SEARHC’s Emergency Departments in Sitka and Wrangell are designated Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), small facilities designed to improve access to care for rural communities. As CAHs, they provide 24/7 emergency services, short-term inpatient care, and stabilization for serious illnesses or injuries. When a patient requires care beyond what a CAH can provide, they are stabilized and safely transferred to a larger facility for specialized or complex treatment.
Possible destinations include:
- Level I or II Trauma Centers
For severe injuries such as major head trauma, complex fractures, or multi-system trauma requiring 24/7 surgical specialists.
- Tertiary or Quaternary Hospitals
For specialized care such as advanced cardiac procedures, neurosurgery, complex surgeries, or intensive care beyond the CAH’s capabilities.
- Regional Referral Hospitals
Nearby urban or regional hospitals with broader diagnostic services, specialty care, or inpatient capacity.
In Alaska, a patient stabilized at SEARHC’s Sitka or Wrangell Emergency Department might be transferred to Anchorage, Juneau, or another facility with higher-level trauma or specialty care, depending on the patient’s needs and availability of services. Our goal at every step is to provide safe, compassionate care and to keep families updated and reassured.
