Greatly Discounted Blood Draws Offered

Appointments for greatly discounted blood draws are now available for October 22 through November 5 as part of the annual Rotary Health Fair. Provided by a partnership between South Peninsula Hospital and Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary, these various wellness screenings are offered at remarkably discounted rates, both in comparison to regular prices as well as […]

Community Health Needs Assessment

Every three years, we take a pulse of the community’s health perceptions to inform new and existing hospital and community efforts. Please take a few minutes to tell us what’s important to you.  TAKE THE SURVEY

Wellness Wednesday – October Schedule

Wellness Wednesdays are officially back starting October 8, and we’re excited to share an excellent October lineup at Kachemak Bay Campus! Each week features a health talk, homemade soup and bread, and an hour of movement to follow. This program is free and open to the community, proudly sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital, and we look forward to sharing space, connection, and wellness with you. For questions, contact wellness@sphosp.org.

Healthy in Homer October Newsletter

From health information to upcoming events, our Community Health and Wellness Department’s Healthy In Homer newsletter is a great way to stay up to date. Check out this month’s edition here!

SPARC Walks

All are welcome to these open walks: strollers, elders, walking sticks, wheelchairs, etc. No sign-up is required! Some Mondays, we will be offering health education opportunities such as flu shots, blood pressure checks, surveys, and more. Starts Monday, September 8 RSVP here

Brake for Breakfast: October 1

Grab a FREE breakfast bag with treats and lifesaving breast health information at one of three convenient locations while supplies last!

Interesting in Serving?

Applications are being accepted to serve on South Peninsula Hospital Board of Directors. Deadline to apply is September 30, 2025. 

Senior Wellness Day

Calling all seniors citizens! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon hosted by South Peninsula Hospital in collaboration with local agencies. Participants can expect a presentation on “Frailty, Fractures, and Reducing Falls” with Dr. Joe Llenos, lunch, freebies, blood pressure checks, resources from local organizations, followed by a beginner level fitness activity! 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm September […]

New Electronic Health Record and Patient Portal

South Peninsula Hospital (SPH) will roll out a new electronic health record (EHR) in August. Known throughout the industry as Epic, and with a patient portal named MyChart, this new EHR is expected to help streamline care and improve experience for both the patients and the staff who provide their care. This change will happen in all patient care areas except Long Term Care and Home Health, which are separately licensed facilities.  The go-live dates are Saturday, August 9 at the hospital and Monday, August 11 at the clinics. 

Leadership transitions at SPH

Rachael Kincaid, DNP, APRN, has been named South Peninsula Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. Rachael has served as the organization’s Chief Nursing Officer and Long Term Care Administrator since 2022. 

SPH Long Term Care Earns 2025 National Quality Award

South Peninsula Hospital’s Long Term Care (SPH LTC) has been recognized as a 2025 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award recipient by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes organizations that meet […]

Last three days of Homer Steps Up Challenge – XTRATFU Days!

NEW THIS YEAR! Walkers who average 10,000 steps for these 3 days will be entered to win a pair of XTRATUF® boots of their choosing! Please note that these days do not count towards the winning team.

SPH Community Survey

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!

Community Steps Challenge Starts May 1; Register here

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.

Hospital CFO Earns Fellowship for Expertise and Community Commitment

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, […]

Safe & Healthy Kids Fair

Free one-day kids fair with a focus on safety, wellness, and FUN! Join us at Homer High School on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 11am – 2pm!

Communication Disorder Support Group

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.”

Homer Steps Up, Stepped it Up!

As a community in 2025, we walked the equivalent of three times around the Earth! For prizes, 40 walkers won $50 in Homer Bucks, and our “Extra Tough” days winner received their favorite fleece-lined XTRATUF® boots. Thank you all so much for stepping with us this past May!  

Wellness Wednesdays in April

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!

Volcano Emergency Preparedness

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: Respiratory Issues: Inhalation of fine ash particles can irritate your lungs, leading […]

Wellness Wednesday: Circadian Wellness with Heather Forbes

Join us for an informative talk from local midwife Heather Forbes to gain a foundational understanding of how light/dark impacts our health. 

Local graduate offers total hip replacement surgery at SPH

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 […]

SPH Speech Pathologists to offer Support Group

SPH speech/language pathologists are now offering a support group for individuals and their families with speech, voice and communication disorders. This will be a chance to share experiences, access resources and find encouragement with others facing similar challenges.  The group is hosted by Martie Klousner, M.S. and Haley Jenkins, M.S., the Speech-Language Pathologists in the […]

Wellness Wednesday – February Schedule

FEBRUARY  Yoga Instructor: Taylor Kendal Chandler Bio: Taylor Chandler is a holistic wellness guide and movement instructor who draws on her unique background in environmental public health and communications. As a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and female core + pelvic floor specialist, she creates classes that blend yoga-based movement, strength conditioning, and restorative practices in […]

Wellness Wednesday at KPC

Wellness Wednesday: “Every Emotion Matters – How Both Positive and Negative Emotions Shape a Life” with Michelle Fellows, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Psychology, UAA/KPC Emotions have often gotten a bad rap for being “irrational”. However, research now points to their functional and necessary role in our thinking and wellness. One important function of our emotions […]

Architectural, design and engineering services RFP

South Peninsula Hospital is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide architectural, design and engineering services for SPH projects under $1,000,000.  Services must include project inception to occupancy and include space planning; design development; civil, landscape, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering; environmental review and testing; construction documents; permit coordination; bid review; and construction administration.  Complete […]

Homeless, At-risk of being houseless, and those in need invited

South Peninsula Hospital is working with other local agencies to offer Community Resource Connect, a free, one-day event on Tuesday, January 28th, to provide assistance to those who are homeless, at risk of being houseless, or for those in need of extra support for their daily living situation. Community Resource Connect offers a one-stop shop […]

Masks and other precautions encouraged due to high rates of respiratory illness

The State of Alaska, Kenai Peninsula and greater Homer area are seeing increasing rates of respiratory illnesses like influenza (the flu), RSV, and COVID-19. South Peninsula Hospital invites you to join us in our efforts to minimize transmission of these illnesses while protecting the health of patients, residents, and staff. During this peak in cases, visitors […]

SPH Long Term Care receives National Quality Award

The Long Term Care of South Peninsula Hospital was recently awarded the 2024 Commitment to Quality Award by The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for their strong commitment to improving the quality of care for their residents. The Quality Awards program recognizes organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of […]

Wellness Wednesday January Schedule

January Wellness Wednesday Series at Kachemak Bay Campus, 5:30pm- 7:30pm
January 8 – Speaker: Provider from Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic
Topic: Cervical Cancer: Screening and Prevention
January 15 – Speaker: Danae Haley, Bright Minds of Alaska
Topic: Understanding Your Child’s Brain
January 22 – Speaker: Cortney Hartman, L.Ac., MAcOM
Topic: Community Acupuncture: Offered at SVT Health & Wellness
January 29 – Speaker: Michelle Fellows, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, UAA/Kenai Peninsula College
Topic: Every Emotion Matters: How Both Positive and Negative Emotions Shape a Full Life
Start your 2024 with intention and join us for these inspiring events. We can’t wait to see you!

SPARC Open Walks

Attention walkers! SPH is hosting free open walks for all, every Monday at SPARC from 11:45-12:45pm starting in January! Join us on Monday January 13th  at 11:45am for  a kick-off event with PTA Emilie Otis! Learn about how to establish  a safe and healthy walking structure, tips on injury prevention, and proper stretching techniques!

Chaos Compass – South Peninsula Hospital

MINDFULNESS COURSE Chaos Compass-Start date delayed to January 16th! Ready to navigate life’s chaos with confidence? Introducing “Chaos Compass,” a free four-week course designed for teens aged 14-18, led by Homer Medical Center’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Devry Garity. Explore a brain-based understanding of yourself and others as we journey through techniques to strengthen our minds, […]

Happy Holidays!

As we welcome a brand-new year, we at South Peninsula Hospital extend our heartfelt wishes for health, happiness and hope to you and your loved ones! May 2025 bring strength, joy, and cherished moments. Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your care journey—we are honored to serve our community with compassion […]

Holiday Open House at SPH Gift Shop

The SPH gift shop will be holding a holiday open house on Tuesday & Wednesday, December 10th & 11th from 11am-2pm. Guests can enjoy refreshments & door prizes while seeing the new inventory just added for Christmas. Shoppers will find handmade blankets & booties, toys and games, toiletries, gifts, plants and more. The SPH gift shop is the perfect place to find the perfect holiday gift! The shop is located just inside the hospital’s main entrance, and is open Monday – Thursday, 10am-3pm.

Open Enrollment for Health Care Coverage

Don’t miss your chance to get affordable health insurance! Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is November  1 through December 15, 2024. Visit www.healthcare.gov to sign up, or call our Financial Navigator at 907 235-0994 to make an appointment. We’re here for you!

Wellness Wednesday: Micro Yoga – a Therapeutic Practice with Jacquelyn Forster, OTR/L, CLT

Wednesday, November 20. Micro Yoga is a practice based on the Cantienica Method developed in Germany.  It is a technique that focuses on body awareness, deep inner core, breath, and visualizations to hold your body’s joints in proper placement to perform poses and exercises.  This technique encourages proper alignment and will extend the life of […]

Wellness Wednesday: Stress Management and the Art of Being at Peace with Dr. Rob Downey

Big thanks to Doc Downey for sharing his expertise with the community time and time again! He recently gave a great presentation at a Wellness Wednesday event titled “Stress Management and the Art of Being at Peace”. This presentation was recorded, you can check it out below, and learn more about his upcoming retreat being […]

Wellness Wednesday: Thyroid Health with Dr. Hennigan

Join SPH Specialty Clinic Provider and Endocrinologist Dr. Michael Hennigan as he shares with us the basics of thyroid health! The thyroid is an important endocrine gland that makes and releases certain hormones. The thyroid’s main job is to control metabolism (i.e- how the body uses energy!). Come learn more at Wellness Wednesday! 

End of Life Decision Making – recording now available

Thank you to all the many community members who attended this year’s installment of the free educational presentation “End of Life Decision Making” with Dr. Giulia Tortora from Homer Medical Center, local Estate Planning Attorney Lindsay Wolter, and Hospice of Homer Death Doula Morgan Laffert! These amazing professionals gave their presentation on end-of-life planning covering […]

Rehabilitation Relocates

After many decades of offering physical, occupational and speech therapies under one roof at South Peninsula Hospital, the Rehabilitation Department will be relocating on Tuesday, September 24 to two different locations. The doors will open at 3726 Lake Street for outpatient orthopedic, physical and occupational therapy, primarily offering treatments as follows:  orthopedic (shoulder, hip, knee, […]

Reboot, Restore, Revive: Yoga and Functional Medicine in Costa Rica

  You’re invited to experience the profound transformation you’ve been seeking. Join Dr. Rob Downey of Seaworthy Functional Medicine for a life-changing 6-day retreat where nature, community and holistic wellness harmonize to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.  Imagine waking up in the heart of Costa Rica’s breathtaking wilderness at Tierra de Suerios. Your journey […]

Chaos Compass: Mindfulness with Teens

Ready to navigate life’s chaos with confidence? Introducing “Chaos Compass,” a free six-week course designed for teens aged 14-18, led by Homer Medical Center’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Devry Garity. Explore a brain-based understanding of yourself and others as we journey through techniques to strengthen our minds, sharpen focus, manage emotions, make wise decisions, and cultivate […]