Southeast Kentucky Chamber Hosts Luncheon Featuring Pikeville Medical Center

PIKEVILLE, KY — The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosted its February Lunch & Learn program in partnership with Pikeville Medical Center, with Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Erich Blackburn, as the featured speaker. The event, held in recognition of American Heart Month, highlighted PMC’s expanding role in advancing healthcare access, workforce development, and patient-centered innovation across Eastern Kentucky.

Blackburn, who helped establish PMC’s in-house legal office in 2018 and has been with the organization ever since, provided Chamber members with an in-depth look at the scope and impact of Pikeville Medical Center’s services and strategic initiatives. His presentation underscored the regional significance of the hospital, noting that PMC currently serves an estimated 400,000 to 450,000 people throughout Eastern Kentucky and surrounding areas.

Among the highlights shared was PMC’s distinction as the only Level II Trauma Center in the state of Kentucky, staffed primarily by board-certified trauma physicians. Blackburn also discussed planned advancements at the Mettu Children’s Hospital and AVA Center, including renovations of the Prestonsburg facility that will further expand access to specialized care in the region.

Blackburn outlined the hospital’s forward-looking approach to education and workforce investment, including a developing University of Kentucky healthcare affiliation designed to strengthen collaboration, education, and best-practice sharing between the two institutions. Beginning in July, Pikeville Medical Center will also launch an internal medicine residency program, initially offering four residency slots. Along with existing partnerships with local healthcare education programs, the initiative is intended to strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce and extend PMC’s internal talent pipeline.

Addressing broader workforce challenges impacting Eastern Kentucky, Blackburn spoke to the region’s designation as a childcare desert and how limited access to childcare affects employee recruitment and retention. In response, PMC has expanded its employee childcare program, with long-term plans to increase capacity to serve up to 400 children, helping to support working families and healthcare professionals across the region.

To combat the nationwide nursing shortage, Pikeville Medical Center is also implementing a virtual nursing program that utilizes telehealth technology to allow PMC nurses to assist patients remotely. This model reduces travel between facilities while improving efficiency and patient support. Plans are underway to expand these capabilities to include virtual sitting programs, enabling staff to monitor patients for fall risks, provide check-ins, and support patient’s emotional well-being in addition to their physical care.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber’s Lunch & Learn series is designed to connect members with leaders and organizations shaping the region’s future. February’s program highlighted how Pikeville Medical Center continues to innovate, invest, and expand when it comes to the broader health of Eastern Kentucky.