Kodiak Native Wellness News Kodiak Area Native Association
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Qik’rtarmiut Asiitmen Kodiak Native Wellness News Kodiak Area Native Association Promoting wellness & knowledge for Kodiak’s Native People SPRING - UGNERKAQ 2013 KANA Clinic Reception Area Remodel Complete! KANA is continually seeking ways to improve the quality of care and service our Beneficiaries receive. Through venues like our Community Forums, Patient Experience Survey Cards, and Board Meetings, we have had the opportunity to hear from our Beneficiaries concerning areas identified as needing improvement. In response to feedback from our Beneficiaries and staff, the KANA Main Clinic lobby and front desk area recently underwent a significant remodel. Instead of separate Registration and Scheduling areas, we now have a centralized registration desk. In addition to our new sleek appearance, we have made improvements to the functionality of the space to increase Beneficiary privacy and confidentiality. With this central registration desk, we have streamlined the Praznick Celebrations Fun For All Ages! process for patients by providing a single point of contact for those checking in for There were over 200 people in attendance to Afognak, with door prizes donated by many appointments, scheduling appointments, and ring in the Russian New Year at the Masquerade local businesses.Thank you to all who donated updating patient information. Ball! Live music was provided by the Bethel gifts and their time in making this a memorable Band at the Sun’aq Tribal Hall, hosted by the evening. Special thanks to Meta Carlson and We appreciate your feedback and hope you Sun’ami Elders Council. Participants of all ages Bertha Malutin for preparing a wonderful like the changes we are making to improve enjoyed dancing, door prizes, adult and kids meal! Congratulations to all the winners of the your experiences here at KANA. costume contests, great food and visiting. Praznick Costume Contests! The event was sponsored by KANA, Sun’aq Iluani Tribe of Kodiak, and the Native Village of Inside Joan Katelnikoff, Jordon Squartsoff & Izabelle Steele Cindia Bravo enjoying the kids costume contest Clinic Reception Remodel Complete 1 Praznick Celebration 1 President’s Letter 2 New Initiatives...A Big Year Ahead 2 Patient Experience Survey Results 2-3 Provider Profile: Penny Puhak 3 Spotlight on Culture: New Books 4 Elder Profile: Kathryn Chichenoff 5 Child Care 6 Sharon Wolkoff with WIC Update 6 her grandmotherTiny CEDS Planning 6 Tobacco Control Alliance Summit 7 Alutiiq Crossword Puzzle 7 New Volunteers Needed 7 Fitness Center Workout Groups 8 Annual Simeonoff Salmon Run 8 WELLNESS NEWS SPRING - UGNERKAQ 2012 PAGE 1 President’s Letter New Initiatives: A Big Year Planned at Kodiak Area Native Association I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the changes and improvements Three initiatives are rolling out that are occurring at KANA as we continue to to ensure KANA is the best place develop a system of care designed to elevate the quality of life of the people we serve. to receive care! KANA started the New Year with 1. Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care improvements to clinical space and service (AAAHC) is the accreditation organization KANA has chosen delivery in accordance with our Strategic to voluntarily attain and receive recognition for high-quality care. Plan. As you visit KANA’s Health Center, The accreditation process will assure KANA provides the highest you will experience a more private, streamlined standards and best practices in health care. registration and scheduling process. This redesigned area will facilitate the confidential What does this mean for the community on Kodiak Island? gathering of patient data and insurance information so that KANA may maximize its available resources by increasing insurance revenue. KANA has always provided the best care possible but, now KANA will be recognized for it. Accreditation is an important step in standardizing health KANA is committed to managing and securing resources so that we may care and knowing you will be getting the best health care possible. Accreditation realize our envisioned future of assuring that Kodiak’s Native Community means that an independent group (AAAHC) will come to KANA and evaluate thrives by making certain that our family, friends and neighbors all have access KANA’s healthcare policy’s to see if they match national standards. When the to the highest quality healthcare available. AAAHC evaluation is complete we expect KANA will have accreditation and you, the Kodiak community, can expect and receive excellent healthcare. Opportunities to expand services within our communities provide increased potential for revenue. New revenue streams will assist in providing enhanced services to our people. One example of a new service line is the addition of 2. HealthStream is a computer based program for all KANA KANA’s Veteran’s Clinic that started in January. The Indian Health Service employees to meet annual trainings. recently signed an agreement with the Veterans Administration that allows payment to KANA for services to Kodiak’s Veteran population. Funding from What does this mean for the community on Kodiak Island? this program supports an additional physician to ensure that service to KANA’s HealthStream will assist with the accreditation process. All KANA staff Native Beneficiaries is not diminished by the increased demand in our clinics. must complete annual trainings to continue accreditation. Annual trainings through HealthStream assure that KANA staff is getting the most up to We look forward to capitalizing on additional opportunities to build upon our date standardized information for your benefit. recent successes. While our goals are lofty and will require significant work and commitment by KANA’s leadership and staff, our many past accomplishments are evidence that we can achieve amazing results by working in conjunction with our Beneficiaries. 3. Cerner is the new electronic health record that will improve patient services and will be here in April. Thank you for your loyalty to KANA and for your continued participation in the transformation of health and social service delivery within our clinics. What does this mean for the community on Kodiak Island? Cerner is an electronic record that will be used for Respectfully, each person receiving care at KANA. Cerner will assist in communication between all the providers at KANA and the Alaska Native Medical Center making managing/transfer of care easier. Andy Teuber President and CEO KANA Patient Experience Survey Results The Patient Experience Survey Cards are one of the many ways Beneficiaries can affect Disagree 5% Question 1: change at the Kodiak Area Native Association. Neutral 5% The following data shows feedback from I have a person at KANA whom I Beneficiaries over the past year. Agree 10% think of as personal doctor, dentist or therapist. Question 4: Strongly Agree The information given 80% to me about my health Strongly problems is very good. Agree Agree Neutral 10% Neutral 10% 40% 60% Strongly Agree Strongly 30% Agree Question 2: Agree Question 3: Agree 50% 60% It is very easy for me to get health Most of the time, when I visit the 55% care services at KANA when I clinic, my visit is well organized need them. and does not waste my time. PAGE 2 SPRING - UGNERKAQ 2011 WELLNESS NEWS Photo courtesy of Kaelyn Redmond, Provider Profile Penny Puhak’s granddaughter Penny Puhak, Physician’s Assistant Penny Puhak grew up in Seward, Alaska. After she graduated from high school in Seward, she met and married her first husband, who was in the Air Force. They were stationed overseas in such places as the Philippines and Italy, as well as in California and several other Lower-48 locations. They had two children who are adults now. Both of her children live in Fairbanks today. Her daughter Diana is a pre-Med major at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and her son Nick is considering his career options. She is also blessed with two grandchildren: Kaelyn, age seven, and Logan, age five. “When I first was divorced, I returned to Alaska and went to school to become a Medical Assistant.” Raising her two children as a single parent, she knew she needed to develop a stable career and that this would require returning to school. Pursuit of During her internship she says, “I met my for a team that enjoys their work and is not a career in medicine was an obvious choice for her. sweetie” in Anchorage. “He introduced me to territorial, which she experienced in other She says,“It’s always been where my heart lies.” Her Kodiak. He retired from the Coast Guard in medical practices outside of Kodiak. two greatest interests are in cooking and medicine. 1988, and was working for Alyeska in Valdez Between the two career choices she says,“I can’t see when we met in December 2001. He spent many She feels her background as a lifelong Alaskan it the other way around.” years stationed in Kodiak.”Together they decided makes her appreciate some of the challenges that they wanted to live in Kodiak. She believes, that rural Alaska Natives face. She says, “I’m not As she searched for a training program that “Kodiak has the feeling that Seward had when Alaska Native, but I am a Native Alaskan--third would be the right fit, a friend recommended the I was growing up.” Because Seward is on the generation.” University of Washington’s Physician Assistant road system, it has experienced more change, but Program. She felt it incorporated all the training Kodiak has retained its rural Alaskan and small opportunities she was looking for. After taking her town qualities. “You can do all the really cool prerequisites at University of Alaska Anchorage, things here in Alaska,” she says. “Once I decided she moved to Seattle to finish her training through to move to Kodiak, it didn’t take me long to find the UW Physician Assistant Program with its the job.” Now that she knows she’s here to stay remaining two years of required coursework she encouraged her 88-year-old mother to move and internship.