NEWS RELEASE – June 25, 2026
Beckley ARH Hospital offers new treatment of coronary artery disease
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Beckley ARH Hospital recently began using the new Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter to help treat calcified coronary artery disease.
Dr. Melaku Demede, an interventional cardiologist with Beckley ARH, said the device is an upgrade on the previous shockwave catheter, as it provides greater flexibility and efficiency in both the treatment of calcium buildup and in the placement of stents.
“This therapy is extremely helpful in opening the artery to help us crush the calcium or to place the stent when needed,” he said. “It’s much easier to use in comparison to the previous catheter which could be cumbersome to use so this is very exciting and important.”
Coronary Artery Disease – the leading cause of death in the United States – is caused by a progressive buildup of cholesterol deposits which gradually narrow blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the heart muscles.
The Shockwave C2 therapy helps break up the cholesterol deposits that often accumulate calcium and harden, potentially causing chest pain and heart attacks.
Beckley ARH CEO Todd Howell said the treatment allows patients to receive advanced care close to home.
“Patients don’t want to, and shouldn’t have to, travel far from home to receive healthcare,” he said. “So, we’re very pleased to offer this service, which further demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality care to the community we serve.”
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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.