ARH begins systemwide rollout of advanced hospital security screening technology

NEWS RELEASE - October 6, 2026

ARH begins systemwide rollout of advanced hospital security screening technology

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is beginning the systemwide rollout of new advanced security screening technology this week, marking one of the first highly visible components of a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar investment in strengthening safety and security across the health system.

Beckley ARH Hospital was the first ARH facility to receive the new technology, with installation taking place Monday morning. Installation at Summers County ARH Hospital and Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center occurred Tuesday, with Hazard and Highlands ARH Regional Medical Centers scheduled for Wednesday.

The installations represent the next phase of a broader security initiative that ARH has been developing for nearly two years.

"Our employees dedicate their lives to taking care of others, and we have a responsibility to do everything we reasonably can to provide a safe environment for them to do that important work," said ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris. "That same responsibility extends to our patients, their families and everyone who comes through our doors. This investment is another meaningful step in strengthening safety throughout ARH."

The new screening system is designed to help trained security personnel identify potential safety concerns, including firearms, knives and other prohibited items, while allowing people to move through the screening process quickly and with minimal disruption.

Once operational, the technology will provide security screening for employees, patients and visitors entering through equipped hospital entrances. For most people, the process is designed to be as simple as walking through at a normal pace without routinely emptying pockets or removing everyday items. If something requires additional attention, trained security personnel will assist with the next step.

"Our hospitals have to balance two very important responsibilities," Harris said. "We need to continually strengthen security while making sure our hospitals remain welcoming and accessible to the people who depend on us for care. This investment gives us another tool to help accomplish both."

Chief Security Officer Paul Buta and the ARH Security team have led the nearly two-year effort to evaluate the health system's security needs and identify technology and other solutions appropriate for ARH hospitals and the communities they serve.

"This rollout represents a tremendous amount of work by Paul and our Security team," Harris said. "They have approached this effort thoughtfully, looking not only at technology but at how we can continue strengthening security across a complex health system while preserving the welcoming environment our patients and communities expect from us."

The new screening systems are one component of that broader work. Several additional security initiatives led by Buta and his team are expected to begin rolling out across ARH over the next several months.

The technology adds another important layer of protection, building on ARH's security professionals, training, policies and other safety measures already in place across the health system.

Following installation, the new screening systems at each hospital will become operational as implementation and preparations are completed. Employees at each location will receive information before screening begins.

Additional ARH hospitals will be included as the systemwide rollout continues.

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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.