The History of Valley Health
Valley Health (VH) began in 1975 and opened three clinics in 1976. Currently Valley Health operates 28 health centers and public health programs. VH in collaboration with the Children's Health Fund, began the operation of the unique West Virginia Children's Health Project, a mobile medical unit that has taken medical care directly to children in isolated areas since 1992. Additionally, VH expanded in 1991 to become the largest regional lead agency for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, serving six counties of which two are the most urban counties in West Virginia. Rural Wayne County was in need of primary health care due to numerous closures of health clinics in southwestern West Virginia. VH recognized the medically underserved population and expanded primary care services to southern Wayne County by opening Valley Health Stepptown through the Bureau of Primary Care expansion dollars in the early 1990's. VH received the federal Health Care for the Homeless grant that oversees not only the Harmony House Homeless Clinic located in Huntington, but homeless programs throughout the state of West Virginia including Charleston, Wheeling and Morgantown. Most recently, Valley Health Harts (Robert C. Byrd Center) expanded through construction of a new building and Valley Health Huntington has expanded the family health center hours until 9PM weekdays. VH expanded their OB/GYN services by opening Valley Health - A Woman's Place (Huntington, WV), Valley Health - Ironton (Ironton, Ohio) and Valley Health Huntington to meet women's health demands.
Valley Health has been the leader in providing excellent community-based health care for 28 years. Steven L. Shattls, MPA Hospital and Health Care Administration, is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for VH. Mr. Shattls has been with the organization for over 26 years and has been instrumental in building the organization from three rural health sites to 22 health centers and public health programs. In addition, Mr. Shattls is past president of the Center for Rural Health and Development, and Chair, West Virginia Primary Care Association Public Issues Committee. Richard Weinberger, CPA is a seasoned veteran of primary health and community health centers.
Throughout the 28-year history, VH has been an annual recipient of dollars awarded through Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Additionally, VH has managed and directly supervised grant programs such as the federal Community Health Center (CHC) Perinatal Grant; federal Rural Health Outreach Grants; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funding; the federal Community Access Program (CAP); and the federal Black Lung Clinic grant through the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. VH has been both a grantee and a sub-grantor for the federal Health Care for the Homeless program that includes four sites throughout West Virginia. Throughout this time, VH has demonstrated a record of responsible grant oversight and sound fiscal management.
The Quality Assurance (QA) committee of VH, comprised of medical providers, has been monitoring clinical measures since 1994. Patient satisfaction is done on an annual basis by written and phone survey. The Board of Directors for VH performs an annual evaluation and an independent audit is performed each year as well.
VH undergoes an independent audit each year, under Circular a-133. As such, Valley's operational systems, fiscal viability and internal controls over these systems are evaluated by outside auditors. VH has always received an unqualified opinion with no significant findings related to its operations.