The South Peninsula Hospital Community Survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your feedback! Survey results will be presented to the Board of Directors at the public board meeting on Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30pm in Conference Rooms 1 and 2 and via Zoom. Your input will help inform future planning and priorities at South Peninsula Hospital. We’ll also share the results later this summer during a community presentation, so stay tuned!
Registration is now open for Homer Steps Up community walking challenge, a four week event running May 1 – 28, 2025. In its 9th year, this popular event is open to anyone on the southern Kenai Peninsula, and regularly attracts hundreds of individuals on dozens of teams to build a healthy walking routine, with prize incentives along the way.
Anna Hermanson, Chief Financial Officer at South Peninsula Hospital, has earned Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). To achieve the distinction of fellowship, applicants must be credentialed as a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), be an HFMA member for at least five years, complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and volunteer in HFMA or the healthcare industry, among other professional achievements. Anna is one of only 1,800 HFMA members nationwide to have achieved this accomplishment in the organization’s 75+-year history.
Anna started at South Peninsula Hospital in 2016 as the Business Office Supervisor, bringing with her nearly a decade of healthcare finance experience and training. She quickly advanced to Director of Patient Financial Services, then Director of Revenue Cycle, then Director of Finance; in 2022 she was named Chief Financial Officer. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University in 2006, her Masters of Science in 2006 from South Dakota State University, and obtained her MBA from Chadron State College in 2014.
An important part of achieving fellowship is commitment to sharing one’s knowledge and expertise for purpose of community service and training of others. Anna is former Treasurer and current board member of Homer Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer and Board member for Kenai Peninsula Safari Club International; and Board member for Washington/Alaska Chapter of Healthcare Financial Management Association. She also serves as the co-chair for the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association’s Finance & Reimbursement Workgroup.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) equips its more than 100,000 members nationwide to navigate a complex healthcare landscape. Finance professionals in the full range of work settings, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices and health plans, rely on HFMA to provide the guidance and tools to help them lead their organizations, and the industry, address industry challenges by providing guidance, education, practical tools and solutions.
Photo attached: Anna Hermanson, Chief Financial Officer, South Peninsula Hospital
32nd Annual Safe and Healthy Kids Fair!
Saturday, May 17th
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Fun for the whole family with a focus on health, safety, and FUN!
Bike Rodeo (Helmet required, or buy one onsite at a deeply discounted price!)
FREE Bike Drawing for different age groups!
Face Painting
Games
Booths
Live Entertainment
Food
Demos
Visits from Beary the Be Well Bear …and so much more!
This fair is FREE, and all are welcome to attend!
Hosted by:
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services
Homer Parks & Rec
Community Volunteer Superstar Red Asselin
We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us for a Communication Disorder Support Group on the last Saturday of each month. This group offers a welcoming space for individuals with speech, voice, and communication disorders and their families to share experiences, access resources, and find encouragement to communicate in supported ways. Please contact Martie Klouser, MS, CCC-SLP at (907) 235- 0372 with questions.
Homer Steps Up is returning this spring! It’s not too early to form your team and brainstorm group names: registration begins April 15.
Join us for our weekly Wellness Wednesday events at the Kenai Peninsula College on Pioneer Avenue. Health talks begin at 5:30pm, and Qi Gong with Kate Henry begins at 6:30pm. Free homemade soup and bread is provided. Please note that these are the last Wellness Wednesday events until the fall!
As volcanic activity increases in our region, South Peninsula Hospital urges everyone to be aware of the potential health risks associated with volcanic ash. Ash fallout can cause serious health hazards, particularly for the respiratory system, eyes, and skin.
Health Hazards of Ash:
Protect Your Health:
For more detailed information on how to protect your family, home, and business, please refer to the full emergency preparedness guide here: Ash Alert: How to Protect Your Family, Home, and Business.
Stay informed and stay safe.
Additional resources:
Mt. Spurr FAQ (updated 3/19/25)
Lars Matkin, MD, performed a hip replacement surgery at South Peninsula Hospital in January, rounding out the full suite of orthopedic surgeries now offered here. This event marks the first total hip replacement in recent times. Michael Craig, the recipient of the new hip, is a local resident of Homer and expressed delight in being able to access this expertise in Homer. Craig was up and walking hours after the surgery, and reported nothing but good outcomes at his follow-up appointment.
“I really don’t like driving and I really want to get my care locally,” Michael shared while visiting with the surgeon the day after surgery. Michael already had a relationship with SPH’s Dr. Brent Adcox and Dr. Kurt Mentzer for other orthopedic care, and he really appreciated the quickness and ease in which they were able to connect him to Dr. Matkin for assessment and scheduling. Though he’d never met Dr. Matkin before, Craig had been acquainted with his father for many years. Between knowing his dad, and being referred by Dr. Adcox, he felt very comfortable and was excited to be the first patient to have this surgery here.
Homer born and raised, Matkin attended medical school at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and credits time spent with Dr. Adcox as his inspiration to practicing orthopedics. He practices mostly in Anchorage, but now joins the SPH orthopedics team in Homer on a twice monthly basis, focusing on patients with hip issues.
Matkin joins South Peninsula Orthopedics where two full time orthopedic surgeons, Brent Adcox and Kurt Mentzer, offer a full range of orthopedic services including sports medicine, orthopedic surgeries, total joint replacements and care of cervical and lumbar spinal disorders. Adcox, the founding provider at South Peninsula Orthopedics, completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University Of Texas Health Sciences Center, and completed his spine fellowship at South Texas Spinal Clinic. Mentzer earned a Fellowship at Hand Center of San Antonio and completed residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center.
Matkin really appreciates the levels of support here as compared to other places. From a very effective and talented surgical staff and the familiarity of relationships found only in a small town, to a very diverse physical rehabilitation team which offers all types of specialties and even does home visits, Matkin is super impressed with the whole patient care experience here and looks forward to expanding his practice in the coming years.
South Peninsula Orthopedics is located at 4201 Bartlett Street, Homer. Appointments can be made by calling (907) 235-0310.
