At Appalachian Regional Healthcare our culture is defined by who we are – our history, our family, our traditions, and our story. A culture that embodies the resilient spirit of Appalachia.
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Mission, Vision, Values
ARH Mission
To improve health and promote well-being of all people in Central Appalachia in partnership with our communities.
ARH Vision
ARH will be the premier destination for quality care, a driver of advancement and development, and a leader in health for the communities we serve.
ARH Values
- Trust
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Compassion
- Service
Culture Statement
SERVICE is our foundation; we honor our communities everyday by delivering healthcare that changes lives and an environment that promotes well-being for all.
TRUST is our core; every action is rooted in honesty, empathy, and integrity; fostering connections with one another, with our patients, and with our communities.
COMPASSION drives our purpose; It’s not just treating people but how we treat each other that sets us apart. Enriching the collective strength of our team by bringing together a global workforce to provide local care.
COLLABORATION is our strength; we are one family taking care of all families. Committed to fostering an inclusive team full of unique perspectives, experiences, and talents at every level that enhances our service.
INNOVATION is our compass; we adapt the way we work and advance the way we care. Providing unique solutions to exceed the healthcare needs of the patients of our region.
Our History
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is a not-for-profit health system operating 14 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas. ARH employs around 6,700 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $474 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 1,300 providers on staff across its multi-state system. ARH is the largest provider of care, the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky, and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.
ARH Impact on our Communities
In 1956, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and thousands of citizens in the coal communities dedicated the Miners Memorial Hospital Association’s (MMHA) facilities. The system’s hospitals were located in Harlan, Hazard, McDowell, Middlesboro, Whitesburg, Pikeville and South Williamson, Kentucky; Man and Beckley, West Virginia; and Wise, Virginia. By the early 1960s, MMHA announced its intention to close some of the hospitals and soon after the Board of National Missions formed a new and independent not-for-profit health system Appalachian Regional Hospitals (ARH)–that purchased the Miners Memorial Hospitals. The health system changed its name in 1986 to Appalachian Regional Healthcare to more accurately describe its far-ranging services.
Today, we operate hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, South Williamson, West Liberty and Whitesburg in Kentucky; as well as Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia. ARH has always responded to the changing demands of rural healthcare. Over the years, we have built and acquired new facilities as well as invested in new technology and medical capabilities.