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Contact us!
PMC - 907-772-4291
Clinic - 907-772-4299
www.pmcak.org
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
As we close the second quarter of 2025 and end our fiscal year, I want to highlight the dedication and focus our team has shown across key areas at Petersburg Medical Center. It’s been a busy few months focused on strengthening finances, workforce wellness, and patient-centered care. Whether improving access to services, streamlining operations, or enhancing patient experience, our team continues to show incredible commitment to serving our community.
Financial Wellness:
In June, our Board approved the FY26 budget—a critical step as we plan for the year ahead amid ongoing uncertainty around potential Medicaid cuts. These changes could impact key services like Long Term Care, Home Health, and Primary Care. We are watching developments closely.
Workforce Wellness:
We’re saying goodbye to Dr. Morgan, and we thank him for his service and care during his time at PMC. As we begin recruiting his replacement, we remain focused on continuity of care and supporting our staff through this transition. Recruitment, retention, and overall staff wellness remain top priorities as we develop a resilient healthcare workforce.
Patient-Centered Care:
Recent changes have made it easier for patients to access primary care appointments through a new call schedule, and we’ve continued to bring specialty services—including optometry, audiology, dermatology, and psychology—directly to our facility.
We also introduced a menu-based meal ordering system for acute care patients and Long-Term Care residents, giving them more choice and flexibility. It’s been well received and reflects our commitment to improving every aspect of the patient experience—including the food!
Thank you to our staff, board, and community for your continued support. We’re facing change and uncertainty with determination and a shared commitment to delivering excellent care.
— Phil Hofstetter, CEO,
Petersburg Medical Center
Upcoming Events:
July 11 - Peter Pan (Youth Theatre Camp production) 5:00 at Sons of Norway
July 16 - LTC Picnic 12:00-3:00 at Sandy Beach
July 19 - PMC Foundation's Pedal/Paddle Battle 9:00am at Scow Bay
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NEWSLETTER BANNER PHOTO:
Five juniors and seniors completed this year's Petersburg High School CNA class with Nursing Supervisor Traci Vinson. From left to right: Gabriele Whitacre, Freya Tucker, Martha Midkiff, Traci Vinson, Isabella Tarquino and Elizabeth Burns.
| | ▲ Join the PMC Foundation for the 11th annual Pedal/Paddle Battle on July 19th. This fundraiser supports scholarships for continuing education for staff and PHS graduates. We are hoping for nice weather! | ▲ PMC hosted another successful Dermatology Clinic with visiting specialist Cameron French, PA-C. Pictured from left to right: Angela Bertagnoli, Assistant Clinic Manager, Cameron French, PA-C, and Melinda Cook, MA. | ▲ PMC's new Wellness, Education and Resource Center is near completion and staff will begin moving into the space this summer. | | | |
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Petersburg's First MRI, Tech Upgrades and More at the New WERC Building
Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) will begin moving into its new Wellness, Education, and Resource Center (WERC) this month. A public grand opening will follow later this summer.
The WERC is the first of two planned buildings at the new facility site on Haugen Drive. The second building, still to come, will house PMC’s main clinical services—including the Long Term Care, hospital, and primary care clinic.
The WERC building was made possible by federal support through Senator Murkowski’s $8 million appropriations, followed by a $20 million infrastructure grant from the Department of Treasury to support broadband and education access within rural communities.
The Department of Treasury grant was specifically intended to support broadband and IT improvements, health monitoring, and education in rural communities. These specifications led the design team to reimagine the new facility project and move many non-clinical departments out of the future LTC, primary care, and hospital building and into what became known as the WERC building. That shift helped drastically reduce future construction costs for the main long-term care, hospital and primary care portion of the project.
Here’s what will be moving into the WERC Building:
- State of Alaska Public Health
- Maintenance Shop
- Materials Management/Inventory
- Morgue
- Information Technologies (IT)
- Administrative Offices (HR, Finance/Accounting, CEO)
- MRI Suite
- Community Wellness
- Health Information Management
One of the most exciting features of new facility is the MRI – a first for Petersburg. This long-requested service will now be available locally, meaning more advanced imaging capabilities and fewer medical trips for community members. Additionally, the new morgue will be a larger area with more privacy.
In addition to housing several departments, the new WERC building will enhance public access to broadband with a public computer room and two conference rooms with state-of-the-art technology for presentations, trainings, and events.
PMC continues to work with local, state, and federal partners to secure additional funding for the next step—constructing the main clinical building—which remains a top priority. With the WERC now complete, the full site developed and utilities in place, PMC is well-positioned to receive funding to move forward with the next phase. The integrity of the existing hospital structure is an ongoing concern, and developing a modern facility to meet our communities’ unique needs is essential to ensure long-term safety, continuity of care, and improved health outcomes for Petersburg.
| | | ▲ Concrete sidewalks and driveway are completed leading to the new Wellness, Education and Resource Center. |
| ▲ Interior office spaces are carpeted, painted and ready for furniture, set to arrive in July. | | | |
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Investing in Tomorrow: PMC's Youth Workforce Initiatives
At PMC, we’re proud of our ongoing commitment to career training and advancement. Our Nursing and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs have been longstanding pillars of our workforce development efforts. Building on these successes, we’ve expanded our initiatives to help prepare the next generation of leaders for successful careers in a variety of fields.
Summer Internships
Last year, we launched a summer internship program to give high school students valuable, hands-on work experience. This summer, five interns are assisting with major IT projects including digitizing archived medical records, updating employee badges, and supporting the move to the new Wellness, Resource, and Education Center. Nicholas Larson, IT’s Clinical Documentation Assistant says, “They are all so personable and they are retaining the things they learn really well.” Additionally, one intern is supporting facilities maintenance projects such as organizing and cleaning in the shop and outdoor groundskeeping.
Mentor-in-Training (MiT) Program
Inspired by the success of our high school-aged Youth Program Mentors, PMC introduced the Mentor-in-Training program for youth ages 11-14. This volunteer program helps participants develop leadership skills and gain practical experience. Five MiTs—all former participants in PMC Youth Programs—are learning how to be mentors and give back to their community. MiT’s shared that their favorite part of the experience so far has been engaging in games with the kids and the creative nicknames they've been given.
High School CNA Program
Every other year, PMC partners with Petersburg High School to offer a year-long CNA course. This program combines online and in-person instruction with 80 hours of clinical experience at PMC, providing students with a strong foundation for a career in healthcare.
Congratulations to Freya Tucker, Martha Midkiff, and Gabriele Whitacre from this year’s cohort, who recently completed their written and skills certification exams!
| | | ▲ PMC's first cohort of Mentor in Trainings (MiT's) Libby Taiber, Audrey Boggs, Silas Stanton-Gregor and Gavin O'Neil with Youth Program Advocacy and Development Coordinator Katie Holmlund (middle). Not pictured: Nate Olson, MiT |
| ▲ This summer’s interns are making a real impact supporting the IT and Facilities Maintenance Departments. From left to right: Jill Dormer, CIO, interns Scotty Newman, Alex Holmgrain, Noah Pawuk, Arielle Tucker, Kristina Barkfelt and Phil Hofstetter, CEO. Not pictured: Thomas Siek, Intern and Nicholas Larson, IT Clinical Documentation Assistant. | | | |
LONG TERM CARE UPDATE
Stories, Arts, and Springtime Events at LTC
Long Term Care is home to a close-knit and dynamic community of 13 elders, each bringing unique stories, interests, and a strong sense of connection to Petersburg. Conversations often range from gardening and machinery, to classic westerns, to stories of adventures in Southeast Alaska and life in early Petersburg, keeping the atmosphere lively and social.
Our Activities staff continue to facilitate weekly activities aimed at keeping bodies and minds moving, fostering creative expression, and community engagement. This spring we have started a new session of Bingocize®—a twist on Bingo that incorporates gentle exercises set to fun and nostalgic music. PMC's contract Speech Language Pathologist, Pam, also got our residents hooked on a new form of movement—chair hula! We are also grateful to be partnering with Petersburg Parks and Recreation to get our residents swimming again this summer. This is a fun and refreshing way for our residents to stay active.
Long Term Care continues to foster a vibrant creative culture. From daily puzzles to art activities like painting, coloring, woodworking, and photography, our team works closely with residents to support their individual needs for self-expression.
As for community engagement, you may have seen our residents out and about enjoying local springtime activities such as dance recitals, baseball games, Little Norway Festival, Arts Council Performances, and other community celebrations. Within LTC, we’ve hosted seasonal celebrations including Easter egg dyeing, Easter Dinner, Mother's Day Tea Party, and Father's Day Shake Shop. These events were all well attended by LTC family members and made possible by the support of our amazing Food and Nutrition Services, CNA, Nursing, and PMC staff.
Looking ahead, we invite community members to join us for our July Picnic at Sandy Beach on Wednesday July 16th from 12-3pm. Come visit with our residents, enjoy some food, and get outside! For more upcoming Long Term Care events, please check the PMC Facebook Page!
| | | ▲ Alice Neidiffer, LTC/SNF Activities Coordinator enjoying Cinco de Mayo margarita mocktails. | | ▲ Scott enjoying some fresh air on the updated City Creek Trail. | ▲ Mary and Linda preparing floral arrangement for Easter dinner. | | | |
MEET THE STAFF
Brad Younts - Lead Mentor & Theater Enthusiast
We’re thrilled to welcome back Brad Younts, Lead Mentor for Kinder Skog and a vital part of PMC’s summer youth programming for the third consecutive year. In addition to Kinder Skog, Brad directs Theatre Camp and is working with the elementary and middle school youth on the upcoming production of Peter Pan on July 11th.
Brad grew up in Winchester, Indiana, and after decades in Boston, New York, and Chicago working in theatre and marketing, he’s come full circle – back in his hometown directing high school productions and work in special education. His summers, however, are reserved for Petersburg, thanks to a lifelong friendship with Kaili Watkins that sparked this seasonal adventure.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emerson College and a recently completed Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts (Directing) from the University of Idaho, Brad brings nearly 30 years of theatre experience to PMC. He’s known for his infectious energy, mentorship, and ability to help kids grow—from hesitant readers to confident performers. “Watching kids grow both socially and creatively is hands-down the best part of the job,” he says.
When not directing, Brad enjoys reading, building miniature dioramas, and dreaming up elaborate stage sets—like the two-story castle from Beauty and the Beast.
Fun facts: He’s been to space camp twice, grew up on a pig farm, and has never hit the snooze button. Ever.
We’re lucky to have Brad back each summer—his dedication to youth, education, and the arts helps make our programs truly unforgettable.
Join us for the PMC Youth Programs Theatre Camp production of Peter Pan on July 11th at the Sons of Norway—doors open at 5:00pm and the show begins at 5:30.
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| | ▲ Brad enjoys celebrating the annual Mud Day festivities with Kinder Skog every year. | ▲ With nearly 30 years of theatre experience and a passion for youth mentorship, "Mr. Brad" brings creativity, energy, and heart to PMC Youth Programs—from forest adventures to the stage. | | |
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DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
PMC Brings Billing In-House for Faster, More Personal Services
After more than a decade of working with third-party billing vendors, PMC’s Patient Financial Services has recently transitioned to handling all billing activities in-house. This change means the final step in your healthcare visit, which includes processing insurance claims, posting payments, and reviewing statements, is now managed directly by PMC staff.
Why the change? Third-party billing companies experienced delays in submitting claims to insurance companies and in following up on any issues that may have come back, which then delayed mailing statements to patients. These delays impacted both patient experience and PMC’s ability to collect timely payments. Since bringing billing operations in-house, our team has significantly reduced turnaround times, getting claims to insurers and statements to patients much faster.
For outstanding balances, PMC staff are now the ones calling to confirm you received your statement, answer any questions, and provide information about our financial assistance and payment plan options if needed. Calls may be made through Ring Central or VOIP, so you may not recognize the phone number—but if you can’t answer, don’t worry, we’ll leave you a message.
Our staff are here to assist with billing questions, Medicaid applications, interest-free payment plans and financial assistance applications. Patient Financial Services can be reached at 907-772-4291 #1 or you can come in to see us on the ground level of PMC with entrances on First street and Fram St.
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▲ Patient Financial Services team members Julie Spigelmyre, Je Tagaban, Carrie Lantiegne, Malcolm Darden, and Sarah Larson are here to assist with billing questions, financial aid and payment plans.
Not pictured: Jen Ray, Allison Canik, Rae Baker, Ashton Gonzales, Linda Hine, Jana Newell, Rebecca Keys, and Tracy Tan.
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