August 15, 2007
Seattle Children’s Hospital (SCH) visitors and hosts paused for a photo on the front steps of the Kasigluk clinic. Standing: Clinton Anvil, janitor. Back row:Brenda Bradish and Fred Wilkinson of SCH. Middle row: Kathy Salmonson of SCH; Xenia Nicholas, Kasigluk Clinic Office Assistant; Christina Pekar, YKHC Pediatrics Care Manager. Front row: Julie Povick and Karyn Brundige of SCH.
YKHC welcomes visitors from Seattle Children’s Hospital
On July 18, YKHC hosted a group from Seattle Children’s Hospital comprised of six people including the manager of guest services, a social worker, a discharge planner, an outreach nurse practitioner and a nurse in charge of diversity issues related to Alaska patients.
The Seattle Children’s Hospital served 195 children from the YK Delta region last year, half of the Alaska total. A significant number of these patients were in need of chemotherapy.
The day trip to the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta included a visit the Bethel Hospital, specifically the Pediatrics Department with Christina Pekar as their guide and to the Family, Infant and Toddler program with Patricia Naughton providing a presentation on YKHC needs for young YKHC patients.
“I believe it was a worthwhile opportunity for Seattle Children’s Hospital to see first-hand the limitations and sometimes the lack of resources available to the patients’ families in their home communities in providing after-care services,” said Pekar. “In the future, during discharge planning, the hospital’s level of expectations of family support will be compassionate.”
In the afternoon, the group traveled to Toksook Bay for a tour of the Subregional Clinic with YKHC Nurse Practitioner Anne Willard. Willard introduced the group to community health aides, who explained the region’s village health care delivery system. During the walk through the community, Richard Curtis, YKHC Water Plant Operator, provided a tour of the water facility and shared his stories of living and raising his family in western Alaska.
A fortunate chance allowed them to view a small herd of musk-ox shortly after take-off from the Toksook Bay airfield.
On the return flight, this group also stopped at the clinic in Kasigluk where they met Office Assistant Xenia Nicholas, who knew of family who had experiences with the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Her story captivated the visitors, further emphasizing the value of ongoing dialogue on how the Seattle Children’s Hospital can better understand the needs of this region.