Boundary Lines to be decided at the Ballot Box

/in /by

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

/in /by

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:

/in , /by

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!

/in , , /by

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!