Contact & Appointment Information
- Hospice of Southern West Virginia
P.O. Box 1472
Beckley, WV 25802-1472 - Phone: (304) 255-6404
Email: info@hospiceofsouthernwv.org
Department: Hospice Care and Family Medicine
About Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger, MD
In Appalachia’s healthcare world, medicine stays personal and community-focused. Few doctors leave a mark like Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger, MD. He ranks among America’s Top 50 Doctors. As a board-certified family physician and Medical Director at Hospice of Southern West Virginia (HSWV), he gives his career to kind, respectful, patient-first care. He excels in life’s hardest times.
His hospice work shows top-level medical kindness. He cares for sick patients and their families at life’s end. Besides leading hospice, he runs a private practice in Shady Spring, West Virginia. He started there in 1986.
This full article covers his path in medicine, hospice leadership, skills, and human values that shape his work.
A Lifelong Bond with West Virginia Communities
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger’s medical path links tightly to West Virginia. He picked this area after his training. For decades, he has served the people without fail. He knows their needs, ways, and beliefs well.
He moved to the Beckley area in 1986. There, he built a career on trust, steady care, and kindness. His long stay makes him more than a doctor. He is a known, trusted part of many family lives.
Education and Medical Training
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger studied at two top West Virginia schools:
West Virginia University Marshall University
They gave him solid skills in medicine for family practice and local health care.
In training, he grew keen on:
Full patient care, Preventing sickness, Handling long-term diseases, Local health services
This start in whole-person medicine formed his way of seeing patients as full people with body, heart, and social needs.
Board Certification in Family Medicine
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger holds Family Practice board certification. It shows his skill in full healthcare for all ages.
Family medicine needs a wide knowledge of:
Sudden and ongoing sicknesses, Preventive health, Kids’ and adults’ medicine, Elder care, Lasting patient ties
This wide base lets him act as the main doctor and family health guide across the years.
Early Career and Practice Start in Beckley
After training, Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger started practice near Beckley in 1986. Over the years, he became key to local health.
His Shady Spring practice offers steady care. It builds ties on trust, reliability, and honor.
His long family medicine work gives him sharp views on community health shifts. He covers kids to adults and elders.
Leadership at Hospice of Southern West Virginia
In December 2013, Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger became Medical Director at Hospice of Southern West Virginia (HSWV). This role stands at his career’s core now.
He leads the hospice team. He makes sure patients get kind, team-based care at life’s end.
His duties cover:
Medical care plans for hospice patients, Pain and symptom plans, Teamwork support, Quality care focused on comfort, Medical lead at Bowers Hospice House
He spends much time at Bowers Hospice House. His watch covers all HSWV patients in the area.
Hospice Care Beliefs
Hospice focuses on comfort, respect, and good quality of life, not cures. Dr. Pitsenbarger’s lead shows he gets this.
He holds that end care centers on:
Pain ease and symptom check Heart and mind help Family roles and advice Patient choice respect Respect at every step
With his lead, hospice turns into a kind path for patients and kin.
Bowers Hospice House: Comfort Spot
Much of Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger’s hospice care happens at Bowers Hospice House. It gives calm, helpful end-of-life care.
There, patients get:
Round-the-clock doctor and nurse care, Pain and symptom help, Heart and spirit aid, Family talk and help services
His lead keeps the place strong on respect, ease, and custom care.
Linking Family Medicine and Hospice
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger stands out by joining family medicine and hospice.
His family practice background helps him:
Know patient stories over time, form firm family bonds, keep care steady in all places, and help with hard health choices
This join makes the hospice entry smooth. It cuts family worry.
A Doctor for Community Health
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger’s work captures community medicine’s heart. Care connects close to those it helps.
He knows rural southern West Virginia health needs:
Easy access Trust ties Steady long-term care Custom care ways
His decades in one spot prove his hold on these ideas.
Skills in Family Practice
Beyond the hospice lead, Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger runs a full private practice. He gives broad main care.
His skills include:
Wellness checks and prevention Chronic ills like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, sudden sickness care Elder health Family health planning
He cares for all life stages. This makes him the go-to for whole families.
Kind Patient Care Style
Folks respect Dr. Pitsenbarger’s kind way of medicine. In the chronic care or hospice guide, he stresses heart and grasp.
He puts weight on:
True listening to patients, Choice respect, Heart support, Care with honor
This way wins trust from many West Virginia patients and families.
Help for Families at Life’s End
Key in his hospice role is family aid.
He assists families to:
Grasp illness steps, Handle heart stress, Choose smart health paths, Face loss and sad times
His being there brings calm in hard spots.
Team Health Leader
As Medical Director, Dr. Pitsenbarger teams with:
Nurses, Social workers, Chaplains, Home aides,, Counselors
This team effort covers each part of patient care: medical, emotional, and spiritual.
His guidance builds teamwork and strong bonds among staff.
Long Service in West Virginia
Dr. Pitsenbarger’s career covers close to 40 years in West Virginia. His firm dedication shows through:
Work in rural health, close community links Steady patient care Key roles in medical leadership
He acts as both a doctor and a strong support in local health care.
Personal Life and Beliefs
Beyond his work, Dr. Pitsenbarger cherishes family and close ties. He likes:
Cooking Time with his wife, Joyce, Moments with kids and grandkids
These likes show the same kindness and care he gives in his practice.
His home life highlights balance, empathy, and real connections.
Honor as One of America’s Top 50 Doctors
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger’s spot among America’s Top 50 Doctors points to his top work in family medicine and hospice care.
This award shows:
Top clinical skills, Hospice leadership, Care with heart, Years of service to the West Virginia areas
It proves the wide reach of his local work.
Why Hospice Care Matters
Hospice care fills a key spot in health today. It stresses comfort and good living over cures.
Dr. Pitsenbarger’s efforts give patients:
Pain control Emotional ease Help for families Honest end-of-life care
His guidance shifts how areas handle old age, sickness, and end-of-life dignity.
Conclusion: A Lasting Mark of Kindness and Care
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger, MD, stands for top kind medicine. Here, skill meets heart, and care goes past fixes to support and respect.
From years in family care in Shady Spring to his lead at Hospice of Southern West Virginia, he leaves a deep mark on patients and kin.
His efforts make sure those with grave illness get support with honor, respect, and kindness.
As a doctor, leader, and helper, Dr. Pitsenbarger’s mark comes from skill and the lives he warmed with care and heart.
FAQs
Q. Who is Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger, MD?
Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger is a board-certified family doctor and Medical Director at Hospice of Southern West Virginia. He ranks among America’s Top 50 Doctors for his leadership in hospice and main care.
Q. What is Bowers Hospice House?
It is a full-time hospice spot. It gives round-the-clock end-of-life care in a calm place for patients and families.
Q. What are Dr. Pitsenbarger’s main interests?
His top focuses cover: Hospice and comfort care, Elder care, Primary care, Long-term illness handling, and Senior wellness
Q. Is Dr. Pitsenbarger board-certified?
Yes. He holds certification in Family Medicine.
Q. When did he join Hospice of Southern West Virginia?
He started as Medical Director in December 2013.
Q. What sets his care style apart?
His style blends years in family care with a kind hospice lead. It keeps steady, honored care.
Q. Why does he rank among America’s Top 50 Doctors?
He earns it for top family medicine, hospice lead, and full-time patient-first care in West Virginia.
Q. How to reach Hospice of Southern West Virginia?
Hospice of Southern West Virginia P.O. Box 1472 Beckley, WV 25802-1472 Phone: (304) 255-6404 Email: info@hospiceofsouthernwv.org