Dr. Ashley Thompson Performs 100th Ion Bronchoscopy at Hazard ARH

NEWS RELEASE - July 31, 2026

Dr. Ashley Thompson Performs 100th Ion Bronchoscopy at Hazard ARH

Hazard, KY - Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center announced that Dr. Ashley Thompson, a triple board-certified pulmonologist, has performed her 100^th Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure, a milestone that reflects ARH's ongoing commitment to bringing advanced, minimally invasive lung cancer diagnostics to patients across the region.

Hazard ARH was the first hospital in eastern Kentucky to offer the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy, a robotic-assisted platform developed by Intuitive, the pioneer behind the da Vinci surgical system. The Ion system allows physicians to reach all 18 segments of the lung, giving Dr. Thompson the ability to biopsy nodules in nearly any portion of the lung with a level of precision, stability, and reach that was previously difficult to achieve with traditional bronchoscopy.

There are several benefits of having an Ion bronchoscopy procedure. In addition to having the ability to reach more remote parts of the lung, the procedure allows for earlier detection of lung cancer with the potential to diagnose and stage lung cancer in a single procedure. Also, an Ion bronchoscopy is a less invasive approach than alternative biopsy methods and has lower complication rates.

"I am honored to be able to offer this cutting-edge technology to provide diagnostic testing to patients throughout our region. Time is of the essence when it comes to lung cancer management, and having the ability to diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stage leads to the best outcomes for the patient," Thompson said.

"We celebrate this technology and over 100 patients who have been able to achieve a faster diagnosis and quicker recovery utilizing the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy system. At ARH, our focus is bringing the most advanced level of quality care to patients, right at home."

###

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.