February 15, 2009
ANTHC elects new chairman and president
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) Board of Directors has selected Andy Teuber of Kodiak as its chairman and president.
Teuber is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA), a post he has held since May 2006.
ANTHC and board member Ray Alstrom welcomed Teuber as Consortium chairman and president. "With his leadership, and the leadership of all the board members, we will continue to improve patient care services for all our Native people," said Alstrom. "Andy has a difficult task ahead of him during these hard times, but with his strong leadership and fortitude, we shall prevail."
Noting that Teuber has served at the local, regional, and statewide level in tribal, non-profit, and for-profit organizations, board member Bernice Kaigelak said, "Andy brings a wealth of knowledge in finance and a fresh look in leadership."
Teuber was a KANA board member, and corporate affairs vice-president at Koniag, Inc., the for-profit Native corporation for the Kodiak region. From 1999-2004, Teuber was the Woody Island (village) Tribal Council administrator. He has served on the boards of the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, and the State Chamber of Commerce. He has served with the Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition, the Public Advisory Committee of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, and Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. He is due to graduate in June 2009 with an MBA from the Univ. of Washington, Foster School of Business.
Teuber was born and raised in Kodiak and has three children with his spouse Natasha Kutchick.
Alaska's only Magnet Status Hospital Retains Distinction
Anchorage, AK - Jan. 19, 2009 - For the second time, the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) has earned the highest honor offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). ANCC is the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization.
ANMC first earned this distinction in 2003, and remains the first and only hospital in Alaska, and the first and only Tribal hospital in the nation to receive Magnet Status. According to ANCC, fewer than five percent of hospitals nationwide achieve Magnet Status, and even fewer achieve re-designation.
"This award validates the outstanding care our employees provide to our patients every single day. We've set the standard in Alaska-now we‘re going to set the standard in the country," said ANTHC Chief Executive Officer Don Kashevaroff.
"It's an honor to work with such a dedicated team of professionals whose expertise and pursuit of excellence is evident in everything they do," said ANMC Chief Nurse Executive Kathy Hillburn. "For all patients who come here and those already in our care, our Magnet designation assures them that ANMC's healthcare is of the highest quality in the nation."
"In recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program gives consumers the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive," said Gail Wolf, chairwoman of the Commission on Magnet Recognition.
Tribal health organizations boost suicide prevention efforts
Anchorage, AK - To stem the increasing numbers of suicides among Alaska Natives, organizations across Alaska have added staff and stepped up staff training and the sharing of suicide prevention information. Suicide incident rates have increased in rural Alaska in recent months.
"We are deeply saddened by the recent suicides and extend our condolences to the families affected by the loss of a loved one by suicide," said Kathleen Graves, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health, ANTHC. "It's been said that one person's death by suicide affects at least six people. We know that within the Alaska Native population this number exceeds six when you think of the extended tribal families also affected. In villages, a suicide can have a devastating emotional effect on the entire community."
Regional tribal health organizations are making certain their villages are being taken care of during this suicide crisis. ANTHC has been in touch with representatives of several other groups and organizations-the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Indian Health Service, and clergy, to name just a few-to join them in reaching out to support those in need.
Barbara Franks is a member of the statewide Suicide Prevention Council, and an ANTHC Senior Of?ce Specialist who focuses on suicide prevention and awareness. On the statewide council, she represents those who lost a family member to suicide (her son committed suicide a few years ago). She encourages people to become knowledgeable about warning signs of suicide. "It's important that people realize they can save a life by being aware and by getting professional help for someone they're worried about, and most important to let them know they are not alone," said Franks.
ANTHC has secured staffs (both Injury Prevention and Behavioral Health) who are Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainers (ASIST). ANTHC is training three employees in Critical Incident Stress Management.
Suicide Prevention Resources
Tribal health organizations urge anyone with questions or concerns to contact their health care provider, or any of the contacts shown in the attachment, for more information.Suicide Warning Signs
- Observable signs of serious depression
- Unrelenting low mood
- Pessimism
- Hopelessness
- Desperation
- Anxiety, psychic pain, and inner tension
- Withdrawal
- Sleep problems
- Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
- Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
- Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die
- Making a plan
- Giving away prized possessions
- Sudden or impulsive purchase of a ?rearm
- Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications
- Unexpected rage or anger
Other Resources
Alaska CARELINE Crisis Intervention Phone907-452-2771 Toll-free: 1-877-266-4357
National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Links
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:www.afsp.org
For teens and parents: www.yellowribbon.org
For young adults: www.activeminds.org/
State of Alaska, Statewide Suicide Prevention Council: www.hss.state.ak.us/suicideprevention/default.htm
