(a) The state long-term care ombudsman, or the designee of the state long-term care ombudsman, may, in the course of any investigation carried out pursuant to section ten of this article:
(1) Apply to the circuit court of the appropriate county or the circuit court of the county of Kanawha for the issuance of a subpoena to compel at a specific time and place, by subpoena, the appearance, before a person authorized to administer oaths, the sworn testimony of any person whom the state or regional long-term care ombudsman reasonably believes may be able to give information relating to a matter under investigation; or