Sitka Clerkship Information
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium 222 Tongass Drive Sitka, Alaska 99835
SITE CO-DIRECTORS: Kristen Widmer, MD [email protected] and Valerie Edwards, MD [email protected]
SITE COORDINATOR: Kamala Shaddock, [email protected] 907-966-8473 Clinic Phone: 907-966-8300
About SEARHC www.searhc.org:
Our Mission
To provide the highest quality health services in partnership with Native people
Our Vision
To improve the health status of Native people in Southeast Alaska and other partners to the highest possible level
Our Values
• We value healthy lifestyle choices among the people in Southeast Alaska • We value a high quality and responsive health system through a process of continuous improvement • We value respect and dignity for patients, visitors and staff • We value effective partnerships among staff and Native people
Our History
SEARHC is a non-profit tribal health consortium of 18 Native communities which serves the health interests of the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and other Native people of Southeast Alaska. We are one of the oldest and largest Native-run health organizations in the nation.
SEARHC was established in 1975 under the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act. The intent of this legislation was to have Indian Health Service programs and facilities turned over to tribal management. Our contracting with IHS began in 1976 when we took over management of the Community Health Aides Program. In 1982, we took over operation of the IHS Juneau clinic and in 1986 we took over operation of Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital.
The Consortium
We are a consortium of 18 Native communities in Southeast Alaska, and our highest priority is to be responsive to the needs of those communities. Our board representatives are selected by the tribal governing body in each community. We maintain strong ties to the communities, to our culture, and to our elders. Wherever possible we incorporate traditional Native cultural practices and values into our health care delivery system.
Our Focus on Quality
At our Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital and Juneau Medical Center we offer services that meet established national standards of excellence as demonstrated in our accreditation reviews by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We were one of the first health care organizations in Alaska to adopt Total Quality Management principles. Under our brand of TQM (which we call SEARHC Quality Management) staff teams continually evaluate and refine our operations to assure that we are delivering the highest quality of care to our patients. By adopting SQM , we have made a commitment to work toward excellence in every part of our organization - from our medical and nursing services to our housekeeping and food services
Site Details: This site will fulfill the Indian Health and Underserved Pathway Requirement.
Drs. Valerie Edwards and Kristen Widmer will coordinate the Sitka clerkship, to provide medical care and student teaching at the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, as well as other health care clinics within the communities SEARHC serves. Students can expect to provide a wide variety of obstetrics, emergency, acute and chronic services in Sitka and the surrounding communities, where there is limited specialist availability. One week out of the clerkship, the student may have an opportunity to accompany a physician on a visit to a remote village clinic. The village trip is dependent on many local factors and will not be offered for all rotations.
Community:
Sitka is a unique island community in southeast Alaska. It is a popular cruise ship and tourist destination that embraces its rich culture and history. Despite a population of roughly 8,500, Sitka inspires the arts – there are festivals, events, shows, and activities all year long. Sitka can be reached by Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. The weather is wildly unpredictable yet temperatures are mild year-round; with a maritime climate you can certainly expect rain.
Common Clinic Patients:
Students can expect to serve a diverse population of Native Alaskan and other ethnic groups, of all age ranges.
On-Call Duties:
Call will consist of up to one night per week. This will facilitate the opportunity to follow patients admitted through the ER during their hospital stay.
Housing / Transportation:
An apartment is located about 1.5 miles from the hospital / clinic. The apartment is fully furnished and includes basic cable and internet access. The apartment has two bedrooms and is large enough to accommodate a guest, but no animals. If you’re intending on having guests / family stay, the landlords request to be notified in advance. A car is provided and can be picked up at the airport. The car should be clean and full of gas upon its return to the airport prior to your departure.
Other: Some facts about the weather in Sitka
· On average, the warmest month is August. · The highest recorded temperature was 88°F in 1976. · February is the average coolest month. · The lowest recorded temperature was 0°F in 1971. · The maximum average precipitation occurs in October.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE STUDENT SUMMARY SHEET AND EMAIL TO THE SITE DIRECTORS AND COORDINATOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF YOUR ROTATION.
Updated Jan 2015