Petersburg Medical Center Newsletter |
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▲ Community members reviewed draft building designs at the open house on May 10th. |
▲ Community Wellness Specialist Becky Turland received the 2023 Alaska Afterschool Superhero award from the AK Afterschool Network. |
NEWSLETTER BANNER PHOTO: May 10th community open house on new building project with Bettisworth North presenting. |
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Summer is always a bustling time for everyone, whether it’s at work or during leisure activities. Our PMC staff have been hard at work, expanding and developing various programs that meet significant community needs and align with PMC’s strategic plan. Here’s an update:
Community Engagement:
Nearly 100 community members attended a day-long open house on the replacement building project in May. Community members had ample opportunity to view the draft visuals, offer feedback, and ask questions about the design and planning process during this day-long open house co-hosted with project architects Bettisworth North. Several short informational sessions were presented throughout the day and early evening. Project updates are available on the PMC website.
Workforce:
The 9th annual PMC Foundation Pedal/Paddle Battle is scheduled for July 29. Funds raised will assist the Petersburg Medical Center employees in advancing professional health and wellness education and support scholarships for graduating seniors.
Thanks to grants from the Rasmuson Foundation and Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA), PMC is able to expand this summer’s youth programs (see below article) and continue providing online behavioral health benefits to staff through Betterhelp. Also, a big congratulations to Becky Turland, who was awarded the 2023 Alaska Afterschool Superhero Award.
Patient Centered Care:
Home Health is in the final stages of developing an Adult Day Service program, and we extend our gratitude to the Borough for providing space at Mountain View Manor. The program is scheduled to begin in September and will offer half-day services four days a week. The program will cater to those 60 and over, providing social activities, educational programs and more.
— Phil Hofstetter, CEO,
Petersburg Medical Center
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▲ Kinder Skog mentors having fun celebrating Mud Day. Summer mentors from left to right: Brad Younts, Kaili Watkins, Lilly Odegaard, Noah Pawuk, Katie Holmlund, Becca Madsen, and Kate Thompson (not pictured). |
▲ Skog + STEM day with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game featured a dive demo, sea creature fun and a tour aboard the Kestrel. |
▲ Play Outside Days (PODs) camp participants race to unfold and put on a frozen t-shirt during water games day.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Summer Youth Programs Expand to Meet Demand
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Almost twice as many children can participate in Petersburg Medical Center’s youth programs this summer, thanks to the generous support of both the Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA). Responding to a long waiting list and numerous requests from parents for increased programming and capacity, PMC has hired four seasonal summer staff members, enabling us to serve a total of 60 participants this summer, with more than half of those participants coming from the waiting list.
As part of the expansion, 13 youth are enrolled in Kinder Skog’s new summer “Forest Kindy” program designed specifically for 5–6-year-olds. The goal of this program is to keep children engaged and learning over the summer while helping support the school district’s summer learning goals for students.
The popular summer PODs (Play Outside Day) program is being offered for a second year, which facilitates fun recreational activities every Friday afternoon. ORCA camps (Outdoor Recreation Creation & Adventure) will continue to be offered during summer and other school breaks. Twenty-nine youth participated in the Super Kids ORCA camp over Spring Break, and PMC is working on plans for an outdoor theater ORCA camp in August.
These expanded programs are possible following the recommendation of the State of Alaska Childcare Program to transition the PMC Kinder Skog program from a licensed childcare program to an exempt from childcare licensure recreational program, which took effect in June 2023. This change better reflected the services provided and allowed the program to expand capacity and meet the community’s needs. While the transition to an exempt recreational program lifts childcare licensing regulations from PMC childcare programs, PMC will continue to maintain many of the same safety and quality measures such as a low staff-to-child ratio currently in place under the licensed childcare regulations and program specific safety policies, procedures, and trainings.
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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Introducing New Programs for Health and Fall Prevention: Bingocize and Tai Ji Quan
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Petersburg Medical Center has two exciting new programs to help people improve strength, improve balance and decrease fall risk: Bingocize and Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance. Both programs begin in August and are open to all community members, free of charge, regardless of age or fall risk.
With approximately 20% of all local EMS calls attributed to falls, these programs can make a significant impact in preventing falls and supporting the health, wellness, and independence of people in our community. The two programs are:
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Bingocize: This program combines exercise and health information with the familiar game of bingo. The 10-week Bingocize workshops will be held Monday and Wednesday mornings at the community gym and will include fun music, prizes, and an opportunity for socialization.
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Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance: This balance training regimen focuses on body control, coordination, range of motion, and strength. The 24-week Tai Ji Quan workshops will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, time and location to be determined. In addition, Tai Ji Quan will be offered remotely for those who prefer a virtual environment.
Are you interested in becoming a facilitator for these workshops? PMC is actively seeking community members who would like to join the Bingocize and/or Tai Ji Quan teams. Free training will be provided to interested individuals.
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▲ Community based Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance workshops will begin in August.
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Community based Bingocize workshops will bring in August. |
These evidence-based programs are a collaborative effort between PMC's Community Wellness, Long Term Care, and Home Health Departments, as well as community partners including Petersburg Parks and Recreation. The project is funded by a federal grant awarded to Petersburg Medical Center from the Administration for Healthy Living (ACL) to help reduce falls and the risk of falling among older adults and adults with disabilities.
For more information or to sign up for an upcoming fall prevention program workshop, contact Julie Walker at jwalker@pmc-health.org or 772-5552.
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▲Elizabeth Hart and George Curtiss enjoying the sunshine
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▲ George Curtiss, Shirley Etcher, and Fred Thomassen enjoying a beautiful day at Sandy Beach
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▲ Linda Reller looking stylin' in the sun
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LONG TERM CARE UPDATE
Summer Fun in Long Term Care
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As summer begins, our Long-Term Care residents and staff have been grateful for the sunshine and warm weather. Our 13 residents continue to take advantage of the nice days as often as possible—getting outside to garden, going for van rides, walking about the community, or enjoying the sun on the patio. Petersburg has lucked out with beautiful weather for community events such as Mayfest and the Fourth of July and these events have been great opportunities to get our residents out in the community. The Long-Term Care Activities Department has also begun implementing Happy Hour on the last Friday of each month. Residents have been enjoying snacks and delicious non-alcoholic drinks with staff.
On July 6th, our Long-Term Care residents had a belated Independence Day Picnic at Sandy Beach. About half of the residents made it to the picnic before we received word of the fire at the nearby St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. The remaining residents were unable to make it out to the picnic due to the dense smoke outside PMC. The air quality remained unaffected at Sandy Beach and those residents enjoyed an extended picnic; however, PMC began filling with smoke quickly. Luckily, PMC concentrated all air scrubbing units in the LTC and Nursing floor and was able to maintain air quality throughout the fire.
Long Term Care staff and residents are happy to be regaining a sense of normalcy and community connectedness as we have been getting out into the community as much as possible. Long-Term Care is welcoming visitors and individuals looking to volunteer. If you are be interested in volunteering, please contact Activities Coordinator Alice Neidiffer for more info on how to become an official volunteer at 907-772-5747.
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MEET THE STAFF
Facilities Engineer brings new skills to PMC's Maintenance Department
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Wolf Brooks joined PMC as the new Facility Engineer in March of this year. Though he was born in Sitka, he grew up in Petersburg. Wolf left town after high school when he accepted a job in construction working as an equipment operator and running asphalt plants. This position took him all over Southeast Alaska for nine months of the year, though he would get to spend his winters back in Petersburg.
After graduating from the Alaska Operating Engineers Employers Training Center in Palmer, Wolf accepted the Facility Engineer position and moved back to Petersburg full time where he does “a little bit of everything” maintenance related for the hospital. His day typically starts just before 5 a.m. though he may change that to 4 a.m. in the future. Being in the hospital so early allows him to get a lot done without disrupting the routine of hospital staff and daily operations. Recently, Wolf replaced a low-pressure compressor on the oxygen generator. PMC, like most hospitals in Alaska, contracts with a company called Stratodyne, based in New York, which sends engineers and mechanics to repair and replace things like the low-pressure compressor. Wolf is hopeful that he will be able to do a lot of that himself and hopes to save the hospital from having to fly someone in for jobs like these.
Wolf enjoys getting to spend time being active and working with his hands in his job. He has enjoyed meeting new people and learning the ins and outs of the job. His position covers a wide range of maintenance duties, everything from maintaining and fixing hard to reach valves to the oxygen generator. Wolf’s position also aligns with some of his hobbies which makes the job gratifying. In his free time, Wolf works on personal equipment at home and enjoys welding as well as boating, hunting and fishing, and has recently taken up long-range shooting.
Aside from work and his hobbies, Wolf is getting ready for his wedding in September to Kelsa Sperl. His other family include his father, Michael Brooks who lives in Sitka, an older brother, and his mom, Brandy Boggs who works in Home Health at PMC.
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▲ Wolf with a nice buck he got in a "secret spot" last fall |
▲ Wolf and fiancé Kelsa in Sitka herring seining last Spring |
▲ Wolf and fiancé Kelsa out enjoying a beautiful sunny day in Petersburg |
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DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Specialty Clinic: An Old Space with a New Purpose
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The Specialty Clinic at PMC is an old space with a new purpose. The space was previously used as needed but didn’t see everyday use until late summer of 2022 when it became an extension of the Joy Janssen Clinic. Located on the Fram Street side of the hospital, just next door to Public Health, the Specialty Clinic sees patients for chiropractic, audiology, and acupuncture services provided by PMC providers. Additionally, the office hosts visiting specialists , including optometry and ENT.
Dr. Kapp from Last Frontier Eye Care in Nome has been making regular trips to Petersburg and seeing patients in the Specialty Clinic. Dr. Raster from Juneau is also a visiting ENT who schedules patients in Petersburg twice a year. PMC is working on expanding the list of visiting specialists and is in the planning stages of having a dermatologist come as well as seeing what other services might be available and helpful to Petersburg residents.
By moving some of the services provided originally in the Joy Janssen Clinic down to the new Specialty Clinic space, PMC has created an opportunity in both offices for service expansion and improved patient care. In the Joy Janssen Clinic, this means the clinic doctors and healthcare teams are able to see more patients and provide space and time for more thorough and detailed visits. In the Specialty Clinic, while there are fewer patients, the secluded space allows for an environment suited for hearing examinations for audiology as well as a relaxed atmosphere for chiropractic and acupuncture patients.
The Specialty Clinic is staffed full-time by Michelle Rumple, Specialty Clinic Coordinator, at the front desk who schedules and registers patients. Rodney Anderson sees patients full time for chiropractic care while Phil Hofstetter, CEO and audiologist, sees referred patients on a part time basis. Michelle also schedules patients for the dietitians, Jeanette Ely and Kelly Zweifel, Clinic Director, who see nutrition patients in the Joy Janssen Clinic.
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▲ Chiropractor Rodney Anderson and Specialty Clinic Coordinator Michele Rumple
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Petersburg Medical Center | 907-772-4291 | pmcweb@pmc-health.org |
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