Archive for category: Whats New

South Peninsula Hospital (SPH) recently achieved a five-star rating in the Medicare Hospital Compare quality monitoring survey about patient care, which makes it the only hospital of 25 in the state of Alaska with a five star rating based on Medicare patient surveys.  

The patient survey asks a random sample of recently discharged patients about their hospital care experience on important topics like how well nurses and doctors communicated, how responsive staff were to their needs, and the cleanliness and quietness of the hospital. Specifically it measures communication with doctors and nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, cleanliness of the hospital, quietness of the hospital, communication about medicines, discharge information, care transition, their overall rating of the hospital and their willingness to recommend the hospital.

Rachael Kincaid, Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, attributes this ranking to not only the great work of staff, but also to the patients receiving care. “This ranking is a reflection of the teamwork and commitment demonstrated daily by our talented staff, as well as the commitment of the patients we care for as demonstrated in their willingness to provide the feedback. On behalf of the extended SPH team, we thank the community for this response. It is truly a privilege to provide care for members of the community at their locally-owned, community hospital.”

Through Medicare’s Hospital Compare program patients can not only give feedback on their care, but also compare hospital ratings based on name or location. Medicare updates the scores quarterly, usually based on the prior year’s surveys.  For more information and for current ratings state and nationwide, visit the Medicare hospital compare website at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/?providerType=Hospital.

South Peninsula Hospital is a locally owned and operated non-profit community hospital in Homer, Alaska.

South Peninsula Hospital’s walk-up Covid-19 testing clinic on Bartlett Street is set to close on Friday, January 13^th at 5pm.

The hospital started offering walk-up testing in March of 2020 at the start of the worldwide pandemic under a tent at the hospital’s main entrance. It relocated the service in October of 2020 to the current location at 4201 Bartlett Street.  Additionally, the hospital offered numerous off-campus “pop-up” testing clinics throughout the service area, and processed over 50,000 Covid test swabs during this time.

Demand for testing is low, there is now ample availability of testing services locally, there is easy access to free vaccines and boosters, a variety of effective therapeutics are available for the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, there’s proven infection prevention strategies and the current strain circulating here at this time is causing a milder illness for most people.

Covid-19 testing will still be available at the hospital after the walk-up clinic closes through the self-referral program “Request-A-Test” at the hospital’s laboratory. This service is for self-pay only, insurance will not be billed, and will cost only $50.  In addition to a single Covid-19 test, a respiratory four-plex test for Influenza-A, Influenza-B, RSV and Covid-19 is offered, as well as other self-referred tests. A complete list can be found at https://www.sphosp.org/services/laboratory/

Most local clinics now offer Covid and flu testing as part of a visit for covid-like illness, which is usually covered by most insurances. Free test kits are offered at the hospital’s main entrance seven days a week, round the clock, while supplies last. Free kits can also be found at Homer Public Library and the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Free at-home test kits can be ordered online at www.covid.gov/tests, and they can be purchased locally, with the cost covered by most insurances.

Vaccines are also being discontinued, and the last day at the Bartlett Street clinic will be Friday, December 30. Between the community mass vaccine events in 2021 and at the clinic, SPH administered over 15,000 vaccines, including initial and booster doses. Covid vaccines are offered by appointment at all local primary care clinics, Homer Public Health and Safeway pharmacy. 

The hospital re-opened all hospital entrances in November, and the entire campus went to a self-screening mask-optional entry, asking visitors and patients to mask if experiencing Covid or flu-like symptoms, or if having a recent known exposure. Caregivers remain masked for all patient care encounters. Pre-procedure testing is still required at the hospital for some situations, and instructions are provided at time of your provider visit.

Other changes effective January 13 include the discontinuation of the hospital’s Covid information phone line.  Individuals are asked to call their provider’s office if they are in need of specific answers regarding their health, or the local public health office at (907) 235-8857.  The weekly testing results from SPH provided testing will no longer be displayed on the hospital’s website after the closure.

For more information on hospital services related to Covid-19 visit https://www.sphosp.org/covid-19-information, contact your destination office in advance or call Derotha Ferraro, Public Information Officer, at (907) 235-0397.

Effective July 1, the hours of operation at South Peninsula Hospital’s Covid-19 Test and Vaccine Clinic at 4201 Bartlett Street will be 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends. PCR Covid-19 testing will be offered at the walk-up clinic, no appointment necessary, Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm. Insurance will be billed for testing. Those uninsured or not using insurance will be charged $50, and can pay at time of service or be billed. Test results will be provided on South Peninsula Hospital’s electronic health portal, and are normally available within 24 hours.

Testing is recommended for individuals experiencing covid-like symptoms, for those with known exposure to an individual who tested positive for Covid-19, for travel requirements, with a provider referral and in advance of medical appointments. In addition to the PCR testing offered at the hospital’s walk-up clinic, free home-test kits are available at the hospital’s main entrance 24/7, at the Homer Chamber of Commerce, and for purchase at numerous local retailers.

Covid-19 vaccinations will be offered on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only, made here. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are available at this location for individuals ages five and over, and boosters are offered to eligible groups as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and as made available by FDA under emergency use authorizations.

In addition to the stand-alone clinic on Bartlett Street, both Covid-19 testing and vaccinations (including those for 6 months and older) are offered by appointment at Homer Medical Center and the hospital’s Family Care Clinic. For more information on SPH Covid-19 services and care, visit our Covid-19 information page.