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.

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.