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. ARH employs more than 6,000 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $330 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 600 active and courtesy medical staff members. 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.
CHALLENGE
ARH, like many healthcare systems, faced a common problem. With the shortage of neurologists across the country, ARH had one neurologist serving multiple locations including local rural areas. He was relying on nurse practitioners at each site to relay stroke patient information.
To ensure time-critical diagnosis, ARH realized they needed a cost-effective telestroke cart that would provide expert-level of care from the neurologist for all locations. The rollout of a telestroke cart as part of the teleneurology program hinged on the affordability and usability of the solution.
SOLUTION
ARH partnered with Carousel Industries to design a telestroke cart solution that solved their immediate need, but also could expand to other uses with their healthcare system. They first reviewed the telehealth cart from Poly, but the price point was outside their budget. Carousel then reached out to Avteq to design the telestroke solution using the TMP-200 telemedicine cart.
With its small footprint and well-designed features, the TMP-200 was the ideal choice for ARH. The solution includes the Poly Studio X50 accessing Zoom wirelessly. The slide-out draw provides easy access to stethoscopes and other devices required for a patient exam and diagnosis. The backup battery provides the needed power for hours of exams. In addition, the TMP-200 also provides a sustainable and reliable backbone for future growth and use case.
RESULTS
The initial rollout included 10 telestroke carts installed at 10 hospitals within the ARH healthcare network. The telestroke program allows ARH to provide critical diagnosis treatment, such as clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) used to treat the most common type of stroke. These carts helped ARH continue its rapid advancement of cutting-edge neuroscience care.
In less than one year, ARH’s hospitals have earned Acute Stroke Ready certifications, affirming the hospitals’ readiness to handle stroke and stroke-related medical problems. Since the initial rollout, ARH has implemented over 50 telestroke carts into its program.
As ARH continues to expand its healthcare service throughout Kentuck and West Virginia, it plans on implementing telemedicine carts at schools and rural clinics for general exams.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
