192-bed Prestonsburg hospital will become 12th in ARH system

The hospital will become Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center.

Continuing the trend of hospital consolidation, Prestonsburg-based Highlands Health System will become part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the hospital firms announced Friday. They said they hope to complete the merger early next year.

"It has been very important to us to identify a strong organization that can continue to provide the same level of advanced healthcare services our patients have come to expect from Highlands as well as position the hospital for continued growth in the future," Highlands President Harold C. Warman said. "Appalachian Regional Healthcare has been the leading provider of care in Eastern Kentucky for more than 60 years and in that time the health system has been consistently recognized for its quality and commitment to excellent patient care."

The 192-bed Highlands Regional Medical Center "will become the 12th hospital in the ARH system," a news release said. "All other Highlands outpatient services and facilities in Floyd, Johnson, Martin and Magoffin counties are also included in the merger."