Overview

PMC’s Emergency Department represents a multi-million dollar investment and 23,000 square foot addition to the hospital. Our ED provides patients with a more comfortable environment, reduces time spent waiting to see a doctor, and, ultimately, saves lives. In addition, our Emergency Department is an integral part of our Level II Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center.

PMC’s Emergency Department is certainly one of the busiest in the state with approximately 45,000 patient visits per year. Our Emergency Department has expanded to a total of 40 monitored beds.

Pediatric Ready and a Certified Autism Center

Pikeville Medical Center’s Emergency Department, a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department, is now the first ER in Kentucky to become a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Pikeville’s ED is deemed one of only a few in Kentucky to be Pediatric Ready by the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program, which makes their autism training and certification vital to caring for all patients, including those with autism. See the tabs above to learn more about the important designations.

State-of-the-art technology

PMC’s ED includes two trauma bays, three triage bays, physiological monitoring in every room and on-site digital x-rays and CT Scans. The ED features a   dedicated 320 slice scanner. The department is now a better equipped facility, offering quicker response times, much faster access to CT scans and a quicker turnaround on lab work.

Regular Disaster Drills

Our staff participates in regular local disaster drills. These highly coordinated and realistic events approximate large scale disasters and serve to help locate and eliminate potential problems in responding effectively when disaster really does strike. These drills help keep our staff better prepared and trained to act when the call for help comes.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

PMC’s EMR system helps record and locate patient records quickly and efficiently, meaning decreased wait times.

About Our Emergency Department

“This Emergency Department is committed to providing high quality care,” said the Medical Director of the Emergency Department. “In fact, our vision statement is to advance the quality of emergency health care in eastern Kentucky, and we are going to accomplish that goal as we continue to move forward. To provide the highest quality care for this area is why we are here I am really glad to be a part of PMC’s Emergency Department.”

Michelle Rainey, Chief Nursing Officer, introduced a new directive called “direct to bed mode” which allows patients to be immediately taken to beds (when available) instead of the triage area for registration.

“Our goal is quality care and we are focused on getting the patients in and out quickly,” Rainey said.

Meet the Director

“After serving many years as a police officer, I decided to follow my heart into the nursing field. Both careers allow me to serve others, but being an RN in the Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department gives me the opportunity to treat patients every day who are experiencing perhaps the worst day of their lives. My nursing career in the PMC ED began in 2012 and I was able to thrive in the unpredictable atmosphere that exists in emergency medicine. In 2017, I was promoted to Director of the PMC Emergency Department, where I am responsible for daily operations and the care of the patients who are brought through our doors.

I am extremely blessed to work alongside some of the most talented and dedicated medical professionals in our region. The leadership at PMC provides an atmosphere that encourages communication and teamwork and always makes sure we have the necessary equipment to take care of our patients. If you are interested in being a nurse in emergency medicine, PMC is a great place to work.”

Dale Morton – Director of Emergency & Transfer Services

Pikeville Medical Center is First Emergency Department in Kentucky to Earn Certified Autism Center™ Designation

Pikeville Medical Center’s Emergency Department, a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department, is now the first ER in Kentucky to become a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Pikeville’s ED is deemed one of a few hospitals in Kentucky to be Pediatric Ready by the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program, which makes their autism training and certification vital to caring for all patients, including those with autism.

“The growing number of patients we see in the ED highlights a need for us to provide this new addition for our pediatric patients, close to home,” said Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) ED Director, Dale Morton. “We will be able to offer patients the same quality care without traveling outside of the area in a more pediatric friendly atmosphere.”

One in fifty-four children are diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC, and many more children and adults are on the autism spectrum but are undiagnosed. The IBCCES CAC designation requires staff to complete autism training and certification to ensure they can better treat and manage the care of patients on the autism spectrum or with sensory needs.

“Receiving this recognition could not have come at a better time. Pikeville Medical Center is growing in leaps and bounds when it comes to pediatric care,” said Clinical Manager of the PMC ED Brandi Adkins, RN, BSN. “With the announcement and upcoming construction of the children’s hospital and the development of a pediatric wing within our emergency department, this recognition is a great starting point for what is to come at PMC.”

Individuals with autism typically have different needs related to communication, pain perception, and other treatments. The IBCCES program was created by clinical experts as well as individuals on the autism spectrum to ensure a well-rounded approach.  Offering care that includes a patient’s family in each step of the process will continue and remain a primary goal of Pikeville’s ED, as the doctors and nurses are specially trained to treat pediatric patients.

“Being awarded this certification is a true honor,” said Megan Allen, Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator at PMC. “It’s hard to put into words how proud I am, not only of our Emergency Department but our facility as a whole. We are doing great things here at PMC, with making advancements in the care of our pediatric population a top priority.”

For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES provides evidence-based training and certification programs created in conjunction with clinical experts as well as individuals with autism in order to provide professionals serving individuals with cognitive disorders a better understanding of common needs for individuals with these disorders, new research, and industry best practices from experts in a variety of specialties.

“IBCCES is thrilled to announce the commitment to excellence Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department has made. Individuals with autism need providers who truly understand their needs to ensure the best experience possible,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman.

IBCCES also created CertifiedAutismCenter.com, as a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) requirements.

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About IBCCES

Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are the only training and certification programs endorsed by the largest grassroots autism organization in the world, The Autism Society of America, and recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders.

Pikeville Medical Center (About Us)

Pikeville Medical Center’s Emergency Department has been named a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department by the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program.

The goal of the KYEMSC Program is to decrease pediatric mortality and morbidity due to severe illness or injury by enhancing pediatric emergency care services throughout the Commonwealth through building partnerships across the continuum of emergency care, offering special programs and training opportunities, and through policy development which is required of a Pediatric Ready Certified Emergency Department.