ANMC’s nurses provide culturally appropriate, family-centered care in a unique hospital environment, and they are constantly seeking ways to improve the services and care we provide. In an effort to further recognize our nurses for their outstanding work, ANMC partnered with the DAISY Award, an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Congratulations to DAISY Award honoree, Barbara Christensen, an RN on ANMC’s Critical Care Unit, who was recognized ...

In 2017, there were 102 overdose deaths involving opioids throughout the state of Alaska—a rate of 13.9 per 100,000 persons. Prescription opioids (such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine) are prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain. However, they have serious risks and side effects, including dependency, addiction, overdose and accidental poisoning. In order to assist in the prevention of substance misuse and accidental poisoning, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium now provides free medicine disposal products through the iknowmine ...

Gastric cancer, commonly known as stomach cancer, is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the stomach. Alaska Native people experience higher rates of gastric cancer than other groups in the United States. This past July, the Consortium hosted a two-day panel of Alaska Native community leaders, health care providers and gastric cancer experts from around the globe. The goal of the meeting was to identify the best methods to combat the disease Alaska Native ...

Shilah Kellso was recently hired as ANTHC’s Regional Liaison for the Copper River area. After spending a few weeks at ANTHC’s offices in Anchorage learning about the ANTHC resources available to support Tribal members in the Copper River region, Kellso is at Copper River Native Association (CRNA) as of early September. The regional liaison will be located in CRNA’s large clinic between Glennallen and Tazlina. In addition, she will travel once a month to check in with Chistochina and Mentasta ...

September is National Recovery Month. Observing Recovery Month helps to increase awareness and understanding of substance use disorders, increase knowledge of recovery resources, and provide support by sharing personal stories of addiction and recovery. The theme for Recovery Month 2019 is Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger. Recovery is a lifelong process of improving health and well-being while living independently. Many people suffering from addiction achieve sobriety, but recovery can be more difficult. Recovery involves changing your outlook ...

It is difficult to see a family member or loved one deal with substance misuse. Often, living close to someone who misuses substances, such as alcohol, drugs or prescription opioids, puts a strain on the entire family. A new therapy being offered in Anchorage at the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA), in partnership with ANTHC, offers hope to families who have someone that suffers from substance misuse. Family members and friends know their loved ones best, making them some of ...

September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This year, ANTHC is participating in a number of awareness events throughout the month to help start conversations about suicide and raise awareness. We can all prevent suicide and help save a life. If you need immediate help or someone you know is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please talk to someone you trust, call 911 or call the Alaska Careline at 1-877-266-4357. The Alaska Careline Crisis line is here ...

This summer, 25 Tribal Epidemiology Centers staff, representing 10 different organizations from across the nation, gathered to participate in the Management Concept’s Cost Principles for Federal Grants training in Anchorage, Alaska. Sponsored by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Tribal Epidemiology Center’s Public Health Infrastructure Network Coordinating Center and the ANTHC Alaska Native Epidemiology Center (EpiCenter), the training provided participants with knowledge and experience in federal cost principles and how they affect awards including: oversight; budget development and review; spending ...

For years, Alaska Native leaders negotiated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission to serve traditional foods to those who benefit from their healing and comforting effects. Healthy eating is one of the building blocks for a healthy life. ANTHC’s Tribal leadership has helped place traditional foods in a prominent place in our health care and services. ANTHC has long been at the forefront of advocating for the positive aspects of harvesting and eating traditional foods – and permission ...