Archive for year: 2016

Every minute counts when someone is experiencing stroke symptoms.  And now, South Peninsula Hospital offers web-based telemedicine to allow a consulting neurologist to get their eyes on a patient within minutes of their arrival to the Emergency Room.

Offered through the telehealth program at Providence Alaska Medical Center, tele-stroke uses an electronic internet platform and portable equipment to connect stroke patients and the hospital’s ER doctors with a neurologist in Anchorage or Seattle. Using extremely high definition camera, the consulting neurologist can talk to the patient in Homer about their symptoms, evaluate the patient’s motor skills, view their CT scan, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and time is very important when treating a stroke. A victim who is treated within three hours of a stroke has a significantly lower risk of permanent brain damage or death than one who waits for treatment.

Tele-stroke joins electronic-ICU as recent forms of telehealth offered at South Peninsula Hospital, allowing for more advanced care while keeping residents close to home.

South Peninsula Hospital welcomes Marek Martynowicz, MD, to the specialty clinic provider staff.  His special medical expertise is in the management of interstitial lung diseases and special bronchoscopic techniques. He currently practicing at Internal Medicine Associates in Anchorage.

Dr. Martynowicz attended medical school at the Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice, Poland. He completed his post-doctoral research fellowship at the Samuel Stratton Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and the Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. He did his residency training at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York and served as the chief resident.  He completed fellowships in both pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and recently became board certified in sleep medicine.

Dr. Martynowicz will be providing monthly outpatient clinics at the SPH Specialty Clinic on Bartlett Street, and provide inpatient rounding and consults as requested. His first scheduled clinic in Homer is December 15 and 16.  Call the Specialty Clinic at 235-0310 for an appointment or more information.

Christy Martinez, MD, Board Certified in Family Medicine is the newest member of the medical staff at South Peninsula Hospital and Homer Medical Center.  Better known to local residents by her maiden name Walkden, Christy was born at South Peninsula Hospital, raised in Homer, and graduated from Homer High School in 2001.

Dr. Martinez attended University of Washington Medical School and completed her residency at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in California.  She is practicing the full spectrum of family medicine at Homer Medical Center, but enjoys adolescent health care and has additional training in chemical dependencies and substance abuse.  She, her husband and 4 month old son moved to Homer this summer to be closer to her parents and siblings, particularly her sister Ivy Betts, RN, who is the department manager of the hospital’s Home Health services.

Appointments can be made with Dr. Martinez at Homer Medical Center at 235-8586.