Health care has always been plentiful in the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County region, but residents can now expect a higher level of care in a state-of-the-art setting. A $600-million, 114,000-square-foot replacement facility for Saint Joseph-Mount Sterling Hospital opened in June, allowing the hospital to provide new and expanded services, from emergency care to surgical procedures. 

The two-story building is located along 30 acres on Falcon Drive, just off Interstate 64. Saint Joseph-Mount Sterling began in 1875 as Mary Chiles Hospital, and then in 2007 became part of the Saint Joseph Health System. A corporate decision was made at that time to construct a new replacement hospital.

The hospital draws patients from Montgomery County as well as other eastern Kentucky communities in Bath, Menifee and Powell counties.

More Specialty Care

The new facility includes Heart Institute Services, a catheterization lab, maternity center, healing garden, intensive care unit, operating rooms, 40 private patient rooms, 14 private emergency treatment rooms and a helipad.

Specialty units at Saint Joseph-Mount Sterling include women's care and a joint care center, while 24-hour services include a clinical lab, pathology, emergency care, pharmacy and radiology. The radiology department has the most advanced equipment for CT angiography, fluoroscopy, mammography, MRIs, nuclear medicine and a picture archiving communication system. The hospital also offers minimally invasive surgery and a sleep wellness center.

Economic Impact

Officials point out the hospital's economic importance to the community. Saint Joseph-Mount Sterling spends about $15 million annually on employee wages and salaries, along with the purchase of supplies and services. It provides nearly 300 jobs and pays nearly $2 million a year in state and local taxes.

Saint Joseph-Mount Sterling treats more than 50,000 outpatients and 25,000 emergency room patients each year, and welcomes more than 250 babies into the world annually.