Weekly Update for January 24-28
Dental Dept. Directorship Changes Hands
After more than 30 years in his role, Dr. Mark Kelso is handing over the reins of the NSHC Dental department directorship. Dr. Kelso will remain working for NSHC as a staff dentist, but the duties of managing the dental department now belong to Dr. Sarah Luce.
 
Dr. Luce has worked for NSHC Dental since 2012. She graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2012 and moved straight to Nome to begin work. She has since put down roots in Nome with a family and has made dozens of trips to the region’s communities to provide dental care.
 
Dr. Kelso began working for NSHC in 1986, and he became a full-time, regular-status employee in 1992. He has been a strong supporter of the Dental Health Aide Therapy program and its positive impacts on small communities where the DHATs are located. He has made countless visits to the region’s villages, where he has made many friends and an overwhelming difference in oral health. Dr. Kelso wishes to continue to serve the region as a dentist and looks forward to future village travel visits and continuing to see patients in the Nome office.
 
NSHC is grateful for such a smooth transition between two great directors in the Dental department.
Connecting for Lunch: Kawerak Treats Day Shelter Guests
Kawerak, Inc.'s Children and Family Services Division hosted an Indian Taco Feed at the NSHC Day Shelter on Friday, Jan. 14. CFS staffers Heather Payenna, Tomas Paniataaq, DJ Bright, and Kirstie Henry helped serve and visited with Day Shelter clients.

Many of the families served through the Day Shelter also receive services through CFS. The gathering was a hit, and everyone looks forward to the next lunch.

Do you or your organization wish to host a gathering for Day Shelter clients or make a donation? Please call 443-4250.
Hearing Protection is Sound Investment
An estimated 48 million people in the United States have hearing loss with different severity; mild hearing loss, causing limited handicap, muffled hearing and listening fatigue, to profound hearing loss creating significant handicap access to sound is very limited.

The Audiology department at Norton Sound Health Corporation works diligently to provide the region with technology solutions that address all hearing needs and levels of handicap. Audiologists individually meet patient needs through fitting and programming hearing aids or implantable devices.

One of these devices is a cochlear implant, which is placed directly into the cochlea and can give sound access to people who no longer benefit from traditional hearing aids. Leaning to hear from a cochlear implant take lots of time and energy, so this device is not for everyone, but for some, it is life changing. 
Tom Brown, a White Mountain resident, had a progressive, bilateral hearing loss and no longer benefited from traditional hearing aids. He received his cochlear implant in 2017.

“I’ve got a good friend in White Mountain. Before I got the implants, I would talk to her, and since I couldn’t hear her, she would write back to me," Brown said. "We had a note pad that we used to talk. Now I can talk to her almost normally.”

The Audiology department at NSHC also offers aural rehabilitation services. Aural rehabilitation is aimed at restoring or optimizing a patient’s participation in activities that have been limited as a result of hearing loss.

Aural rehabilitation can benefit people of all ages and varying needs; from adapting to consistent hearing aid use, to improving speech understanding with cochlear implants, to overcoming auditory processing difficulties. Hearing healthcare is vitally important to communication, and the Audiology department advocates for finding the right hearing solutions for you.

For more information on these services or if you are interested in a hearing test, please contact NSHC Audiology at (907) 443-3297.
Story by Ashley Earp, Audiologist & Research Coordinator
2021 Annual Award Recipients Recognized
Congratulations to all employees who were recognized this week at the Employee Award Ceremony and thank you for joining us virtually so our Board of Directors could take part. 2021 was a challenging year, but that did not stop all of you from overcoming and adapting. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we want to thank everyone for your hard work.
 
Employees of the Month:
May: Alfred Ningeulook, Shishmaref Village Maintenance Tech
June: Chelsea Hubert, Nome OB RN
July: Chris Harmon, Nome Radiology Tech & Cecelia Nassuk, Koyuk CHA
August: Hilary Fello, Nome WIC Manager
September: Hae Kim, Nutrition Services
October: Jodie Scarlett, Nome Primary Care LPN
November: Jerry Kowchee, Nutrition Services
December: Rochelle Davison, Elim CHA
 
Employees of the Year:                                                                              
Nome: Alex Bahnke, Lab
Village: Travis Kulowiyi, Savoonga CTC
 
Manager of the Year:
Stephanie Stang, Wellness
Reba Lean, Public Relations
 
Values Awards:
Pride: Daniel Stang, Maintenance & Ronda Burnett, Nome BHS
Compassion: Keith Morrison, Nome BHS
Teamwork: Roberta Castel, Quarantine Team
Always Learning & Improving: Brittany Oxereok, Brevig CHA
Cultural Sensitivity & Respect for Traditional Values: Shannon Klescewski, Nome BHS
Integrity: Richard Kuzuguk, Nome Sanitation

Employees of the month receive one paid day off. Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, and recipients of the Value award receive a 25,000 mile Alaska Airlines ticket.

LONGEVITY
Longevity awards are based off of consecutive years of regular employee status worked at NSHC.

THREE YEARS - $50 bonus

  1. Cameron Piscoya, Compliance Officer
  2. Timothy McGarry, NP, Primary Care
  3. Samantha McGarry, BHS
  4. James Musich, Village Facilities
  5. Mamie Pungalik, EVS
  6. Mark Hayward, PA, Med staff
  7. Sharon Rose, BHS
  8. Zenas' Pratt, Dental
  9. Robert Johnson, Nutrition
  10. Angela Torres, MD, Med staff
  11. Octaivia Tokeinna, Wales CHA
  12. Raymond Downey, Security
  13. Reuben Mixsooke, EVS
  14. Amy McNulty, EMS
  15. Nora Akaran, In-home support
  16. Charles Fagerstrom, Golovin Village Facilities
  17. Chelsea Miklahook-Noongwook, Savoonga CHA
  18. Shaina Soonagrook, Savoonga CHA
  19. Marla Mayberry, Nome PCC
  20. Lyette Putman, Acute Care
  21. Kerilee Ivanoff, Unalakleet Clinic Manager
  22. Preston Rookok, President, Board of Directors
  23. Ilene Koonooka, QCC
  24. Kristin Follett, Audiology
  25. Lourdes Borges, MD, Med Staff
  26. Judith Pelowook, Savoonga CHA
  27. Charche Wolf, Audiology
  28. Katie Hannon, CAMP
  29. Trax Cavota, Security
  30. Bryce Loder, MD, Med staff
  31. Cherie Larsen, ILP
  32. Sara Trigg, BHS
  33. Qituvituaq (Q) Litchard, Security
  34. Amy Payenna, Finance
  35. Ryan Meeks, QCC
  36. Raenelle West, Capital Projects
  37. Renee Olanna, Brevig Mission CHP
  38. Celeste Washington, BHS
  39. Ted Montgomery II, IS
  40. Matthew Dammeyer, MD, Med staff
  41. Kristy Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik BHS
  42. Beverly Tran, Med staff
  43. Camille Hayward, PCC
  44. Colette Topkok, RN, Acute Care
  45. Mary Ruud-Pomrenke, RN, ER
  46. Richelle Horner, RN, Acute Care
  47. Hilary Fello, WIC
  48. Jana Schuerch, Dental
  49. James Garza, MD, Med Staff
  50. Brandolyn Ahyakak, HR
  51. Ella Derbyshire, MD, Med Staff

FIVE YEARS - $100 bonus

  1. Kara Ta, BHS
  2. Maggie West, Admin
  3. Tamara Van Diest, RN, Primary care
  4. Jeffrey Rose, IS
  5. Dylan Sackett, EVS
  6. Mary Swann, QCC
  7. Amos Gologergen, EVS
  8. Rebecka Miller, In-home care
  9. Stephanie Stang, CAMP
  10. Melissa O'Connor, PFS
  11. Yuka Ungwiluk, Gambell BHS
  12. Ronald Daniels, Elim CHA
  13. Morgan Miller, Materials management
  14. Catherine Ahkinga, PFS
  15. Cheryl Nagaruk, Elim CHA
  16. Maryann Seppilu, Savoonga CHA
  17. RoseAlee Barnes, HER support
  18. Jeremy Fernandes, EMS
  19. Sharon Johnson, Unalakleet CHA
  20. Kirsten Timbers, HR
  21. Roxane Ozenna, EVS
  22. Anne Ozenna, Tribal Healer
  23. Penny Schaeffer, BHS
  24. Rahshaunda Farrell, HIM
  25. Amanda Homekingkeo, QCC
  26. Seth Ragsdale, Respiratory
  27. Charlene Ferreira, Primary care
  28. Keith Morrison, BHS

TEN YEARS – one 25k mileage ticket

  1. Sherianne Fagerstrom, PFS
  2. Melinda Takak, Shaktoolik CHA
  3. Chelsea Hubert, RN, Acute care
  4. Jared Trigg, EVS
  5. Maureen Soderstrom, PFS
  6. Edna Apatiki, BHS
  7. Dolly Kiyutelluk, VHS
  8. Cody Martin, Unalakleet CHP
  9. Ryan Gologergen, PFS
  10. Ashley Peterson, PA, Med Staff
  11. Marissa Oxereok, Wales CHA
  12. Laverne Saccheus, RN, Unalakleet
  13. Dorothy Kava, Savoonga CHA
  14. Terra Abbott, RN, Acute care

FIFTEEN YEARS – one 25k mileage ticket
  1. Andrew Cooper, IS
  2. James Wade, Radiology
TWENTY YEARS – two 25k mileage tickets
  1. Joann Kealiher, HIM
THIRTY YEARS – two 25k mileage tickets, two 15k mileage tickets
  1. Mark Kelso, (7th longest serving employee) Dental
FORTY YEARS – two 25k mileage tickets, two 15k mileage tickets
  1. Elvina Turner, (longest serving employee) Unalakleet BHS

Board Members of the Year
This year, the NSHC Board of Directors honored three different directors with the title of "Board Member of the Year."

Anthony Haugen, Native Village of Unalakleet representative
Heather Payenna, King Island Community representative
Berda Willson, Native Village of Council representative

Board members of the year each receive two 25,000 Alaska Airlines mileage tickets.

Congratulations!
Situation Report: COVID-19 News in the Norton Sound/Bering Strait Region
Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines
The CDC has recently updated its guidance for quarantining and isolation.

Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated (including a booster shot if they are eligible) are instructed to quarantine for five days since their last contact with a positive individual. After quarantining, they should continue to wear a mask around others for five days.

If someone who is fully vaccinated (including a booster shot if they are eligible) is identified as a close contact, they do not need to quarantine, but they should wear a mask and get tested five days after their last contact with the infectious individual.

As a reminder, a close contact is defined as someone who spends 15 or more minutes within six feet of an infectious individual. If both individuals are masked, they are not considered close contacts.

For more information, please visit this link.
Requesting Proof of Recovery
Patients who test positive for COVID-19 may be requested to provide proof of recovery in order to return to work or for other reasons. If a patient needs a copy of their recovery letter, they should ask their provider to send them one or request one through the NSHC Quarantine Team by calling (907) 434-0654.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidelines so that COVID-19-positive patients are instructed to isolate for five days (starting from the beginning of their infectious period), followed by five days of wearing a face mask around other people.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information with NSHC
Everyone in the region who is 5 years and older is eligible. In Nome, COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the following places and times:

• NSHC Pharmacy: Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.
• Airport: Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are offered to all incoming passengers 12 years and older.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can also be made through www.picktime.com/NSHC.

In a village, residents may contact their local clinic to arrange a vaccination.

The CDC reminder cards that are provided at the time of your vaccination are widely accepted as proof. To get a replacement CDC card, please contact your local clinic or stop by the pharmacy. To request your full vaccination record, complete the NSHC email authorization form (https://bit.ly/vaccineauthorizationform) and email the completed form to HIM-distribution@nshcorp.org.
Getting Tested for COVID-19
Testing for COVID-19 is open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Nome Operations Building Testing Center, located at the corner of Greg Kruschek Avenue and K Street. The Testing Center is open during the lunch hour, but staffing is limited.

If you need to be seen by a nurse or physician, the Cough and Cold Clinic is available for testing every day in Nome. It is located on the first floor of the hospital and is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends. You can call the direct line to the clinic at (907) 443-3231.

To schedule an appointment, visit picktime.com/NSHC. In regional villages, residents can contact their local clinic to get tested.
Are you experiencing a crisis? Please call Behavioral Health Services.
For Urgent Care Services, call 907-443-3344 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
For After Hours emergencies, call 907-443-6411 and ask for a Behavioral Health Services consultant.