Photos Provided Phil Laux, right, vice president of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s Provider Practice Division, speaks to Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley and others in a planning session for the multisystem health, education, training and community center to be designated “the Bridge.” The Bridge will host a clinic courtesy of WVU Medicine.

BRIDGEPORT — WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital was welcomed to the family of service providers that will be housed in the multipurpose facility dubbed “the Bridge” to be erected on Bridgeport Exempted Village School District campus.

Health care and activities were the focus when stakeholders came together on March 5 for one of the many planning sessions accompanying the design phase.

Since announcing $13 million in state funding has been secured for a 28,500-square-foot expansion to serve the surrounding communities’ health, training and other needs, the district has invited residents and service providers from a wide range of fields to give their input on what the Bridge can offer.

The group heard from Phil Laux, vice president of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s Provider Practice Division, which will be opening a clinic in the Bridge.

The hospital is celebrating its 175th anniversary, and this is one more way to mark the milestone by serving the community.

According to a statement from WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, it has long been known as an anchor hospital in the state of West Virginia, but many may not know it was actually the first hospital in West Virginia.

The hospital was founded on March 12, 1850, predating the state of West Virginia itself. In 1853, at the request of Bishop Richard Whelan, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in Wheeling to staff the hospital. Today, the hospital operates as a 223-bed acute care facility, supported by a team of more than 225 highly skilled primary care and specialty physicians.

“We are proud of our history of service and are thankful to all who have been a part of the last 175 years,” the statement concludes.

Laux discussed the placement of the labs and examination rooms in the Bridge clinic, as well as designing the examination rooms to allow for patient privacy. Laux said the rooms looked to be of sufficient size to meet their needs.

The design philosophy is to use the same space for multiple purposes, so a clinic staff of about three or four is expected to be in residence part of the week, and the rooms will be used for dental services the rest of the time.

Talk turned to the placement of refrigerators for vaccines. There may also be telehealth services available. The hospital will provide a list of equipment the clinic will need and coordinate with the school district to purchase that equipment.

Laux was optimistic, saying this sounds like a good project.

Promoting healthy activity goes hand-in-hand with medical services. Along with a gym and other types of sports, the Bridge will also house a golf simulator. School board member Don Cash has said golf is proving a popular pastime, and he expects the simulator to attract players. Brent Sloan, a founder of Murphy Golf Simulators, was invited to speak.

There will likely be two golf simulators separated by a wall to allow for varied groups of golfers to use the space at the same time. Issues for consideration included the height of the ceilings, lighting and the placement of turf.

Project Manager and Designer Ivan Vukcevich with the SHP interdisciplinary design group said the design phase was reaching its culmination, and designers incorporated the stakeholders’ ideas in fine tuning the Bridge plans. Senior Interior Designer Katy Goettl with SHP led much of the discussion as she called up floor plans for medical, then recreational areas.

The Bridge will also offer day care, labs for students’ hands-on learning during school hours and workforce training after school, space for community events, an office for the Medicaid-funded OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), which connects young people who have behavioral and multisystem needs with the resources that will most benefit them, and much more. The Bridge promises to help thousands in Bridgeport and the surrounding communities by offering valuable services close to home.

Construction on the Bridge must be completed by the end of 2026. Information including community suggestions and responses can be found at the district website, bridgeportschools.net. More information will be released on the district app. Anyone with questions can call the district office at 740-635-1713 or brent.ripley@bridgeportschools.net.