Thank you, Homer! Community Walking Challenge Results:

More than 90 million steps taken in community-wide steps challenge

Over $3,000 in cash and merchandise prizes were awarded to winners in the 1st annual community wide steps challenge at the event-wrap up party on Saturday, June 2 at the Homer Farmers Market.

The City of Homer retained team bragging rights, ending the month long challenge with 349,443 total steps taken. The City won last year’s challenge, which was an invitational among four local agencies, and took the trophy in this year’s expanded event among 18 total teams.

435 participants enrolled in the event, taking a grand total of 90,214,266 steps in the month of May.

Above and Beyond Stepper award of $500 went to Christopher Stillford, for walking 2,311,539 steps. The High Stepper Award of $500 went to Deb Anderson for walking 1,184,334 steps. The Grand Prize, $500 donated by the SPH Foundation, was a random drawing prize of the 128 participants who exceeded 300,000 total steps. Tara Hammond won with 1,116,519 steps.  2nd Place, $250 donated by Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware, was a warded to Teresa Sundmark by random drawing out of 42 participants stepping 250,00 – 299,999. 3rd place, $100, went to Alexis E., drawn out of 35 participants stepping 200,000 and 249,999.  Weekly prizes were awarded to high steppers in various categories.

The community wide steps challenge is organized by the SPH Health and Wellness department, in cooperation with wellness representatives from The Center, SVT Health and Wellness, the City of Homer, and SPARC. It was made possible by generous donations from these and other local businesses, and a $500 grant from South Peninsula Hospital Foundation, a non-profit charitable institution dedicated to the welfare of the people of the southern Kenai Peninsula and supporting the healthcare mission of South Peninsula Hospital.

See the Homer Steps Up! 2018 Page for a complete list of winners, prizes and donors.

Next Walk with a Doc – Saturday, June 16th with Dr. Paula Godfrey!

Join South Peninsula Hospital and Paula Godfrey, DO at SPARC (600 Sterling Hwy next to Homer Middle School) for our next “Walk with a Doc”! All are welcome Saturday, June 16th from 9:00 am-10:00 am to hear a brief talk by Dr. Godfrey on locating and using an AED in an emergency and spend the rest of the hour walking at your own pace, chatting & asking any questions. This is a free event, open to all ages and abilities! There is parking up at the SPARC and down below in the Homer Middle School Parking lot. Find out more on Facebook or our page on the Walk with a Doc National website!

Walk with a Doc is a nationwide walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. What better way to start your weekend than on your feet making strides to help your heart and improving your general health to live longer! While you walk at your own pace, you’ll have the opportunity to have questions answered by local physicians.

There will be free blood pressure screenings, prizes, and refreshments!

Please bring clean indoor walking shoes.

Email wellness@sphosp.org, or call the Health & Wellness Department at (907) 235-0970 with questions or for more information!

Letter from the CEO

Letter from the CEO

To the Community,

The situation reported in a recent newspaper article continues to be a priority for our organization and we are deeply sensitive to the issues.  Making sure we have a climate of dignity and respect, for both our patients and staff, is always our goal, and I am confident in our ongoing process to investigate and resolve these matters.

As your healthcare provider, and the community's largest employer, we are absolutely committed to patient and resident safety, all provided in a safe work environment for the staff. We embrace this opportunity to ensure our practices best reflect our organization's values.

Thank you for your continued support,


Joe Woodin, CEO

Homer Steps Up! 2018 Last Weekly Drawing on TUESDAY 5/29!

Don’t forget to enter your steps or sync your activity devices before the end of the day Monday 5/28 so that you will be entered in the prize drawings on Tuesday!

More information about the challenge is available here and please contact wellness@sphosp.org or (907) 235-0970 with questions or for assistance!  We can help with entering steps!

 

Living Wills? Power of Attorney? Making Sense of Medical Decisions with Dr. Giulia Tortora

Join South Peninsula Hospital and Giulia Tortora, MD at Pioneer Hall, Kachemak Bay Campus –  533 E. Pioneer Ave in Homer on Wednesday, April 18th, 2018 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM to learn about and discuss living wills & other advance care directives, and decisions around medical power of attorney, end of life care & dementia.

Dr. Tortora and SPH social workers will be available to answer your questions and provide & recommend resources to help.

This is a free event, all are welcome.

 

For more information, contact South Peninsula Hospital at (907) 235-0970 or email wellness@sphosp.org

New CEO Selected

Joe Woodin

The South Peninsula Hospital, Inc. Board of Directors announces the selection of Joseph “Joe” Woodin for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Woodin has 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, most recently as President and CEO at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, a 26-bed critical access hospital and 62-bed nursing and rehab center in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. Prior to this, Woodin spent 17 years as President and CEO at Gifford Health Care and Gifford Medical Center in Vermont. Gifford includes a 25-bed critical access hospital with extensive ancillary services, senior living communities and seven clinics located throughout the state of Vermont.

Tom Clark, chairman of the hospital’s search committee and vice-president of the board of directors, said, “Mr. Woodin offers a blend of visionary leadership with practical, hands-on experience. He has a proven track record as a dynamic leader in healthcare. He is highly motivated, results-oriented and he values community engagement. He is a perfect fit to lead our hospital and organization.”

Woodin was selected from dozens of highly qualified candidates by a search committee comprised of the hospital’s board of directors and representatives from the medical staff, the community-elected service area board and hospital administration. “During his four-day site visit, Mr Woodin immediately connected with the community, the organization and the employees,” Clark said. “We feel fortunate to have him as our next CEO.”

Woodin is a member of the American College of Hospital Executives and a fellow of the Advisory Board Company, which provides accelerated healthcare leadership training for best practices in improving the performance of health care organizations. He holds a Master of Science in Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. He will be relocating from Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, and is expected to begin by March 26. Woodin succeeds long-time CEO Robert Letson, who announced his retirement last summer.

You Can Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in America, but with regular screening, colon cancer can often be cured – and even prevented! Schedule your preventative colon cancer screening with Dr. Greg Hough in March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and receive a free $20 token for the Homer Farmers’ Market*.  Screenings are covered at 100% by most insurances.  For normal-risk individuals, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years beginning at age 50.

 

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Dr. Ostrom offers new procedures at Homer Medical Center

Katie Ostrom, MD, OB/GYN at Homer Medical Center, now performs laser therapy as a painless alternative to using hormone therapy for vaginal restoration. The laser treatment stimulates the production of collagen in the vaginal tissue, improving the treated area’s functionality and restoring the proper balance to the mucous membrane.

This procedure can cure many of the uncomfortable conditions resulting from menopause or childbirth, allowing women to fully enjoy their postmenopausal and post-childbearing years. Treatable discomforts commonly include dryness, incontinence, burning, painful intercourse and laxity.

Laser therapy is the most effective treatment for these conditions without the use of pharmaceuticals or surgery. Visit www.homerobgyn.com for more information or call 235-8586 to make an appointment.

Overdose Response Training Offered

South Peninsula Hospital will offer a free training for responding to opioid overdose. Attendees will learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and receive a free Narcan (naloxone) response kit. The training will be Thursday, April 20, from 5:30-6:30pm at the SPH training center and will be presented by Dr. Sarah Spencer, Addiction Medicine Specialist. Naloxone funding provided by State of Alaska Project Hope. Please register in advance at 235-0258.
(Photo attached) Sarah Spencer, DO

Hospital Boot Camp – Register by March 13

South Peninsula Hospital is offering a hospital boot camp in Homer April 7-8 for hospital and physician leaders. Led by Horty, Springer & Mattern Attorneys, this is a don’t-miss event for all hospital leadership positions, and a great reason to visit Homer this spring! Register online by Monday, March 13!