HINTON, W.Va. – A bipartisan appropriations package backed by United States Senator Joe Manchin will allow Summers County ARH Hospital to move forward with the long-awaited renovation and expansion of its Emergency Department.

The funding, approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, will provide $3 million of the estimated $3.6 million project.

It’s a project that ARH Vice President of External Affairs Rocky Massey said has been discussed since 1994, when ARH assumed control of the facility and entered into a long-term lease with the Summers County Commission.

“This project has been a dream for us and for the people in the community for a long time,” Massey said. “Now, thanks to the appropriation from Sen. Manchin and the working partnership with the Summers County Commission, that dream is finally going to come to fruition.”

Summers County Commission President Charles Saunders also expressed his gratitude to both Manchin and to U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who serves alongside Manchin on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“It’s wonderful to have two senators from West Virginia on the Appropriations Committee, and we’re very appreciative of their support,” Saunders said.

Manchin said he was proud to secure the funding, which will support the critical efforts of Summers County ARH Hospital and improve the quality of services for its patients.

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support patients, healthcare professionals and facilities in Summers County and across the Mountain State,” he said.

The project calls for the construction of a new Emergency Department, as well as the renovation of the current space which will become ED support rooms.

“We’ve designed a model that will allow for easy access to the ED to help streamline care and minimize wait time,” said Summers County ARH CEO Joey Preast.

Highlights of the new space, he said, will include a separate waiting area, treatment rooms designed with an emphasis on patient privacy, and a new EMS bay.

“Right now, walk-ins and patients brought in by EMS come in the same door,” he explained. “So, we’ve designed a pull-through EMS bay, which is the safest and easiest way to unload and load patients.”

A timeline for the project has not been announced, but Preast said plans will move quickly when the funding is in-hand.

Upon completion, Massey said the project will assist ARH in its mission to provide high-quality healthcare to the community.

“ARH emergency departments are the pipelines to the most emergent care available,” he said. “So, this will be so very important to everyone we serve.”

Hinton native and ARH Board of Trustees member Ken Allman said the project will not only improve access to quality healthcare, but also benefit the local economy.

“While the physicians, nurses, technicians and staff of Summers County ARH are taking care of people, the hospital is also providing jobs and contributing to the economic and social viability of our community,” said Allman, whose MountainPlex Properties is focused on the restoration and revitalization of Hinton.

“At a time when many communities have lost their local hospitals, we are fortunate to have essential, quality healthcare available in our community.”

Preast added, “This hospital needs this and the patients we serve deserve this. So, we’re very appreciative of the support from Sen. Manchin and from all of our partners.

“We’re grateful and excited for the future.”

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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 and retail pharmacies and medical spas. ARH employs approximately 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 and the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky, and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.