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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
The first quarter of 2025 has truly flown by and it's impossible not to feel the energy and momentum behind the hard work happening amongst our team here at PMC. Our focus remains on providing top-quality healthcare, strengthening our community partnerships, and moving forward with the development of our new facility. Here’s a look at some of the exciting things happening at Petersburg Medical Center.
Community Engagement:
Over the past few months, PMC had some great opportunities to engage with the community through public meetings, live discussions, and special events. PMC refreshed the logo with Grace Wolf who did our original compass design over 20 years ago. Community members and staff alike can now purchase merchandise with our logo from our new PMC merchandise store. Our Wild and Scenic Film Festival fundraiser was a success, helping to support PMC Youth Programs. In February I attended the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association Legislative Fly-In in Juneau where I met with Senators and Representatives, and had focused discussions on healthcare needs and advocacy for new facility funding. Additionally, PMC was able to show off our employment opportunities at the Petersburg High School career fair and PIA’s job fair.
Financial Wellness:
PMC’s financial stability remains a top priority, and we’ve made some important progress this quarter. We’ve brought our billing process in-house to improve efficiency. We are working hard to reduce the amount of time it takes to collect payments, which is currently around 90 days. Additionally, the Rasmuson Foundation recently visited our site as part of our ongoing financial planning efforts. As we prepare our budget for the next fiscal year, we’re keeping a close eye on potential changes to federal healthcare policies, as these could affect many of our programs, including Long Term Care, Home Health, and Primary Care.
New Facility:
The Wellness, Education, & Resource Center (WERC) continues to make exciting progress! Departments are actively preparing for their move this summer and fall. The MRI project is progressing smoothly with foundation work well underway. Be sure to check out the latest photos and project news on our website and social media.
— Phil Hofstetter, CEO,
Petersburg Medical Center
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NEWSLETTER BANNER PHOTO:
PMC staff, board members, and community members got bundled up for a beautiful winter walk at our January Walk with a Doc event.
| | ▲ Traci Vinson, Nursing Supervisor and Jeanette Ely, Food & Nutrition Services Manager were among several presenters at this year's Petersburg High School Career & College Fair. PMC highlighted a variety of clinical and non-clinical jobs and career paths in healthcare. | ▲ Interior and exterior work continues at the Wellness, Education, and Resource Center (WERC) Building including siding, concrete work, painting and flooring inside, and much more. Check our website for more project info or follow us on Facebook for regular photo updates. | |
▲ PMC honors employees at the annual Longevity Luncheon to celebrate employment milestones. From left to right: Grazel Edfelt (10yrs), Angela Menish (25 yrs), Valaree Nilsen (20 yrs), Erica O'Neil (15 yrs), Jill Dormer (10 yrs), Bessie Johnson (10 yrs), Nancy Higgins (10 yrs).
Employees not shown: 10 yrs: Kaitlin DuRoss, Lidia Wickersham, Courtney Hess, Jennifer Ray, Margaret Agner. 15 yrs: Nichole Mattingly. 30 yrs: Cindy Newman.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Breaking the Stigma: Teen Mental Health First Aid Training Brings Change to PHS
This January, Community Wellness team members Becky Turland and Katie Holmlund, both certified Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) facilitators, delivered the tMHFA curriculum to sixty-five sophomores and seniors at Petersburg High School. The evidence-based training taught students to recognize, understand, and respond to concerning mental health signs in themselves or peers, emphasizing the importance of reaching out to a trusted adult for help. “The greatest impact of Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) was providing a space for teens to have open conversations about mental health with trusted adults, fostering understanding, support, and reducing stigma,” explains Turland.
This training was made possible by the Petersburg Community Foundation and was completed as a partnership between Petersburg City School District and Petersburg Medical Center. Six 45-minute sessions were held for four groups of students. PMC plans to continue to collaborate with the school to offer the training annually, ensuring that all high school students receive it before graduating, starting in 2026.
Holmlund and Turland also facilitate the adult-oriented course Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), which teaches parents, family members, teachers, caregivers, and other caring adults how to help adolescents who are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges. Since December 2023, PMC has offered the YMHFA course four times in Petersburg, with most school staff having received the training. After the trainings, Holmlund reflected on how engaged and respectful the students were: “Our youth are ready to discuss mental health; it’s up to us adults to be prepared to meet them where they are,” she said. The PMC team plans to offer the YMHFA course for adults again in the coming months to help support tough conversations with teens.
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▲ Becky Turland and Katie Holmlund holding the YMHA and tMFA mascot after completing their facilitator certifications for the mental health prevention courses. |
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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PMC Staff Enhance Emergency Preparedness Through Team-Based Drills
PMC hospital staff have been prioritizing team-based emergency drills to prepare for high-stakes situations that are rarely encountered at the facility. Led by a physician, these drills bring together nurses and doctors to walk through specific patient scenarios, helping them refine their skills and confidence in managing critical emergencies. Often, the exercises involve simulating emergency procedures or using specialized equipment that is not frequently needed.
“It’s invaluable to practice teamwork and equipment use in a controlled, non-urgent setting so that they become second nature during an actual emergency,” says Jennifer Bryner, Chief Nursing Officer.
These simulations present complex scenarios with challenging workflows. Topics covered include femur traction, trauma tourniquets, high-flow nasal oxygen use, and pediatric seizures. Most recently, Dr. Hess guided the team through a postpartum hemorrhage simulation. The drill began with an automated EMS call announcing the arrival of an ambulance in two minutes, along with key details about the incoming mock patient. The team immediately sprang into action, assigning roles, preparing equipment, and strategizing the best approach to care for both mother and infant.
Following the drill, staff gathered to review key takeaways, discuss medication dosages, and explore ways to further enhance PMC’s emergency readiness. These physician-led simulations have been instrumental in keeping staff’s technical skills sharp and ensuring they are prepared for high-acuity situations, even those rarely encountered in daily practice.
| | | ▲ Nurse Lauren Thain listens as Dr. Hess reads the situational update and the mock patient's vitals before beginning treatment with her team. |
| ▲ PMC Nursing team, including current nursing students, debrief the emergency drill. | | | |
LONG TERM CARE UPDATE
Food, Fun, and Friendship at LTC
Long Term Care continues to be a busy community. We currently have 14 residents who enjoy a variety of activities and brighten the lives of each other and our staff. Our elders have stayed active in their favorite hobbies through the winter.
Fun with Food!—Food is a core part of culture, tradition, and a motivator that drives lots of socialization in LTC. This quarter, Long Term Care Activities staff have hosted several ‘food-centric’ activities including, Lunch with the Residents, an Ice Cream Social hosted by Pioneers of Alaska, and the Pi(e) Day Pie Tasting Social. Residents enjoy the tasty treats that come with these events and the company that comes along with them.
Connecting Generations—Long Term Care loves our youth visitors. Most notably, the PMC Youth Program “Strings ‘n Things”, has been making monthly visits to LTC to visit with the elders, work on crafts and share smiles.
Community Engagement— Many of our residents have always been active members of their communities, and we encourage them to continue that involvement while living in LTC. You might see them volunteering at local businesses, attending school events, working out at the gym, or you may even run into them at the grocery store. Our LTC Activities staff understands the importance of helping residents maintain these lifelong routines.
As we look forward to spring, our residents are excited for opportunities to get out and about, enjoy some gardening, and soak up the sunshine.
| | | ▲ Jamie Lockhart, CNA, shares a St. Patrick's day smile with Shirley. | | ▲ The annual Pi(e) day (3/14) Pie Tasting contest was a huge hit - 21 pies devoured by staff and LTC residents. Congrats to Elise Kubo, RN, for her winning onion pie! | ▲ Balloon volleyball is a regular hit for these LTC residents. | | | |
MEET THE STAFF
From Coding to Coaching: A Healthcare Engineer's Impact at PMC and Beyond
Matt Pawuk, PMC’s Healthcare Software Engineer, has built a career at the intersection of technology and healthcare. Originally from Alexandria, Louisiana, Matt moved to Petersburg at the age of three, where he grew up and graduated from high school. He then attended Stanford University for four years, studying Computer Science.
Before joining PMC in 2015, Matt worked at Milliman, a healthcare actuarial firm based in Seattle. In his role, he developed software to help healthcare providers analyze data and set insurance premiums. After relocating back to Alaska, Matt continued working remotely for Milliman while taking on part-time work at PMC. Over time, his part-time role evolved into a full-time position in the IT department. Initially focused on quality management, Matt transitioned back to IT as the department grew and his expertise in software development was increasingly needed.
In his current role, Matt finds great satisfaction in automating tedious tasks to save his colleagues' time. However, he acknowledges that balancing coding projects with managing day-to-day tech issues can be a challenge. As the IT team has grown, Matt has been able to delegate more tasks, allowing him to dedicate more time to strategic, high-impact coding projects.
Outside of work, Matt enjoys hiking, unicycling, and solving crossword puzzles and is a season ticket holder for the Steelers. He also dedicates a significant amount of time to umpiring and coaching basketball for both middle school and the high school girls’ team. Matt is a proud father of three—with a daughter studying nursing at UAA, a son who is a junior in high school, and a daughter in 7th grade.
Matt’s career at PMC, combined with his dedication to coaching and supporting his family, reflects his passion for professional growth and his desire to make a positive impact on those around him.
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| | ▲ Matt is a huge Steelers fan and even holds season tickets! | ▲ Matt and his three kids enjoying Fourth of July festivities several years ago. | | |
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DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Exciting Updates from the Radiology Department: Powershare & MRI Services
Our Radiology Department has made some exciting advancements that improve the way we care for our patients now and in the future. The recent launch of Nuance Powershare, a HIPPA-compliant electronic image transfer system which allows us to share and store medical images securely. With over 7,500 facilities using Powershare, transferring images between hospitals and providers is now faster and more efficient.
Before Powershare, medical images, like x-rays, CT scans, and mammograms, had to be saved to a CD and mailed to other providers and imaging centers. Now, we can send images quickly and securely to anywhere in the U.S. and receive images from other facilities for continued care. This has helped significantly reduce delays in referrals and follow-ups, making the process quicker for patients.
So far this year, we've received 198 patient images through Powershare and sent out 122. This new system is already making a difference in our patient care!
We're also excited to announce that with the opening of the new WERC building, Petersburg Medical Center will soon offer MRI services to our community. This is a big step in bringing advanced imaging services closer to home, meaning our community members will have to travel less to receive medical care. Having MRI services at PMC will allow us to perform exams locally and send results directly to providers for review before having to travel for possible procedures. Over the next couple of months, our technologists will be preparing for the installation, training, and additional staffing needed to get the MRI services up and running. We’re excited about these updates and look forward to continuing to provide the best care possible for the Petersburg community.
| | | ▲ Radiology team members Tami Stone, Sonja Paul, and Tiffany Shelton are excited about the advancements in technology within their department. | | | | |
