When you walk through the doors of Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center, you enter a facility with deep roots in eastern Kentucky and the backing of one of Appalachia's largest health systems. The 192-bed acute care hospital sits along KY Route 321 in Prestonsburg, serving as the primary healthcare resource for Floyd, Johnson, Martin, and Magoffin counties. Originally established in 1972, the hospital joined the Appalachian Regional Healthcare system in August 2019 as its 13th facility, gaining access to systemwide resources, specialty networks, and capital investment while maintaining its local identity and community focus.
Highlands ARH holds Level IV Trauma Center designation and carries the Bronze Stroke Certificate from the American Heart Association. The hospital maintains DNV certifications for Cancer Care and Chest Pain, reflecting organizational commitment to clinical excellence in the conditions most prevalent in this region. The oncology program operates as part of ARH's Commission on Cancer accredited network, connecting you to evidence-based protocols and quality standards while providing local access to patients who would otherwise travel hours for care.
The medical staff at Highlands ARH spans the major specialties needed to serve a community hospital population. You will find colleagues in cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, neurology, general surgery, orthopedics, and OB/GYN, among others. The hospital operates a full emergency department, labor and delivery unit, behavioral health services, and comprehensive imaging capabilities. An internal medicine residency program launched at Highlands in 2024, with four residents now rotating through the facility. This teaching presence brings academic energy to the hospital and creates opportunities for clinical collaboration with residents interested in oncology exposure.
The hospital recently opened a six-bed Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, reflecting ongoing capital investment in the facility. Labor and delivery volume has grown from 460 births in 2023 to 491 in 2024, demonstrating community confidence in the hospital and population stability in the service area. The partnership with UK Kentucky Children's Hospital provides transfer capabilities for cases requiring higher-level NICU care, illustrating how ARH leverages academic relationships to extend capabilities beyond what a standalone community hospital could offer.
ARH Oncology Associates-Highlands operates as a department of the medical center, located in Suite 1001 of the Medical Office Building at 5000 KY Route 321. The clinic runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with dedicated exam rooms, infusion capacity, and on-site oncology pharmacy support. The clinic is currently undergoing renovation to expand capacity and improve the patient experience. Rebecca Conley, APRN, FNP-C, provides continuity of care for established patients and accepts new patients, offering you immediate support and an experienced partner who understands the local patient population.
The infusion services at Highlands are supported by trained oncology nurses with access to the full ARH oncology pharmacy network. For patients requiring radiation therapy, Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center is approximately one hour away, with Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator technology and a radiation oncology team. ARH is actively expanding radiation capabilities, with a Certificate of Need approved and $15 million in state funding secured for a new linear accelerator at Bell County/Middlesboro. This investment signals ARH's commitment to keeping cancer care local and reducing travel burden for patients across the system.
ARH is a not-for-profit health system operating 14 hospitals across eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia, with more than 6,300 employees, 1,300 providers, and 102 clinics. The system traces its origins to the Miners Memorial Hospital Association, established by the United Mine Workers of America. The original facilities were dedicated on January 5, 1956, with dignitaries including former UMWA President John Lewis and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in attendance. The organization adopted the name Appalachian Regional Healthcare in 1986 and has since grown to become the largest provider of care in the central Appalachian region.
The ARH mission is direct: to improve health and promote well-being of all people in Central Appalachia in partnership with our communities. The vision statement positions ARH as the premier destination for quality care, a driver of advancement and development, and a leader in health for the communities it serves. The organizational values of Trust, Compassion, Service, Innovation, and Collaboration guide daily operations and strategic decision-making. In 2024, ARH adopted a formal Culture Statement built on these values, with leadership training completed by nearly 700 ARH leaders.
ARH hospitals have earned recognition from national quality organizations. Forbes named ARH one of America's Best-in-State Employers. U.S. News & World Report recognized four ARH hospitals as High Performing for COPD and Congestive Heart Failure treatment: Beckley, Harlan, Hazard, and Tug Valley. The oncology program carries Commission on Cancer accreditation from the American College of Surgeons, and the cardiology programs hold American College of Cardiology chest pain center accreditation. ARH achieved Level 8 ranking in CHIME's Most Wired Health Systems survey for both Ambulatory and Acute Care, the fourth consecutive year the system received this technology recognition.
The system has invested in artificial intelligence and clinical technology to improve care delivery. Current AI implementations include Artisight virtual nursing, Ceribell.EEG for neurological monitoring, Viz.AI for stroke analysis, and Volpara for mammography quality assurance. Weekly tumor boards connect oncologists across the system, and the UK Markey Cancer Center affiliation provides access to clinical trials, tumor board consultation, and a dedicated ARH nurse liaison at the academic center in Lexington.
ARH serves as the economic backbone of many eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia communities. The system paid $369 million in wages in FY24 and invested $40 million in capital projects. ARH contributed $26 million in financial assistance and charity care and tracked more than $5.6 million in community benefit activities. The ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities supports disaster relief, employee assistance, and community health initiatives. Following the catastrophic July 2022 floods in eastern Kentucky, ARH established a Disaster Relief Center that continues to distribute approximately $1 million in supplies monthly to affected families.
The system is actively investing in workforce development to address healthcare staffing challenges in the region. ARH awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships in 2024 for students pursuing healthcare careers, with employment commitments of one to three years. The system invested more than $300,000 in tuition reimbursement for current employees advancing their education. An Allied Health Training Academy is launching at the ARH Medical Mall in Hazard with support from a $6.7 million federal grant, providing LPN, medical assistant, and nursing assistant training in partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
For additional information about Appalachian Regional Healthcare, its history, and strategic priorities, the following resources provide comprehensive background:
Joining ARH means joining an organization with the resources and reach of a regional health system combined with the mission focus of a community provider. You will practice at a facility invested in growth, supported by colleagues across the system, and connected to academic resources through the UK Markey Cancer Center partnership. The oncology program at Highlands represents an opportunity to build something meaningful for a community that needs your expertise.
