SPH Home Health Named to the National Elite List

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South Peninsula Hospital Home Health Department was named a Top Agency in the 2018 HomeCare Elite recognition list of top-performing home health agencies in the United States. SPH Home Health was listed in the top 25 percent of the nearly 9,000 agencies considered.

HomeCare Elite agencies are determined by an analysis of performance measures in quality of care, quality improvement, best practices implementation, patient experience (HHCAHPS), and financial management. In order to be considered, an agency must be Medicare-certified and have data for at least three outcomes in Home Health Compare. Out of 8,898 agencies considered, SPH was one of the 2,223 recognized in the top 25%, and only one of two named in the state of Alaska.

HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified agencies for 13 years. The ranking is developed by ABILITY® Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and payers simplify the administrative and clinical complexities of healthcare.  Click here for more information on the designation.  More information on SPH Home Health Services can be found online here or by calling the Home Health office at (907) 235-0369.

Staff of the Home Health Department pictured left to right: Jennifer Disney, PT, Jennifer Nevak, Ivy Stuart, RN, Serena Osborne, Sheila Maupin, RN, Marissa Frank, RN, Suzi Pullin, CNA, Nancy Sawyer, Brian Burns, RN, Matt Byrd, RN.
Not Pictured: Sarah Bollwit, OT and Polly Gordeev, CNA.

South Peninsula Hospital welcomes new oncologist

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South Peninsula Hospital welcomes Darren Mullins, MD, Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine to their medical staff.

Dr. Mullins received his undergraduate degree in 1987 from the University of Alabama where he also completed medical school. Dr. Mullins completed the Internal Medicine Residency at the University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine in 1994 and went on to complete his Medical Oncology Fellowship training at the University Of Virginia Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Mullins started and managed a practice in South Carolina 14 years, and was part of two of the largest oncology practices in the country. Dr. Mullins and his wife relocated to the Kenai Peninsula last year seeking a smaller community environment.

He will be seeing oncology patient twice monthly on Fridays at South Peninsula Hospital’s Infusion Clinic. Upcoming dates are Oct. 5 and Oct 19; Nov. 2 and 16 and Dec. 7 and 28

To schedule an appointment, call 907-714-4490. For additional information or assistance call the South Peninsula Hospital Infusion Clinic at 235-0201.

Congratulations Hal Smith, MD

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After 32 years of practicing emergency medicine in Homer, Harold “Hal” Smith, MD, retired in September from South Peninsula Hospital.

During most of his time at SPH he served as the Medical Director of the hospital’s Emergency Department, serving as the champion for systems development, recruitment and advancing practices.  Examples of recent improvements was supporting the tele-connection to Kachemak Emergency Services ambulances for in-field connection to patient vitals and health data to better prepare the emergency department for their arrival, and the adoption of tele-stroke, web-based telemedicine which allows a consulting neurologist to get their eyes on a patient within minutes of their arrival to the Emergency Room.

During his tenure he was also active in overall hospital improvements, serving at times as Chief of Staff, as member of the Medical Executive Committee, on the hospital expansion committee and numerous advocacy efforts on behalf of advancing healthcare for the community.

Smith attended medical school at the University of Indianapolis and did his residency at the University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City. He practiced for five years in the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City before moving to Alaska and joining the medical staff at South Peninsula Hospital.  He also provided ER coverage at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna during some of his career in Alaska. He is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.

Hal’s service was honored at an employee event at the hospital. He plans to spend more time fishing in retirement.

Boundary Lines to be decided at the Ballot Box

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Voters will be asked two very important questions regarding the hospital’s service area boundaries in the October 2, 2018 election:

Ballot Proposition #2 – Moves the north boundary line to the highway midway point between the two hospitals. (to be voted on by Central Peninsula Hospital Service Area residents and voters in the proposed added area).

Ballot Proposition #3 – Moves the south boundary line to include additional lands across south Kachemak Bay, excluding the City of Seldovia (to be voted on by South Peninsula Hospital Service Area residents and voters in the proposed added area)

The financial impact to the service area as a whole if BOTH propositions pass is an additional gain of $2,195, and adoption of this would actually slightly reduce the mil rate for the remainder of the service area from 2.3 to 2.299. Click here for the complete financial impact, history of patient use, maps and additional information.

The SKPH Service Area Board passed a resolution to support the proposed substitute ordinance which was the origination of these ballot propositions.  Neither of these propositions negatively affect the hospital’s current relationship with the Ninilchik Tribal Council Community Health Clinic, and the community of Ninilchik maintains local access to our care. The new proposed boundary line locations have actual reasoning (rather than randomly drawn or by special interest of a few); and funding for the existing service area needs and financial support for South Peninsula Hospital will not be negatively impacted.

Additional information on this ordinance can be found on the borough website. Feel free to contact Derotha Ferraro, Director of Public Relations, at dbf@sphosp.org or 235-0397 with any questions you may have.

Click for larger view

Welcome Chris Landess, MD

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South Peninsula Hospital welcomes Christopher Landess, MD, to the medical staff and Emergency Department. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, specializing in Emergency Medicine.

Landess recently moved to Homer from Knoxville, Tennessee, though not a stranger to Alaska. He was raised in Sterling, and is excited about the opportunity to return home to share and explore the great land with his wife and teenage son.

Dr. Landess started his career in medicine as a Medical Sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces. He earned his medical degree at East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine, and his Physician Executive MBA at University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Business.  He completed his family practice and surgical residencies at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center, and has been practicing for 20 years in Virginia and Tennessee.  For the last six years, he was the Regional Medical Director for Team Health in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dr. Landess will be taking over as Medical Director of the emergency department in September, replacing Hal Smith, MD, who held the title for 31 years.

Thank you, Homer! Community Walking Challenge Results:

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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!

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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

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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!

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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

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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