Welcome to the June Issue of Iñuuniaġniq
Employee Spotlight
Service Spotlight
Cataract Awareness
Guy Okakok SR., Leadership Award
COVID-19 Update
Guiding Principles
Elder Care(Primary Care Appointments)
Social Services Outreach
Tribal Child Care
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 June is Iġñivik. It is the month when communities celebrate their whale festivals, people hunt seals and go off to traditional campsites.

In this issue, we have information on an Employee and Service Spotlight, Cataract Awareness Month, and more. Enjoy!

Employee Spotlight

Dr. William 'Bill' Dean DDS, Dentist

William ‘Bill’ Dean, DDS grew up in the small town of Anson, Texas.  He attended McMurray University in Abilene, Texas and then went on to the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston.

Dr. Dean first started as a solo dental practitioner for 5 years before moving to west Africa on a medical mission for 10 years in the country of Burkina Faso.

He, his wife, and daughters moved back to the United States in 1992 where he started another practice in Floydada, Texas located in the Texas panhandle.

He would later retire from full practice in 2019 until eventually returning to the field after realizing he missed the interaction with patients and the challenges of meeting their dental needs.  He joined the ASNA team in February 2021.

Bill’s favorite past-time was long distance running.  He completed countless marathons and races before an injury to his ankle.  He would then discover his love for woodwork, playing the piano, and writing.

Dr. Dean is currently authoring a book about his time spent in west Africa where he held bush clinics in 108 degree weather and has aspirations for writing a second book.  Please join us in welcoming Dr. Dean to the ASNA team!

medications on time, we help them make and get to Doctors appointments, do their laundry, really anything they need help with.  Our home consists of 6 semi private fully furnished rooms allowing us to care for up to 12 elders.

Now that 100% of our residents and staff have received their COVID vaccine we are once again open to visitors.  We are looking forward to when we can host Bingo and Friday night at the movies again.

June is National Cataract Awareness Month

What is a cataract? Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in the United States, along with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. Cataracts prevent light from properly passing through to the retina, which may result in blurry or dim vision.

Who is at risk for cataracts? Cataracts are commonly found in people aged 40 and older. By the age of 40, there will be at least 1 out of 6 people diagnosed with cataracts in the U.S. More than half of the population aged 80 and older have cataracts in the U.S.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Generally, a cataract does not cause pain, redness or tears. The following problems may indicate that you have a cataract:

• Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, or the sense of a “film” over your eyes.
• Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or you are “dazzled” by strong light.
• You change eyeglass prescriptions often and the change does not seem to help your vision.
• You may be able to see the cataract in your eye. It may look like a yellowish spot in your pupil.

Cataracts may be treated with surgery, where they replace the cloudy lens with a clear, artificial lens. 

The purpose of this award is to provide an academic scholarship to eligible North Slope tribal members who are interested in post-secondary health care, social services, or health-related certificate program.  Scholarship awardees will receive up to $2,500 per semester or $5,000 per academic year, based on need. This is a one (1) time, non-continuing scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year.

across the world causing a global pandemic and societal norms to be upended.  The deadly disease is spread by droplets from an infected persons mouth or nose being expunged into the air by breathing or sneezing.  Then those droplets could either be breathed in by another person or the droplets land on a surface and that surface is touched by another person before touching their face.

-State of Alaska

herd immunity these efforts will have to continue as some residents are still hesistant to get vaccinated.

The State of Alaska has launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign titled ‘Sleeves Up for Summer’ to encourage all ages eligible to get vaccinated in order to make the most out of the summer season.

State of Alaska Coronavirus Hub

United States COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker

-ASNA Service Area

There have been 975 reported cases 4 deaths and 43 hospitalizations on the North Slope.  In the month of May 2021, there has been 8 reported cases of the COVID-19 disease.  Down from the previous month of 14 confirmed cases reported in April.

Not only has our case count decreased in the region but so did our testing numbers.  In April we conducted 3,139 tests and in May we did 1,825 tests.  Reason for decrease in testing could be attributed to businesses and organizations in our region rolling back mandatory testing for travelling employees.

Another contributing factor for the decline in testing may be the lack of first-person contacts to confirmed positive individuals combined with slope-wide vaccination efforts.

Testing still remains a critical element in containing the spread of the COVID-19 disease and is encouraged for all travelers into the region and symptomatic persons to request a test to keep our communities safe.

Slope residents at over 30% of our population fully vaccinated.

Since vaccination rollout there has been a decrease in participation amongst residents in our communities.  Vaccines have been proven safe and effective and are the greatest tools at ending any pandemic.

For the safety of our communities ASNA/SSMH is accepting appointments for any interested individuals ages 12 & up.  Please call 907.852.9156 or e-mail covidvaccine@arcticslope.org to schedule an appointment.

Together we can protect ourselves and help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  The most effective ways at slowing and stopping the spread of COVID-19 are the following:

·         WEAR A FACE MASK

·         STAY SIX-FEET APART FROM OTHERS

·         WASH HANDS FOR 20 SECONDS, FREQUENTLY

Testing is available at the NSB 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 Testing Registration Form, For press-release announcements CLICK HERE. 

For those awaiting appointments CLICK HERE to be directed to our online form for the COVID-19 Vaccine.  There are no out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 vaccination.

Caring for our Elders

Qiksiksrautitiqaġniq Utuqqanaanun

(Primary Care Appointments)

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.

contact Qiilu Yazzie, ICWA Program Manager at Cell Phone: 907.367.6963 between 8am to 5pm or e-mail:  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

• June 21-25, 2021:    Kaktovik, Dr. Walsh

This is an evolving situation and village travel schedules are subject to change.  Contact your NSB Village Health Clinic for any updates.

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

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).

ADMINISTRATION

• Grants Writer & Administrator
• Laboratory Manager

NURSING

• Clinical Supervisor
• Nurse Case Manager (3 positions)
• Prevention Specialist 
• Registered Nurse – Emergency Room
• Registered Nurse – Inpatient
• Registered Nurse – LDRP
• Registered Nurse – Primary Care
• Registered Nurse Village Health Coordinator
• Respiratory Therapist
• Respiratory Therapist (PRN) On-Call
• SFL Case Manager – LPN

PROFESSIONAL HEALTH - CARE

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Mammographer X-Ray Technologist Revised
• Physical Therapist
• Pharmacist 
• Sonographer-Ultrasound Technologist

SKILLED/SUPPORT SERVICES

• Certified Coder
• CT Technologist (3 Positions)
• Dental Assistant (2 Positions)
• Dental Program Assistant On-Call 
• Elder Care Specialist (On-Call)
• Floor Care Technician (Temporary)
• Food Service Kitchen Helper (Temporary)
• Healthy Family Advocate – AKP or BRW or KAK
• Healthy Family Advocate (Nuiqsut)
• Housekeeper (PRN)
• ICWA Case Manager
• Information Services Technician
• Laundry Attendant 
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Maintenance Laborer (Offsite Facilities)
• Maintenance Specialist I (Offsite Facilities)
• Maintenance Specialist II (Offsite Facilities)
• Manager of Customer Experience & Risk
• Medical Technician/Medical Technologist
• Off-site Facility Maintenance Foreman
• On Job Training for Dental Assistant
• Patient Care Technician – (PCT) Temporary
• Pharmacy Technician
• Pre-Maternal Residential Assistant On-Call (Nights)
• Quality and Compliance Risk Analyst
• Systems Administrator
• Travel Assistant – Temporary
• Van Driver On-Call

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

• Independence Day     July 5, 2021

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.