April 15, 2007
Tribal Council representatives from Unit 1 list their top health care priorities for 2007.
Nearly 100 Tribal Council leaders from 50 villages in our service region gathered for two days to discuss the improvement and sustainability of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta's health care system during YKHC's 14th Tribal Unity Gathering.
Held April 4th and 5th at Bethel's Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, the conference surrounded the theme of Long Term Care, "Tegganeput Mikelngurput-llu Akanun Aulukciqaput," and captured the attention of all village leaders as they, together, confronted major health concerns facing our elder and youth population and established health care priorities for 2007.
YKHC's President/CEO Gene Peltola emphasized the corporation's top priority of providing quality health care.
"We remain committed to excellence in all areas of health care," Peltola said in his welcome address. "From our Direct Care Providers who work in the home of Elders and people with disabilities, our Health Aides who respond to health care needs in our villages, and all our nurses, doctors and support staff who serve our patients at our Bethel hospital, we strive for excellence at every level of health care delivery."
State Representative Mary Nelson also welcomed tribal delegates in a videotaped address, "It's been brought to the House Finance Committee's attention that the state can benefit and save a lot of money by partnering with tribes. I am very excited that you are confronting very serious health concerns facing all of us," she states. "In most instances these are preventable diseases. It's so important that we recognize this and work on ways to prevent these life threatening diseases."
During the opening morning of the first day, Corporate Medical Director Dr. Joe Klejka reported the Health Status Scorecard for the people of the Delta, identifying the leading causes of death over the past year as cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries and suicide. "How do we become the healthiest people in the world?" Klejka asked. "Through physical activity, eating traditional food, living tobacco and alcohol-free lifestyles, wearing helmets and life jackets, getting cancer screenings for early prevention, and lastly, getting our immunizations."
YKHC Managers reported on the progress and challenges of last year's top health care priorities: CT Scanner, Assisted Living Home, Dental Health Care, Sanitation: Water & Sewer and Capital Projects.
Greg McIntyre, Vice President for Support Services, answered many construction-related questions, providing a detailed projected construction schedule which listed the Kwethluk and Kipnuk clinics to be finished this June and the Hooper Bay Subregional Clinic to begin construction this summer, with an anticipated opening in October of 2008.
Among other major projects listed were the Hospital CT Scan, which is projected to be brought on line this September, and a new Prematernal Home facility to begin construction in June of 2008.
Liz Lee, Senior and Disabilities Administrator, reported on the progress of the first Assisted Living Home for Elders in Bethel with an anticipated opening as soon as next Summer, although a $575,000 financial need is still recognized. "The architectural plans are done, a land lease has been established with the City of Bethel, and we are finally moving forward with the pilings to begin this summer," Lee said. The Denali Commission has granted $7.29 million dollars towards the $10.56 million state-of-the-art facility.
Delegates from the Yukon voiced their concern about the possibility of developing a home to serve the Elders in their region. "We are aware of the need and hope to have Assisted Living Homes in each of our Subregional villages in the future, however, we must start with step one and that is, in order to keep our Elders from being sent to Anchorage, we must establish a regional facility for our Elders here in Bethel," Peltola said.
The afternoon focused on partnerships between Tribal Councils, YKHC, and other regional and state agencies. Delegates heard presentations concerning the second year of Bird Flu testing to begin this May, Public Health Nursing efforts focused on community partnerships, and a new Community & Partner Satisfaction Project that focuses on bridging communicating between tribal councils and YKHC.
Unit work group sessions gave delegates an opportunity to come together for collaborative thinking and decision-making, a rare setting for many leaders who are separated by land and water but act as a representative body for their communities.
Lunchtime workshops were also held both days concerning Small Community Emergency Preparedness, presented by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's Emergency Consultant, Pete Petram. These sessions confronted the topic of emergency preparedness, emphasizing partnerships and the need for planning at the community level.
The second day of the conference brought awareness to the rising rates of Diabetes, Cancer, and AIDS/HIV and STDs in the region. Community leaders recognized the preventative measures needed at the community level and recognized the responsibility to initiate awareness in their communities.Early education and outreach was a connecting theme throughout the discussion of health concerns.
Tribal Council member Ivan Ivan of Akiak Native Community said, "We need to be active leaders and educate our people so that we fight these issues in our own communities." Concerning the education and prevention of AIDS/HIV & STDs, one Elder, George Billy of Napakiak, advised communities to support people who currently suffer from the disease, "We must not treat them as outcasts, but support them, and use them to teach others about the disease," said Billy.
Leaders gathered during the final moments of the gathering to vote, discuss and establish health care priorities as a unit. Using priority categories identified over the past six years, each community was asked to vote and then the votes were tallied for a unified list of 10 priorities for each unit.