Petersburg Medical Center Newsletter |
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▲ Conceptual design of new PMC Facility at proposed Haugen site |
▲ PMC recently held its first in-person all-staff Employee Forums in two years. Here CEO Phil Hofstetter speaks to staff at one of the three forum sessions. |
▲ Community Wellness Specialist Becky Turland conducting a free blood pressure screening for Patty Biggers at Hammer and Wikan Grocery on Valentines Day for Heart Health Awareness. |
NEWSLETTER BANNER PHOTO: Staff welcomed PMC’s new less restrictive masking rules announced this April. From left to right: Helen Boggs, Mary Kravitz, Alice Wegener, Lucy Chapman, Lillee Birchell, Jordan Stafford, Michael Kukulka (front). |
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As we head into Spring, we are excited about the next steps in the new facility project and some of our wellness partnerships. The PMC strategic plan goals, priorities, and benchmarks center around workforce wellness, community engagement, facility, patient centered care and financial wellness. Here is an update on some of those areas of focus:
Facility:
Over the next couple of months, we will be working with the Borough Planning and Zoning through the public process on the final site selection. This site is based on a hybrid of the Knob Hill and Creek View site concepts that we reviewed at a joint work session with the Borough Assembly and the hospital board.
Workforce:
PMC is very fortunate to have such a strong local workforce – 100 % of medical staff is local, and 95% of our total workforce is local. This has a major impact on Petersburg’s economy, generating about $1 million in monthly wages for the community and totaling $10 million in direct annual wages.
Community:
By partnering with local organizations, PMC can better support the needs of patients, their families and our community. Through a partnership with the Petersburg School District, we are able to offer a very impactful program that provides nursing and behavioral health services to students. We are also working on a program with Beat the Odds to provide help with household chore to people affected by cancer.
— Phil Hofstetter, CEO,
Petersburg Medical Center
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▲ Laura Holder, new school nurse, in her middle school/high school office |
▲ Ashley Kawashima, PMC Behavioral Health Clinician, in her office at the middle/high school where she provides behavioral health support to students |
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
PMC Works to Support Student Health and Wellness through Expanded Partnerships
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Ensuring the physical and mental wellness of youth is crucial, especially with the challenges they face today. Ashley Kawashima, a Behavioral Health Clinician, has been providing behavioral health services to Petersburg middle and high school students for almost a decade. She has seen a consistent increase in need for in-school behavioral health services over the past several years, especially in the areas of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bullying.
In response to this need for increased support, PMC has expanded its long history of collaboration and partnership with the Petersburg School District and is providing contracted behavioral health services and new school nursing services. The behavioral health program, funded through the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s Suicide Prevention and Postvention grant, aims to break down barriers for students and their families to receive behavioral health services by offering free and accessible services during school hours. The ability for students to meet during school hours at no cost is critical to their ability to access the service. It also eliminates administrative barriers such as dealing with insurance companies and the limited behavioral health coverage provided.
Kawashima sees an average of 20 students per week. She also conducts school-wide presentations to demonstrate that it is normal to get support when needed and help students address issues so they can focus on academics. Helpful topics include “Signs of Suicide” and “Everybody has Mental Health.” The Petersburg School District has seen a consistent increase in the need for in-school behavioral health services over the past several years, and they recently applied for grant funding to continue expanding these services.
Along with mental health, the district also expressed a significant need for a school nurse to assist with the physical health needs of students. PMC responded to this need by providing a part-time contracted nurse, Laura Holder, who works in the PMC Home Health department and has experience in both home health and school nursing.
Holder was thrilled at the opportunity to split her time between both fields and enjoys the school’s welcoming and supportive staff. Half of her work week is spent at the elementary and middle/high schools, where she responds to needs as they arise, including fielding questions from parents and school staff on issues such as when sick children can return to school or how to handle allergic reactions. Holder also coordinated the school’s response to a lice outbreak over the winter and regularly provides first aid and hygiene products. She is committed to her role and looks forward to seeing the partnership between PMC and the school district continue to grow.
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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PMC Board Recommends site for new facility
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The Petersburg Medical Center Board voted unanimously to pursue a final site plan for the new hospital facility based on the Knob Hill and Creek View conceptual designs during its meeting in February.
The Knob Hill and Creek View concepts are both located at a site along Haugen Drive and behind the Elizabeth Peratrovich building.
The decision to continue designing the new facility based on the Knob Hill and Creek View concepts was also unanimously recommended by the project's steering committee.
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▲ This map shows the general area where the Petersburg Medical Center Board recommended a final site plan for the new hospital facility be located. |
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▲Shirley Yip and George Curtiss at the weekly Bingo Game |
▲ Myron L., Kathy R., George C., Shirley E., Gail R., and Bessie A. Enjoy a van ride on a chilly spring day |
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LONG TERM CARE UPDATE
Fun activities in Long Term Care
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Here at Long Term Care, we strive to work with each of our residents to find a balance of fun and purposeful activity participation while taking stimulation and rest needs into consideration. Although each of our 13 residents has vastly different needs and interests, long-term care staff are able to provide individualized daily programing for each of our residents. Throughout the day, residents enjoy group activities such as bingo, Yahtzee, movie nights, and group exercise opportunities. During these activities, we also encourage interested residents to take on leadership roles such as “bingo caller” or leading the group in exercises or reminiscent activities. Each week we also have the pleasure of seeing regular volunteers returning to long-term care. When group activities are not happening, residents spend time with individuals or one-on-one activities. For some, these activities may look like coloring, listening to music, or watching movies, while for others, these look like assisting staff with tasks around the facility, socializing in smaller groups, or having a cup of coffee and people watching.
The activities department is always looking for ways to better engage our residents with the community. This winter and spring, we have had a plethora of opportunities to get involved with the community. During Christmas time, we had several local businesses who donated Julebukking goodies for long-term care to host a modified Julebukking celebration for our residents. Throughout the late winter and early spring, our residents have been able to watch the PHS Viking Basketball games streaming on the TVs. It has been fun to watch our residents light up when watching games—especially in their home gym! Long Term Care has also had several holiday socials and celebrations thanks to local volunteers and organizations. Valentine’s Day was celebrated with a beautifully presented meal hosted by our dietary department and a lovely ice cream social hosted by the Pioneers of Alaska for our residents. In March, our residents celebrated Pie Day with a pie tasting thanks to the donation of seventeen pies from staff, volunteers, and community members. Looking forward, we have residents who are ready for the snow to be gone and spring to be here and all the gardening, festivities, and sunshine it will hopefully have to bring!
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MEET THE STAFF
Petersburg Physician Sets Sail on New Adventure
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Dear PMC Family,
I am writing to inform you that my family and I have made the decision to take a temporary leave of absence starting in September, for a minimum of eighteen months. I will be seeing patients in Petersburg until August.
I am grateful to have been part of this community for the past 13 years, but we have decided to embark on a sailing journey and travel the world as a family. Our children, who are 11 and 13 years old, are at a crucial age, and we wish to spend quality time with them, exploring the world before they enter adulthood.
During my time away, I will be finishing my two-year Fellowship in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. Integrative Medicine involves combining complementary and conventional approaches in an evidence-based and coordinated fashion to facilitate the body's innate healing response. It uses the most natural and least invasive interventions first, with a focus on nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and carefully chosen supplements as primary treatment for illness. I am committed to the health and well-being of our community and look forward to returning to you with new skills and knowledge in integrative medicine, ready to provide the best care possible.
Petersburg is our home, and we are keeping our house here. We fully intend to return here to complete my medical practice and ultimately retire here. I feel blessed to have your support and encouragement as I pursue my personal and professional goals.
If you are interested in following our journey, we will be keeping a blog at www.svterikah.blog.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Hyer
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▲ Husband Chris carrying Jennifer Hyer over the threshold of SV Terikah |
▲ First sailing trip on San Diego Bay |
▲ Dr. Hyer in her galley on the SV Terikah |
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DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Improving Quality of Life Through Movement and More
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Whether recovering from an injury or stroke, managing pain, or experiencing physical or cognitive declines, many community members receive help through the Rehabilitation Department at PMC. In addition to treating outpatients, the Rehab team serves residents in Long Term Care, patients admitted to the hospital and home health patients. The team has a variety of skill sets and unique focus areas including wound care, pediatrics, and home health.
From managing wait lists to collaborating with other departments, the team at PMC's Rehabilitation Department is dedicated to helping people thrive by using movement to improve quality of life. Sarah Gundy, who relocated from North Carolina last spring, is the PMC speech therapist. She sees patients of all ages who have difficulties with speech, language, cognition, or swallowing. Gundy works closely with PMC's Dietary Department to ensure proper texture of foods is served based on patients' feeding and swallowing abilities. She enjoys working in many different environments and collaborating with the nursing staff, physical therapists, and the Dietary Department to ensure the best patient care.
Tamara McKay, receptionist, works hard to manage the therapists’ schedules. She helps new referrals get appointments as soon as possible and juggles the wait list for therapy.
The Rehabilitation Department has grown steadily over the years to meet the needs of the community. The team now includes four physical therapists (PT), a speech therapist, an occupational therapist (OT), and a receptionist. A handful of contracted short-term traveling therapists help meet the demand for services, while also bringing a variety of experiences, skills, and knowledge to share with the local team.
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▲ Rehab team gathers for a hands-on training from traveling PT Chip Hurst, with mock patient Josh Rathmann seated for demonstration |
▲ Rehabilitation team from left to right: Back: Tamara Mccay (Reception), Sarah Gundy (ST), Kaitlin DuRoss (Rehab Manager/PT), and Chip Hurst (PT), Front: Andrew Simmonds (PT), Amanda Galaktionoff (PT). Alexis Tatter (OT) not pictured |
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