Functional Medicine doctor holds free online zoom event

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Dr. Rob Downey, MD, certified practitioner by the Institute for Functional Medicine is bringing a new kind of healthcare to Alaska with the opening Seaworthy Functional Medicine, a department of South Peninsula Hospital.

This is a re-launch of the existing South Peninsula Hospital Functional Medicine Clinic, with a focus on new ways to connect to wellness locally, statewide and nationwide. To celebrate the clinic’s re-opening on Wednesday, July 1st, Dr. Downey and the team at Seaworthy will be hosting a live online Q&A with area residents from 10-11am. The subject of this free zoom event will be “What is Functional Medicine and Why Does it Hold the Key to Chronic Illness. To attend this event, please go to www.seaworthymed.com and enroll.

Alaska’s diverse climate and huge geographic span both give it a well-earned reputation for excitement and adventure while also throwing big hurdles in the way of getting to doctor’s visits. When you feel sick or at your worst, the pure geographic scope of living in Alaska can be an obstacle to getting health care. Seaworthy Functional Medicine offers telemedicine as way to get quality health care advice in real time when you need it. Seaworthy’s functional medicine approach allows you to access care from afar via telemedicine in conjunction with the support of your primary care provider.

For more information about Seaworthy Functional Medicine Clinic, or this event, contact the clinic at 435-3070, or fmc@sphosp.org.

Free COVID-19 Testing offered on the Homer Spit UPDATED INFORMATION

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South Peninsula Hospital is offering free COVID-19 testing at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit daily (except Wednesdays) through Saturday, June 13, from 9am-5pm. There is no charge to the individual for testing. This testing is offered only to individuals who fit one of the following criteria:

  • working in critical infrastructure or the fishing industry,
  • have had recent travel out of state,
  • have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19,
  • they have new onset of any symptom related to COVID-19,
  • have a provider referral.

Results should be available within 48 hours via the hospital’s patient portal. No appointments are necessary. Individuals are asked to provide a driver’s license or state I.D., email address, social security number and phone number to register, and show an insurance card if insured. The pavilion is located at the top of ramp two, near the public restrooms at the Homer Harbor.

Additional testing is available 24/7 at the hospital’s main entrance parking lot at 4300 Bartlett Street, Homer. For more information about testing, call the covid nurse at the hospital at 235-0235. For more information on South Peninsula Hospital’s COVID-19 response, contact Derotha Ferraro at (907) 399-6212.

South Peninsula Hospital welcomes new physician and unit director

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Matthew Swain, DO and his wife, Stephanie, BSN, RN, are new members of the South Peninsula Hospital health care team.

Dr. Swain, Board Certified in Family Medicine, is joining the hospital’s Active Medical Staff, and is practicing at Homer Medical Center.  For the last three years he was the Chief of Primary Care for The Veteran’s Affairs Alaska Health Care System based in Anchorage, where he was the clinical supervisor for 29 physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants across six facilities. He has practiced primary care for fifteen years, most of that at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he held leadership positions of Senior Medical Officer of Branch Clinics, Wounded Warrior Battalion Surgeon, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and General Practice Physician.

Dr. Swain received his medical degree at Midwestern University, and did his residency training at Naval Hospitals in Pensacola, Florida and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Stephanie Swain, BSN, RN, BSHA, is the new Acute Care Director at the hospital. She will oversee the inpatient unit, emergency department, birthing center and respiratory therapy departments. Stephanie was most recently the Service Chief and Nurse Manager for the Veteran’s Affairs Social and Behavioral Health Services in Anchorage. She was a psychiatric nurse at Brynn Marr Hospital in Jacksonville, NC. She got her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Arizona State University, and her B.S. in Health Care Administration at University of Phoenix. Stephanie brings experience in ICU nursing, psychiatric nursing, and clinical team development.

The Swains moved to Anchorage in 2017 following a trip to Alaska when they instantly fell in love with Homer and made a commitment to one day call this home. They arrived to Homer last week, with their two teenage daughters, a Great Dane dog and two Maine Coon cats. They look forward to becoming part of all that Homer has to offer, especially the quality of life.

Dr. Swain is now seeing patients at Homer Medical Center. Stephanie started in her role at the hospital on Monday.

 

Call before you come in.

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In the interest of preventing spread of coronavirus 19, please do not enter any of our facilities if you are experiencing symptoms.  Please call first for instructions.
Long Term Care is now restricting all visitation. Only essential health care staff and pre-approved visitors for end-of-life or other compassionate care situations are permitted to enter the unit.

The Alaska Section of Epidemiology is closely monitoring the rapidly-emerging outbreak of COVID-19 first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, and the United States , including Alaska.

Check here for daily updates from the State of Alaska Department of Health of Social Services (AK DHSS): coronavirus.alaska.gov

Resources for the General Public

 

Dr. Landess Named Chief of Staff; New board members and officers elected

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Christopher Landess, MD, board certified in family medicine and Medical Director of the hospital’s emergency department is the newly elected Chief of Medical Staff, replacing Dr. Giulia Tortora, MD.

South Peninsula Hospital, Inc. Board of Directors welcomes one new director and two returning directors. Long time resident Beth Wythe was appointed in December. Beth served 12 years on the Homer City Council, with four as mayor.  She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and has worked in the Human Resources field for over 30-years.  She currently is the Human Resources and Administrative Services Manager at Homer Electric Association. Beth fills a seat vacated by Lane Chesley, who served on the board for four years, the last three as Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.

Tom Clark and Walter Partridge were re-appointed to the board at the same meeting. Their three-year reappointments are through 2022, as is Wythe’s appointment.

Wythe began her term of service at the January board meeting, at which time officers were elected for the coming year. Thomas Clark was elected President; Walter Partridge Vice President, Melissa Jacobsen Secretary, and Matthew Hambrick Treasurer.

The board of directors meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm in the hospital’s conference room. The next meeting is Wednesday, February 26th, and the meetings are open to the public. Updates are made on the calendar on the hospital’s website. Additional information on the board and a current roster is at https://www.sphosp.org/about-sph/board-of-directors/

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