Welcome to the November Issue of Iñuuniaġniq
Employee Spotlight
Lung Cancer Awareness
Diabetes Awareness
Medication Refill
COVID-19 Update
Flu Shot Awareness
Guiding Principles
Elder Primary Care
Social Services Outreach
Tribal Childcare
Medical Travel and Funeral Assistance (MTFA)
ASNA Radio Hour

Dental Clinic Village Schedule
Eye Clinic Schedule
Specialty Clinics
SSMH Medicaid/Medicare Outreach Schedule
Medical Provider Village Schedule

Welcome!

The Iñupiaq translation for November is Nippivik.  It is the month when people go seal hunting and ice fishing.  Also, the whales caught in the fall and spring are distributed at the Thanksgiving feasts.

In this issue, we have information on Lung Cancer Awareness, Medication Refills and a COVID-19 Update.  Enjoy!

Employee Spotlight

Madina Kebbay RN

Madina, a registered nurse, was recently hired as the new Manager of Customer Experience and Risk.  Originally she started as a temporary travel nurse earlier this year.  Madina grew up in New Jersey and received her Bachelors Degree in Nursing and African American Studies.  Currently she is pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Administration.

She enjoys spending time with her 2 children, reading, and exploring new places and cultures.  Please join us in welcoming Madina to the ASNA team!

Not every cigarette smoker gets lung cancer and not everyone who gets lung cancer smokes.   Other health concerns to be made aware of when we’re talking about lung health are also obesity, indoor/outdoor air quality, and disease prevention.

For More Information please visit Lung.org

Contact SSMH Primary Care to schedule an appointment for your lung cancer screening today!

Type 1 diabetes is when your body doesn’t produce insulin.  Insulin is a hormone that gets glucose(sugar), from food consumed, into the cells of your body from the bloodstream.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1.  It occurs when your body is not using that insulin properly.  Some people can manage type 2 diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise.  Others may need medication.

Diabetes is a serious but manageable disease.  Understanding the disease and its effects, is just the first step to living a full and healthy life.

For more Information please visit Diabetes.org

Contact SSMH Screening for Life Diabetes Prevention at 907.852.9119 to schedule an appointment

Attention patients, to help with medication refills in a timely manner during the holiday season please call in early to guarantee that an order is processed.

• Case managers process the medication refills weekdays 8-5pm and can take 1-2 business days.
• If the patient hasn’t been seen in primary care within the past 12 months they may be required to have a telehealth or in clinic visit prior to medications being refilled.
• Primary care typically will not refill controlled medications without an appointment unless they are on a pain contract. This does not apply to patients established in the pain clinic.

Please call SSMH Pharmacy at 907.852.9277 if you have any questions

According to data provided by The State of Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub, in the last 4 weeks there have been over 130 North Slope Borough resident cases with 4 hospitalizations.  The most we’ve seen in either category in a 4-week timeframe thus far.

To protect ourselves and loved ones during the upcoming holiday season, preventative measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community have become even more important.  The most effective ways at slowing and stopping the spread of COVID-19 are the following:

Testing is available at the Transit Station in Utqiaġvik.  Tests are available with no out-of-pockets costs, and may be repeated every seven (7) days.  Please call 833-852-4622 to schedule an appointment.

CLICK HERE for the Online Registration Form

Visit the ASNA WEBSITE for updates regarding the impact of COVID-19 in the ASNA service area

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.  The influenza viruses spread in much of the same way as COVID-19 spreads but less contagious.

The best way to prevent the spreading of the seasonal flu virus is to get vaccinated every year.  Because the compounding effect of the seasonal flu and the coronavirus (COVID-19 disease) may strain our healthcare systems it is more important than ever for everyone to get vaccinated this flu season.

Adults over the age of 65 years and adults with chronic health conditions such as: asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease are considered high risk of developing complications from the flu.  SSMH is scheduling influenza vaccinations at the transit station in Utqiaġvik.

Please Call 833.852.4622 to schedule an appointment and CLICK HERE for online Flu Shot Consent Form

For more information about similarities and differences of COVID-19 and Influenza CLICK HERE

Caring for Our Elders

Qiksiksrautitiqaġniq Utuqqanaanun

(Primary Care Appointments)

SSMH dedicates time to care for our elders.  Schedule Primary Care appointments Monday - Friday 10AM -12PM by calling 907-852-9156.

Social Services Outreach

The Social Services Department administers programs for residents throughout the North Slope including: job placement, higher education scholarships, adult vocational training, family preservation, Indian Child Welfare assistance, preventative behavioral health services, tribal childcare, medical and burial assistance. If you need assistance with applying for any of these programs, please schedule an appointment with social services.

For information or questions, please contact Qiilu Yazzie, ICWA Program Manager at Cell Phone: 907.367.6963 between 8am to 5pm or email:  Qiilu.Yazzie@arcticslope.org

ASNA Radio Hour

This schedule is subject to change at any time due to changes with KBRW scheduling or any unforeseen medical emergencies.

Dental Clinic Village Schedule

All dates subject to change.  To schedule an appointment, please call your NSB Village Health Clinic to ensure your name is on the “dental list” with your current phone number(s). 

Eye Clinic Schedule in Utqiaġvik

For more information, please contact the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Eye Clinic directly at Telephone: 907.852.9291 | E-mail: eyeclinic@arcticslope.org

Specialty Clinic Schedule in Utqiaġvik

Specialty Clinic appointments are only for those who receive a referral from a Primary Care Provider. 

For more information, please contact the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic directly at Telephone: 907.852.9284 | Toll Free: 888.525.7764

Medicaid/Medicare Outreach

Outreach staff is available on weekdays from 8AM to 5PM at the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital for those who would like to apply for Medicaid benefits and other public assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP (formally known as food stamps), Temporary Assistance Program, Adult Public Assistance, and General Relief. The outreach department travels to the villages of Atqasuk, Wainwright, Pt. Lay, Kaktovik, and Nuiqsut, and the staff can be reached at the village clinics. Please stop in and see us or call 852-4611 for more information.

SSMH Outreach and Enrollment staff will be traveling to the following villages to help patients with enrollment in Medicaid and/or Medicare, senior benefits, and other public assistance programs:

• Due to COVID-19, Village Travel is cancelled until further notice

Medicaid can also help pay for medical travel including flights, hotels, and food. If you are pregnant, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Patient services paid by Medicaid or Medicare will allow SSMH to invest in new services.  If you have questions, please contact

SSMH Patient Benefits at Telephone: 907.852.9365 | Toll Free: 888.525.7764

Medical Provider Village Schedule

Subject to travel limitations due to COVID-19, ASNA is very sensitive to the needs and wishes of our member villages and with the approval of the village, we continue to provide patient urgent care needs through Village Health travel.

All dates subject to change.  To schedule your appointment with the SSMH Provider, please call your NSB Village Health Clinic to ensure your name is on the list with your current phone number(s).

Resources

ASNA/SSMH Press Releases

Understanding COVID-19

Diabetes Awareness

Lung Cancer Awareness

NURSING

• Clinical Supervisor
• LDRP Registered Nurse
• Nurse Case Manager (2 Positions)
• Nurse Manager-Primary Care
• Patient Care Technician I (PCT) PRN
• Patient Care Technician I (PCT)
• Patient Care Technician I (PCT) Temporary
• Primary Care Nurse (2 Positions)
• Registered Nurse Emergency Room
• Registered Nurse Inpatient
• Registered Nurse – LDRP
• Registered Nurse Primary Care (2 Positions)
• Respiratory Therapist (PRN) On-Call

PROFESSIONAL HEALTH - CARE

• Diabetes Coordinator and Educator
• Laboratory Manager
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Mammographer X-Ray Technologist Revised
• Prevention Specialist
• Pharmacist
• SFL Case Manager – LPN
• Staff Dentist (Available 8/2020 & 12/2020)

SKILLED/SUPPORT SERVICES

• Accounting Specialist I Temporary 2 Positions
• Certified Coder
• Clinical Laboratory Assistant
• CT Technologist (3-Positions)
• Elder Care Specialist On-Call
• Facilities Administrative Assistant
• Floor Care Technician – Temporary
• Healthy Family Advocate – revised AKP or BRW or KAK
• Healthy Family Advocate – revised Nuiqsut
• Housekeeper
• Housekeeper (PRN)
• Housekeeper (Temporary)
• Indian Child Welfare Act Advocate (ICWA)
• Laundry Attendant(Temporary)
• Maintenance Specialist II
• Medical Technologist
• OJT Dental Assistant (2 Positions)
• Patient Access Rep (On-Call)
• Pre-Maternal Residential Assistant On-Call (Night)
• Quality and Compliance Risk Analyst
• Van Driver On-Call

Please visit us at https://arcticslope.org/careers/job-openings/ to find out how to apply online, Thank You!

• Thanksgiving     November 26-27, 2020
• Christmas    December 24-25, 2020

In observance of the upcoming holidays, the ASNA and SSMH offices will be closed with exception of the ER/emergency department and all other staff essential for emergency medical care.

The front entryway of SSMH will be closed; please enter through the ER, or southeast end of the building.