On March 17, 2025, Boone Memorial Health (BMH) welcomed U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), showcasing recent enhancements made possible through significant federal investments secured by the senator. During her visit, Senator Capito toured the facility, met with hospital leadership, employees, and community members, and reviewed BMH’s state-of-the-art Da Vinci 5 robotic-assisted surgery system.
In August 2024, Senator Capito announced $2,202,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding to support BMH’s Surgery Enhancement Project, which included the acquisition of Intuitive’s latest robotic-assisted surgery equipment. BMH acquired the Da Vinci 5 system and began performing cases with it in January 2025.
“I have made it a priority to improve West Virginians’ access to quality health care, and I have been proud to support Boone Memorial Hospital’s efforts to expand and better its services,” Senator Capito said. “It was great to visit the hospital again today where I had the chance to meet with the hospital’s leadership, tour the facility, and see firsthand how investments through the Congressionally Directed Spending Process are making a real difference. These upgrades will help Boone Memorial continue providing critical care to the community.”
During her visit, Senator Capito tried out the Da Vinci 5 surgical robot, experiencing firsthand the precision and ease of use that now benefits patients across the region. Senator Capito spoke with BMH General Surgeon Charles Lucente, MD, FACS, whose surgical services are provided in partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals, along with surgical nurses and staff. They discussed the types of advanced procedures made possible by the Da Vinci 5 and the positive impact these enhancements have made on patient care and recovery.
Virgil Underwood, President and CEO of Boone Memorial Health, expressed gratitude for Senator Capito’s ongoing support, stating, “The $2.2 million secured through Senator Capito’s efforts has allowed us to become the second hospital in West Virginia equipped with Intuitive’s most advanced Da Vinci 5 robotic-assisted surgery system. This technology significantly improves patient outcomes, reducing recovery times and providing access to world-class specialty surgical services right here in our community. We deeply appreciate Senator Capito’s unwavering support, which enables us to continually advance our mission of delivering exceptional healthcare to Southern West Virginians.”
