December 15, 2007
Gene Peltola, President/CEO
A Message from the President/CEO
From my family to your family, the very best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!
With the calendar year about to change, the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation can celebrate our many successes and learn from the several challenges that have come our way during these last 12 months.
While continuing to improve our patient-centered excellence, maintain focus on our employees, develop a dynamic Alaska Native workforce, and increase our community and partner satisfaction, we must also be vigilant in identifying the financial viability of our organization.
In other words, we must solve the puzzle of working together to achieve excellent health while not over-spending. Obviously, this is easier said than done.
We have much to appreciate this year. Together, we have opened two more village clinics with the current construction of a fifth subregional clinic, worked with funders to bring a CT Scan to the region, delivered portable mammography services to the Delta, provided 12,000 flu shots, worked with Yuut Elitnaurviat to open dormitories, created an Employee Assistance Program, upgraded the employee benefit package, acquired key properties near the YKHC campus necessary for future health delivery services development and embarked on other projects and services too numerous to list. You have done a great job.
YKHC has become a mecca for people with an interest in rural healthcare delivery. Other hospitals and health agencies, documentary film crews and medical/dental associations have come to our region wanting learn how we provide medical services to our customers in this unique place we call home. YKHC is recognized worldwide as a model health care organization.
As you know, this last year proved difficult as unpleasant decisions had to be made in order for us to remain sustainable. These included reductions-in-force, supplies streamlining and housing closures. Without these mid-fiscal-year adjustments, the 2008 budget reductions may have proven far more drastic. But the good news is that recent collection goals have been exceeded and, with cost saving measures now in place, the 2008 outlook is positive.
Can we relax now? No. I'm reminded of an old saying, "If you are drifting, use the oars." Our level of success is completely dependent on our level of effort.
With Best Wishes for the New Year,
Gene Peltola, YKHC President/CEO
