Hazard ARH Remains Perry County Health Anchor, Employer and First Responder

Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center functions as the primary health care hub in Perry County, providing inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services and a range of regional specialty clinics. As part of a not for profit system that includes hospitals, multi specialty physician practices, home health agencies and retail pharmacies, ARH supports a broad continuum of services that many local families rely on for routine care and critical treatment.

The system serves roughly 350,000 residents across eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia, making its operations consequential beyond Perry County borders. ARH is also a major local employer, contributing to the county economy through direct health care jobs, clinical training roles and the operational staff that sustain round the clock services. This employment footprint affects household incomes, local tax bases and the availability of skilled health care workers in rural communities.

ARH’s involvement in emergency response is a key public health asset for Perry County. When severe weather, time sensitive medical emergencies or community wide incidents occur, an integrated regional health system can coordinate triage, transport and specialty referrals. Maintaining that capacity depends on steady staffing, access to supplies and investments in infrastructure that keep emergency departments and specialty clinics open and staffed.

For residents the most immediate concerns are access, affordability and geographic barriers to care. Rural transportation gaps, limited specialty availability close to home and economic strain among patients can create delays in treatment and increase reliance on emergency services for conditions that are better managed through primary care. Strengthening local primary care capacity, expanding telehealth where broadband allows and sustaining workforce training programs are policy levers that can improve equity and reduce long term costs for families and the health system.

For appointments, emergency care and the most current service listings, residents should contact Hazard ARH directly or consult ARH’s official website for hours and locations. Preserving and enhancing the services offered in Perry County will require continued attention from health system leaders, policymakers and community partners to ensure that care remains accessible and that the hospital remains a stable economic and public health anchor.