On Tuesday, September 19, Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Highlands Health System announced they have entered into a Letter of Intent to merge the Prestonsburg-based Highlands Regional Medical Center and other Highlands Health facilities and services into the multi-hospital ARH system. Harold Warman, President of Highlands Health System, said the merger will ensure the communities Highlands serves will continue to have local access to the level of high quality, cutting-edge healthcare Highlands has provided for more than 44 years. ARH and Highlands hope to finalize the transaction by early 2018 after the completion of the due diligence process.