T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Trinity Health System’s Neighborhood Hospital opened its doors in July.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Trinity Health System’s Neighborhood Hospital opened its doors in July.

The facility sits along U.S. 40 just east of Plaza West and is a two-story building that offers 10 emergency room beds and six inpatient beds as well as radiology and laboratory suites.

Trinity opening its doors in Belmont County comes at a much needed time due to the closure of East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry this past March.

During the grand opening, Dwayne Richardson, president and CEO of Twin City Medical Center, said that at the beginning of the journey to create the new facility, the plan was to have 40 to 50 ER visits per day. Officials, however, are expecting more than that now due to the closure of EORH.

​​Director of Operations Jamie Betts added that since the ribbon cutting, the neighborhood hospital has been working through its final processes and making sure that everything works appropriately, as well as completing the final stages of the hospital’s construction.

Belmont County Commissioner Jerry Echemann said residents constantly tell him the Ohio Valley needs more variety in hospitals.

Trinity Health System was recently celebrated for using a local union contractor for the construction of its new Neighborhood Hospital by Project BEST.

Richardson said since the announcement of the Neighborhood Hospital, Trinity Hospital made it a priority to work with local labor and contractors.

He added that he’s proud to be partnered with local union contractors and laborers, not just through the initial construction project, but continuing to take care of the facility.

The hospital has continued to play an active supportive role in the community. It recently partnered with Cumberland Trail Fire District for the inaugural Teddy Bear Drive that collected over 100 teddy bears. The teddy bears that were collected will be given to children who have a medical emergency or medical need at St. Clairsville Neighborhood Hospital as well as the hospital’s Steubenville and Denison locations.

“We really appreciate the community’s efforts in this and really appreciate the individual that reached out to the fire department who came up with the idea that wants to remain unnamed, [we] just want to thank them,” Betts said. “Children throughout the holiday season will now be able to receive some comfort when they’re receiving emergency care.”