Phlebotomy Plus: Saving Lives One Vein at a Time
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.”
Located just within the heart of our community at 1212 Bath Ave., Ashland, in the Sky Tower Suite 15, a new phlebotomy business has emerged, bringing with it a mission to make a life-saving impact through the art of drawing blood. This innovative venture not only serves as a vital healthcare service but also stands out for its commitment to excellence and compassion.
The business, aptly named Phlebotomy Plus, was started in 1989 by a lady by the name of Kathy Harris. Back in 2022, Harris decided it was time to sell her beloved business. As luck would have it, a former student of Harris’ was interested in purchasing the business. Amy Frasher, who is the new owner of Phlebotomy Plus and a graduate of Phlebotomy Plus’ class of 2005, has been in the business of saving lives one vein at a time for 18 years. Frasher shared, “My passion has always been in phlebotomy. Being a phlebotomist is just one of those things that you just either love it, or you don’t. There is no in-between, and I have always kept in close contact with Kathy. So, that is what led me to want to buy the school and pursue the school.”
Upon purchasing the school, Frasher shared she had a five-year goal to add a new program to the school every year. “We added an EKG program at the beginning of 2023, and then we also got approval through the state of Kentucky, (The Education Commission) for our medical assistant class. We just had our first medical assistant class finish, up and we graduated 15 graduates.”
The startup of classes is always in rotation, so finding the perfect time to start should not be a problem. Frasher noted, “With the phlebotomy classes, we usually offer it about every 10 weeks. We just finished up our first medical assisting class, and we are getting ready to start up our next round of that class in Jan. with two evenings a week. Then, we will be starting up a daytime class that will start at the beginning of Feb.” The EKG classes also have multiple options for start dates throughout the year.
If you or someone you know might be interested in taking part in any of these classes, you can contact Amy at 606.325.2091. “Once you contact us, we work with you to go over all the things you need to do in order to get started in one of our programs. You do have to take an entrance exam, and we will go over all the details of your program. The great thing about our programs is that they are all very much hands-on and in-person. No part of it is online.”
Frasher was very excited to share most recently that six of her program graduates have been hired by various organizations upon graduating. “I have had St. Mary’s, Cabell, and HIMG reach out to us looking for employees and to have our students do clinicals there.” Phelbotomy Plus does offer financial aid.
As Phlebotomy Plus sets a new standard in phlebotomy services, it becomes a beacon of hope for those seeking to enter into the field of phlebotomy which has an ever-growing need for caring and compassionate people.