Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has made sepsis prevention and treatment a top priority. Under the leadership of Fadi Al Akhrass, MD, MBA, FACP, Medical Director of Infectious Disease and Infection Prevention, PMC’s team works diligently to diagnose, treat and control cases of sepsis while also focusing on prevention.

That commitment was recently recognized at the national level. PMC has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Disease Specific Care for Sepsis Certification, one of the highest honors in the infection prevention field. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s dedication to safe and high-quality patient care.

“Pikeville Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review of its sepsis performance standards on June 20, 2025, and we are privileged and honored to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Disease-Specific Care for Sepsis,” said Dr. Fadi. “Our nurses, physicians and staff have shown incredible dedication in achieving this certification, and we are incredibly proud of them. This recognition reflects our commitment to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care.”

The certification is awarded to healthcare organizations that deliver comprehensive clinical programs for sepsis. It evaluates how hospitals use patient outcomes and performance data to improve care, as well as how they educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge. With this achievement, PMC reinforces its role as a regional leader in infection prevention and patient safety, continuing its mission to provide exceptional care for the community.

As the hospital continues to follow the recommendations of the CDC, the PMC Infection Control Department is consistently searching for ways to eliminate as many different types of bacteria as possible.

PMC has recently begun using a product that eliminates many types of bacteria found inside the nose, specifically, a type of staph bacteria called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). PMC nursing staff recently completed training on Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer®, which is applied inside the nostrils twice a day.

“Using Nozin is going to be a powerful tool in our treatment of patients with MRSA,” explained PMC Director of Infection Control Nina Reynolds. “Previously, patients with MRSA were automatically placed in isolation, which resulted in an increased use of PPE for anyone entering the room. Now, in many instances, those patients will be able to remain in a regular room, which will hopefully reduce some of the stress placed on patients and their families.”

According to the CDC, as many as 30 percent of people can be nasal carriers of a staph bacteria.

Those statistics prompted PMC officials to add the use of Nozin to the daily treatment plan of every patient admitted to the hospital. Nozin will also be administered to patients before outpatient procedures.

“We are continuing to search for ways to keep our patients and staff safe, while we strive to ensure patients are pleased with their treatment while at PMC,” said Reynolds. “We feel the addition of Nozin will address both of those goals.”

For more information about Nozin call the PMC Infection Control Department at 606-218-3990.

Since the onset of the pandemic, PMC has had plans in place and is well prepared for when the surge hits our region. A patient screening area has been set up outside the Emergency Department so patients showing possible signs of COVID19 can be identified before entering the medical center. PMC Infectious Disease Practice Physician and Medical Director of Infection Control, Fadi Al Akhrass says this extra step is just one of many adjustments made at the medical center to help ensure the safety of PMC patients, staff and visitors.

“During this COVID-19 pandemic, safety is our number one concern for everyone at PMC,” explained Al Akhrass. “We know how dangerous this virus is, and we are taking it very seriously.”

Patients arriving at the PMC ED showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be assessed outside the doors, and treated in one of two areas. Those who are exhibiting mild respiratory symptoms will be directed to the PMC Respiratory Triage Unit, where they will be assessed. Patients in more serious condition will be taken to a secure area inside the hospital prepared specifically to treat suspected COVID-19 patients.

PMC is following all guidelines set by the CDC and the Kentucky Department of Health to make sure anyone seeking treatment for a suspected COVID-19 case is treated in a safe and secure manner. Everyone is being asked to pay attention to their health and only seek care at any emergency department if they would have sought emergency care prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyone who has additional questions about when to seek care for what they believe to be COVID-19 symptoms is urged to call the Kentucky COVID-19 Hotline at 800-722-5725.

The staff is calling patients notifying them of the various appointment options. Efforts are being made for those attending appointments to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and make their visit to PMC a smooth one.

While adhering to these recommendations, the lobby areas have been modified to meet social distancing guidelines. If patients do not want to wait in the lobby after registering, they may wait in their vehicle and receive a text when their appointment is ready to begin. Patients will then be taken directly to an exam room. In addition, PMC will also have employees designated to come to your vehicle to notify you when you are ready to be seen.

In January 2020, PMC announced it was the recipient of a USDA Rural Health grant to implement a telehealth system in Pike County and Pikeville Independent elementary schools.  The intent was to take several months to get the new system up and running.  However, there was an urgent need to use the telehealth platform during the COVID-19 pandemic.  PMC’s Information Technology department put telehealth on the fast-track by working day and night to do in weeks what had previously been planned to do in months.

Qualified patients now can use a smartphone, tablet, or computer equipped with a camera to see and talk with a PMC health care provider.  Not every type of appointment will be applicable, but those that are will be encouraged to take place via the telehealth platform.  PMC began using the new service in our Family Practice and Primary Care facilities. The telehealth platform is expanded to Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and other specialty services.

PMC will be scheduling morning appointments for patients who need to see a physician in person, and afternoons will be reserved for physicians to conduct telehealth visits. Being the region’s largest regional hospital, using telehealth is key to granting our patients access to quality health care.

For more information, please call 606-430-3500 or visit us at www.pmcky.org/covid19/.

For qualified patients who need to have blood drawn for testing purposes, a drive-thru system has been implemented behind the outpatient diagnostic center in the riverfill, across from McDonalds.

Patients simply need to drive up to the registration area then proceed to the next area where their blood will be drawn. In the event patients have also been prescribed medication, they can proceed to the PMC Outpatient Pharmacy drive-thru. The overall goal in this process is to allow patients to see a physician, get any needed lab tests administered and pick up prescription medications with no direct contact with anyone other than a phlebotomist outside the diagnostic center. This is just one more way PMC is working to continue providing quality care while keeping as many people as possible out of the hospital facility.

Pikeville Medical Center is encouraging everyone to take the necessary steps to stay safe and well.

“This is an unprecedented time in our nation, state and in our facility,” explained PMC Medical Director of Infectious Disease Fadi Al Akhrass, MD. “Because of the seriousness of this virus and its potential to spread throughout our community, our recommendations are to keep 6 feet between you and the person closest to you. Our goal is to minimize the number of interactions that provide an opportunity for this virus to spread. To protect our patients and our staff, Pikeville Medical Center is implementing social distancing practices in all of our workplaces.”

To limit potential exposure at PMC, the medical center has implemented a restricted visitation policy for all patients and visitors. Only one visitor is allowed per patient, and passes must be obtained at the second-floor information desk before entering.   The dining room at the Top of the Tower Cafeteria on the 11th floor has been closed, and food purchased must be carried out.

PMC is continually working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Governor Andy Beshear’s office, the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Pike County Health Department, making necessary arrangements to protect our community and treat those who may actually contract COVID-19.

Pikeville Medical Center encourages everyone to take the necessary steps to stay safe and well. More information about COVID-19 is available at www.pmcky.org/covid19/.

Employees and visitors alike will be checked. It is recommended that anyone with a temperature of 100.1 degrees or higher stay home.

PMC Medical Director of Infectious Disease, Fadi Al Akhrass, MD said, “People can actually have a fever and not show any other symptoms. We want everyone to be safe, and this is one way we can identify those who may be sick and not know it.”

Dr. Fadi says fever is a symptom in the majority of coronavirus cases, so this newest checkpoint could make a difference in identifying those who are just beginning to get sick. He says having chills and body aches are a big indicator of fever, but there is no real way of knowing for sure besides actually taking your temperature.

PMC policies of social distancing (staying six feet away from others), discontinuing dining-in food service, restricted visitation (one visitor for each patient and only one person can assist patients at doctor visits) and now checking everyone on campus for fever are all efforts to keep our patients, community, and staff safe.

PMC is committed to going the extra mile to protect and serve our region.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, call 1-800-722-5725 or call your family practice physician. Additional information about COVID-19 and the policies in place at PMC are available at www.pmcky.org/covid19/.