City takes the trophy in Homer Steps Up Challenge!

The City of Homer won the trophy in the first ever inter-agency steps challenge, sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital.

Agency # of Participants Cumulative Average High Steppers
City of Homer 32 participants 337,571 Todd Cook: 609,797 steps
SPH 115 participants 311,239d Kristen Churchill: 640,707
The Center 22 participants 309,152 Laurie Heckert: 745,484
SVT Health & Wellness 15 participants 287,108 Monica Anderson: 453,614

Top stepper of the challenge was Laurie Heckert: 745,484.

Nearly 200 people participated in the challenge, organized by South Peninsula Hospital between lead health organizations in the community during the month of May.  The individual participant goal was 7,500 steps each day. The individual with the most steps won $250, and those who walk a minimum of 166,067 total steps were entered into a drawing for a $1,000 cash prize, donated by the South Peninsula Hospital Foundation.

The hospital plans to get even more teams involved next year, and offer an individual category.

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A Day of Mindfulness Offered

Jerry Braza, PhD, will offer a one day Mindfulness training on Saturday, May 13, from 10am – 4pm at Many Rivers.  The morning session includes guided mindfulness practice and a mindful walk. The afternoon includes deep relaxation, mindful contemplation, mindful movements and practices for home.  No prior experience is needed. Braza is a leading voice in the field of health education and mindfulness, former university professor and author of two books on the subject.

People can register for half or full day training. A sliding scale registration fee is offered and range from $20-$30 for the half day, and $30-$60 for the full day.   Contact 235-0258 to register.

Overdose Response Training Offered

South Peninsula Hospital will offer a free training for responding to opioid overdose. Attendees will learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and receive a free Narcan (naloxone) response kit. The training will be Thursday, April 20, from 5:30-6:30pm at the SPH training center and will be presented by Dr. Sarah Spencer, Addiction Medicine Specialist. Naloxone funding provided by State of Alaska Project Hope. Please register in advance at 235-0258.
(Photo attached) Sarah Spencer, DO

Farewell and Thank You Dr. Wiest!

Randy Wiest, MD, board certified family practice physician at Homer Medical Center, retired from his medical practice at the clinic.  Dr. Wiest practiced here for nearly twenty years, providing care for all stages of life.  He was a member of Active Medical Staff at the hospital and provided physician coverage in the Emergency Department and Acute Care units.  Thank you, Dr. Wiest, for your service to the community!

Hospital Boot Camp – Register by March 13

South Peninsula Hospital is offering a hospital boot camp in Homer April 7-8 for hospital and physician leaders. Led by Horty, Springer & Mattern Attorneys, this is a don’t-miss event for all hospital leadership positions, and a great reason to visit Homer this spring! Register online by Monday, March 13!

Newby elected chair of SPH Foundation; Cooper steps down after 7 years of service

The South Peninsula Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees elected officers at its annual meeting held Monday, January 9.  Angie Newby was elected chair, Phyllis Cooper – vice chair, Mary Ann Rowe – secretary and Judith Lund – Treasurer.  Cooper was recognized during the meeting by fellow trustees and hospital administration for seven consecutive years as Foundation Chair.

The Foundation is a non-profit, charitable and fundraising foundation which supports the community health care mission of South Peninsula Hospital.  In addition to awarding five scholarships annually to local residents pursuing C.N.A. certification and allied health degrees, the foundation supports capital purchases and special projects, including support for diabetes education for uninsured patients.  Tax deductible donations can be made by mail to SPHFI, PO Box 2548, Homer, or through the Pick-Click-Give program when enrolling for the PFD.

The next Foundation meeting is Monday, April 24 at 3:30pm in the hospital’s conference room and is open to the public. Click here for more information on the SPH Foundation.

New Chief of Staff at SPH

Rob Downey, MD, is the newly elected 2017 Chief of Staff for the South Peninsula Hospital Medical Staff.  Dr. Downey offers an outpatient functional medicine practice, and is the Infection Prevention/Employee Health Physician and Long Term Care Assistant Medical Director for South Peninsula Hospital.  He is board certified in Family Medicine and is a certified practitioner by the Institute for Functional Medicine. Downey replaces outgoing chief of staff Dr. Sarah Spencer.

The Chief of Staff elect is Katie Ostrom, MD, OB/GYN, and Secretary/Treasurer is Teresa Johnson, MD, family practice.  In addition to the officers, the Medical Executive Committee includes past chief of staff William Bell, MD, family practice, and Members-At-Large Brent Adcox, MD, orthopedics, and Edson Knapp, MD, radiology.

Welcome Baby Everest!

Everest Reutov was the first baby born at South Peninsula Hospital in 2017.  Born Wednesday, January 4, at 8:15am to Kcenia and David Reutov of Homer, Everest was born a healthy seven pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long.  Their due date wasn’t until much later in January, so this was a happy surprise for the couple to have the honor of first-baby of the year.  Although he is the first baby born at the hospital this year, Everest is certainly not the first child in the family, nor the first one born at the start of a new year.  One of seven children in the Reutov family, Everest is one of five born at South Peninsula Hospital and his sister was born January 1, 2005, in Kodiak.  She was not officially the first baby of the year there, however, as that honor went to another baby, born just one hour earlier.

Everest’s name was chosen by his siblings out of three options selected by his parents.  They had narrowed it down to Yoseph, Everest or Zenon.  The name Everest was chosen by unanimous decision by the siblings.  In addition to naming the new baby, another family activity is fishing, and Everest joins a long line of fishermen in the Reutov family.  His father, David, is fourth generation fishermen, and he hopes Everest will make it five.

Many people in the community already know Kcenia by the fresh baked breads she makes and sells under the business name Country Kitchen at the Homer Farmer’s Market. Folks will be able to meet Everest in person this summer in his mother’s arms or on her back at the market.

The family was showered with gifts from generous local businesses, including:

North Wind                                        Decorative Wall Decals
Homer Bookstore                            Gift Certificate
Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware        Gift Card
Two Sisters Bakery                          Gift Card for 8” cake
Old Inlet Bookshop                         Gift Certificate
Sprout Family Services                   Gift Bag
Paul Banks Elementary                  Gift
Movie Theatre                                  2- movie passes and refreshments
SPH Auxiliary                                      Diaper Cake
Mary Wallis                                         Baby Blanket / Burp Rag Set
Best Western Bidarka Inn             One night stay in the hot tub room
The “Other Book Club”                  2 wrapped gifts and box of chocolates

South Peninsula Hospital Birthing Center averages 130 births per year. While most births there are attended by certified nurse midwives, a full team of obstetrics nurses and OB/GYN and general practice physicians support the birthing experience as needed. For more information about the services or a tour of the birthing center, call 235-0240.

SPH now offers telemedicine that saves time, and lives

Staff nurses Peggy Frazier, Nicole Reynolds, Haylee Bradshaw and Grace Halsted train on tele-stroke equipment and supplies.

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.

SPH Welcomes New Pulmonologist

SPH Welcomes New Pulmonologist

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.