LEXINGTON, Ky. – Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) has again been recognized with a Level 8 achievement in ambulatory and acute care in the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ (CHIME) 2025 Digital Most Wired Survey.

This is the fourth consecutive year ARH has received the Level 8 recognition in the survey that includes more than 50,000 facilities worldwide and evaluates the adoption, integration and impact of technologies across health care organizations, from early-stage adopters to industry leaders.

The achievement places ARH in the top tier of providers in key focus areas including clinical quality and safety, analytics and data management, cybersecurity, population health, infrastructure, patient engagement and innovation.

ARH Chief Information Officer Montie Hodge said he is proud of the system’s performance, noting top level recognition in two specific areas.

“We have made tremendous strides in AI innovation, and this recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, collaboration and commitment to advancing health care through technology,” he said.

As the system moves forward with its early adoption of AI technology, Hodge said its work in cybersecurity remains at the forefront, as noted in the survey results.

“Our strong cybersecurity posture is a key factor in our recognition by CHIME’s Most Wired program, and it reflects our commitment to protecting our patients and systems,” he said. “This progress is a direct result of our vigilance, collaboration, and dedication to best practices across the organization.”

The Digital Health Most Wired survey serves as a comprehensive evaluation and digital maturity report card for healthcare organizations across the globe. As success in digital transformation increasingly influences the quality and accessibility of care, the CHIME survey recognition program reflects the progress of leading providers as they reshape the future of health care.

Hodge said is proud of ARH’s performance but said it is important for his team to stay vigilant in its efforts to ensure the 14-hospital system continues to provide top level, safe and innovative care to the residents of central Appalachia.

“Achieving an overall Level 8 rating in CHIME’s Most Wired program is a tremendous accomplishment,” he said. “While we can be proud of this success, we must also recognize that we still have a mountain to climb in fully harnessing technology to transform care and operations.

“That is why we vow to stay focused, collaborative, and forward-thinking as we continue this journey together.”

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