Update for Week ending
April 11, 2009
- FESC Meeting. On March 31, the statewide Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) Steering Committee met in Craig for its biannual meeting. In addition to having clinic administrators from the health centers in Unalaska, Glennallen, Haines, Klawock (ARMC) and Friday Harbor (Wash.) in attendance, others present were Bill Struer, Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health Social Services (DHSS); Patricia Carr, DHSS; and representatives from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It was a very productive meeting with both CMS and DHSS making commitments to reimburse the enrolled clinics at higher encounter rates for patients admitted for FESC services.
- Digital Storytelling. This last week, I made it to the final presentations of a digital storytelling training. This project was initiated by SEARHC’s WISEFAMILIES traditional foods grant from the CDC, with support from Steps to a Healthier SE Alaska, SEARHC Behavioral Health Prevention and the University of Alaska Southeast-Sitka Campus. These video clips were powerful, moving presentations by participants sharing their stories in two- to three-minute segments. The stories ranged from substance abuse to health promotion messages. The most important part of the medium was the ability to bring these issues to the personal level. I hope to update the Board on this method for communication in the future.
- Stimulus Funding for Community Health Centers (CHC). SEARHC received notification that it will receive $158,000 from HRSA through the Increased Demand for Services program. This funding is part of the federal stimulus funds approved by Congress this Spring. Funds will be used for a new Dental Health Aide on Prince of Wales Island and for caries risk prevention supplies at all CHC sites. This is the first stimulus funding we have received.
- Dr. Grasmeder Visits Wrangell. Dr. Grasmeder visited Wrangell this last week as the newly assigned Medical Director for our patients receiving contracted care in the communities of Wrangell and Petersburg. Dr. Grasmeder also offered a pediatric clinic while he was in the community.
- Week of April 13th. This will be a busy week for SEARHC. We have our monthly management meetings, as well as the annual presentation to Tribal Assembly for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
Just a reminder. . . SEARHC frequently brings in traveling medical specialists to hold specialty clinics at our various facilities. Please click here to view our upcoming specialty clinic schedules.
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