U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, secured approval by the House and Senate of $230,000 in the conference report on the 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill to assist with improvements to the Summers County Appalachian Regional Healthcare Hospital (ARH).

"Since its creation, Summers County ARH has brought quality health care to a rural community that would otherwise have little access to medical services," said Rahall. "This funding will go a long way to help the growing hospital to continue its mission to provide top-notch healthcare to the residents of southern West Virginia."

The funding will be used in the significant renovation and construction of a new emergency room department at the hospital. The hospital is currently planning approximately $7 million in improvements, currently in the design stage.

In FY06, the hospital treated 6,150 emergencies in a rural community with little more than 14,000 residents. Its 1,808 square feet of space posed challenges when providing for security and patient privacy rights, as it has no waiting room and patient treatment rooms cannot be viewed from the nursing station.

"Access to health care is one of the top challenges facing our nation in the 21st century. This bill will help to ensure that quality, modern healthcare services are available to the people of Summers County and rural communities across the country," Rahall said.

The conference report, which includes the 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill and the 2008 Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs Appropriations Bill, must also be approved by the U.S. Senate before being sent to the White House. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.