Eastern Aleutian Tribes recently hosted some of ANTHC’s clinical team in Sand Point. Attendees included Dr. Eric Stewart, Hospitalist and Medical Staff President, Dr. Jane Heisel, Physician Emergency Medicine, Dr. Gretchen Jones, Physician Palliative Care, Dr. Kiara Conway, Physician Palliative Care, Tessa Kus, Transitional Care BSW Case Manager, and Jocelyn Kitchen, Transitional Care RN Case Manager. Everyone enjoyed connecting with residents and visiting the clinic, local store, and elementary school!
While incredibly skilled in the practice of medicine, much of the Clinical Team at the Alaska Native Medical Center has not traveled in rural Alaska. Experiencing operations in rural Alaska helps increase the understanding of what it takes to transition care and set patients and/or families up for success across the state.
When our staff can personally visit a remote village, they are not only able to witness the logistical challenges of traveling to rural Alaska, but also the limited resources a small village such as Sand Point has.
“Having the opportunity to travel with part of the ANMC team to Sand Point was truly an amazing and unforgettable experience,” Kus said. “We discharge our patients back to their rural communities every day. For this being my first visit to rural Alaska, it was helpful to see a community firsthand to better understand the challenges folks face navigating life after hospitalization. I honestly think anyone who has a regular hand in discharge planning should have this experience at least once!”
We want to express our gratitude to Paul Mueller, CEO of Eastern Aleutian Tribes, the clinic staff in Sand Point, and the fantastic group of sixth graders who spent the afternoon sharing some inspiring projects they are working toward.
