you may want to take a closer look at recent news from the American Cancer Society. The ACS this year altered their recommendation for timing of a first-time colon cancer screening from age 50 to age 45, for those at average risk of cancer. The change was directly tied to the rising number of younger adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancers – including many with no family history of the disease. Colon cancer i... ... Read More

Ronceverte, WV – As doctor’s offices, urgent care centers and hospitals are seeing, flu season is active, with hospitalization rates close to what they were two years ago. Flu is one of the nation's leading causes of death, with roughly 24,000 people a year dying from flu and its complications. Latest figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show the flu hitting hard in West Virginia. Greenbrier Valley Medical Center has seen a growing number of flu-symptomatic patients i... ... Read More

Ronceverte, WV-Think that burning sensation in your stomach is just the orange juice you had for breakfast? That’s possible, but it could also be a sign of peptic ulcer disease. Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in some part of the digestive tract. These sores typically form as a result of inflammation caused by the bacteria H. pylori, or from erosion caused by an imbalance of stomach acids. “Peptic ulcers are actually a common health problem, due to the dietary and environmental stressors in our cou... ... Read More

Ronceverte, WV-If, when you think of a hernia, it brings to mind a condition only your father or grandfather needed to be concerned with, you’re not alone. There are many misconceptions about hernias, and the failure to seek a proper diagnosis can lead to unnecessary suffering and risk of complications. Hernias actually affect an estimated 2% of the adult population and 4% of infants, while the estimates for adult, white males can be as high as 20%. While there are several types of hernias that can occu... ... Read More

First Responders Support Individuals and the Larger Community in Times of Emergency RONCEVERTE, WV – May 20 marks the start of National Emergency Medical Services Week, a tradition of honoring a critical segment of first responders in the U.S. for more than forty years. This year’s celebration theme is EMS Strong – Stronger Together, and is especially relevant as the first responder world has evolved. “The natural disasters of the past decade have resulted in significant changes in the role of EMS,” say... ... Read More

By Debbie Parson, Chief Nursing Officer at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center RONCEVERTE, WV – National Nurses Week will be celebrated across the nation during the week of May 6 – May 12, and this year’s theme is Inspire, Innovate and Influence. These may seem like lofty ideals, over and above the work carried out by nurses in providing patient care. But these words are a true representation of the demands and achievements of today’s nursing profession, across the spectrum of age, experience level and car... ... Read More

High blood pressure, diabetes are primary risk factors RONCEVERTE, WV -Approximately 30 million American adults have chronic kidney disease – and millions of others are at risk, but may not know it. Kidney disease is often called the “silent killer,” because it has no symptoms until the advanced stage of the disease. In fact, 1 in 7 Americans has chronic kidney disease, but many are unaware that they have it, because they do not feel ill. West Virginia has the highest per capita rate of patients startin... ... Read More

RONCEVERTE, WV - Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has earned a four star quality and safety rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The most common overall hospital quality and safety star rating is three stars. Only two southern West Virginia acute care hospitals included in the survey received a four star rating. GVMC scored above the national average in patient safety, preventing hospital acquired infections, and timeliness of care. “We are com... ... Read More

Ronceverte, WV – MDsave and Greenbrier Valley Medical Center are working together to help local residents save money and get more of the medical care they need. Through the MDsave marketplace, patients at GVMC will have access to a wide variety of medical procedures* at up-front prices as well as simplified billing and educational resources. In some cases, especially for patients on high-deductible health plans or without insurance, out-of-pocket expenses can be a barrier to individuals and families to ... ... Read More