Update for Week ending
October 17, 2009
Super Colon™ to Visit AFN. This year the Super Colon display will visit the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference at the Dena’ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. “The exhibit is an incredible, inflatable, interactive colon that teaches people about the risks, symptoms, prevention, early detection and treatment options for colorectal cancer. As visitors walk through the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, they get an up-close look at: healthy colon tissue, tissue with non-malignant colorectal disease like Crohn’s and colitis, colorectal polyps, and various stages of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is 90 percent preventable and 90 percent treatable if detected early, yet it remains to be the second leading cancer killer in the US.” The exhibit will run October 22 and 23 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Suicide Prevention Grant. The Behavioral Health Prevention program has been awarded a three-year Alaska Regional Suicide Prevention grant from the State of Alaska. This grant will allow for the formation of a Southeast Regional Suicide Prevention Team who will help to address the following State goals: increase Alaska's understanding that suicide is preventable, increase promotion of healthy social, emotional growth and youth development, increase access and availability of behavioral health services, increase use of suicide prevention research and evaluation methods and decrease suicide and suicide behavior among Alaska's youth. The Regional Team will help their communities develop strategies from prevention to postvention in order to decrease the numbers of those affected by suicide.
New Version of EDIS. On Wednesday, an upgrade to the newest version of the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) was installed at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. The 2.5 version adds increased functions for our providers and staff in the Emergency Room at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. EDIS is an ALERT product and part of our overall electronic health record system. The EDIS was first installed in late January 2009.
Hydaburg Visit. Shawn Sorenson (Facilities Director), Cindy Kitka, and Dr. Vastola were in Hydaburg on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, Shawn and Cindy provided an update to the community of the clinic remodel design, including a 40% expansion of the facility. At lunch, Dr. Vastola made a “Cancer Basics” presentation to interested community members.
Wrangell Visit. Last week, Dr. Vastola, Dr. Grasmeder and Karen Fredrickson (Community Resources) visited Wrangell. Karen and Dr. Grasmeder checked in with local providers and Dr. Vastola provided a community “Cancer Basics” presentation. The presentation was well attended by 30 to 40 community members, well received, and many good questions. Physicians from the local clinic were also in attendance at the presentation.
WISEWOMEN Busy in Klawock. WISEWOMAN Women's Health completed the Klawock Mobile Mammography visit last week with 145 women getting screened, and another 7 more scheduled for the Craig Clinic. Susan Suarez, Mary Dinon, Helen Jackson and all the ARMC staff went above and beyond to provide comprehensive screening, lifestyle counseling and support to this record number of women. These enhanced screening services are now the norm for the integrated WISEWOMAN Women's Health program; providing a strong prevention focus to early screening for cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions.
Skagway Visit. Representatives of SEARHC administration, the community resource program and the Haines Clinic visited Skagway on October 14. Meetings were held with the Dahl Memorial Clinic administrator and medical director to talk about collaborative efforts to enhance health services offered in Skagway. Staff met with Delia Commander and other Skagway Traditional Council members over lunch to present information on SEARHC programs and answer questions.
Just a reminder. . . SEARHC frequently brings in traveling medical specialists to hold specialty clinics at its various facilities, saving you the expense and inconvenience of flying to Anchorage or Seattle for services not available in Southeast. Some SEARHC medical providers who work at larger facilities make regular trips to our village clinics to provide specialty services that aren't normally available in those communities. All specialty clinics, except for medical field trips and specified dental clinics, must be referred through a SEARHC provider (no self-referrals). Links to our upcoming specialty clinic schedules are at http://www.searhc.org/common/pages/specialtyclinics/index.php.
Regards,
Roald.
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