ANTHC’s Rural Energy Initiative recently received its fifth consecutive Green Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its innovative work in alternative energy to replace diesel stoves with biomass boilers to heat public utilities. The awards honor HHS employees and Alaska Native and Native American Tribal members involved in outstanding sustainability projects and demonstrate measureable results in sustainability practices. The Rural Energy Initiative’s biomass boiler projects have been constructed in the communities of Hughes, ...

Earlier this month, the community of Russian Mission, Alaska celebrated Tribal water management through a series of “Water is Life” events that included paint marbling with school children, a water bingo night, a movie night, and a mural unveiling. The Water is Life project is a partnership between the National Tribal Water Center, the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC), the City of Russian Mission, Iqurmiut Traditional Council and the Russian Mission School. Through the events, the Water is Life project ...

ANTHC is co-locating a Climate Change Adaptation Program with the Denali Commission’s Environmentally Threatened Communities Program. Program Manager Don Antrobus will work with the Commission’s Federal Co-chair, Director of Programs and Commissioners, as well as federal agencies, the State of Alaska and local stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to support community resiliency in the face of climate change. Climate change is an important issue to the health of our people and our communities. Over the past 60 years, the ...

Our growth at ANMC focuses on improving access to care as well as improving the quality and experience of the care we provide for our people. This week, ANMC’s Internal Medicine, Podiatry and Pulmonary Clinics opened in our new location in the Healthy Communities Building (HCB) on the west side of the Alaska Native Health Campus. These new clinics add an additional 20,000 square feet of clinic space to our campus. The third floor of the HCB was remodeled for ...

This article appears courtesy of Norton Sound Health Corporation and Lance Johnson, NSHC Behavior Health Services Director. NSHC Behavioral Health and Village Heath Services have partnered with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to provide a resiliency program for Community and Behavioral Health Aides. ANTHC developed this special e-learning curriculum for rural, front-line health providers across the state, titled Healthy Healers. The idea is simple: health and community workers will be more likely to continue serving Alaska Native communities ...

Careline’s important crisis intervention services and referrals for more information are now available in a mobile app in the Apple App Store for iOS and on Google Play for Android. Careline is Alaska’s statewide 24/7 crisis line and a part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system. Careline provides crisis intervention for individuals considering suicide or experiencing crisis, isolation, or depression. The services have been available via a toll-free phone call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at ...

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations that extend its authority to include new products that meet the definition of “tobacco products.” The new regulations now include the sales and health evaluation of e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah, among others. More information on the new regulations can be found in this article from the FDA: “Extending Authorities to All Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes, Cigars, and Hookah”. These new regulations go into effect on August 8, 2016. ...

For years, Alaska Native leaders negotiated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission to serve traditional foods to those who could really benefit from their healing and comforting effects. ANTHC has long been at the forefront of advocating for the positive aspects of harvesting and eating traditional foods- and permission to serve them to our patients and visitors at the Alaska Native Medical Center. In 2013, a bill from former Alaska U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, named the “The Traditional ...

ANMC is constantly working on improvements to our processes and procedures, especially those focused on the safety of our patients. The ANMC Pharmacy recently updated all Pyxis stations located in our clinics and inpatient areas, almost 80 stations throughout Anchorage and the Valley. The old systems were replaced by The Pyxis ES system, an automated medication dispensing system supporting decentralized medication management. The Pyxis ES will help ANMC clinicians safely and efficiently dispense medications, while minimizing risk of medication errors. ...

When water treatment facilities are upgraded or improved, it gives Environmental Health and Engineering staff and leaders a great sense of pride when people are appreciated and recognized by a community. This happened in Igiugig, Alaska when the upgrades to the community’s water treatment plant were completed. Jim Dullinger, ANTHC Senior Journeyman Plumber, was recognized by the Igiugig Village Council for the care and attention he gave to the water treatment plant project. AlexAnna Salmon of the Igiugig Village Council ...