June 15, 2009
The high water lingered in Kwethluk for a week.
May Health Aides of the Month: Betty Guy Memorial Clinic Staff, Kwethluk
During spring break-up in early May, the community of Kwethluk experienced significant flooding. The water level in the community was high enough that it covered much of the road system and came up to, but not quite onto the floor of the new clinic. Although the water level was not unusually high, the flood waters lingered for nearly a week, disrupting daily life, including access to the Betty Guy Clinic.
As the waters rose, the staff, fearing the clinic would be flooded, moved all the equipment, furniture and supplies to the highest levels and took medications to the school refrigerator in case power to the clinic was shut down.
During the week-long flood our dedicated team of Community Health Aides and Office Assistants came up with an innovative plan to provide services to those who needed it the most. After arranging to send patients with chronic conditions to Bethel so they could be near the hospital, they divided the community into sections and each Health Aide made home visits in their section to see that people were OK and provide any needed care, such as medication delivery.
Many of the visits were done with rubber boots, some with boats, and a few times the Health Aides waded through waist-deep water. Each Health Aide remained on-call 24 hours a day and continued making home visits for nearly a week.
"During a visit two days after the water receded, I was impressed that the employees of the Betty Guy Clinic were openly grateful to each other, and how proud they were to work together," said Health Services Vice President Jack Crow. "When I asked what they worried about the most during the flood, the employees told me they worried about their sick patients and the new clinic."
The employees of the Betty Guy Clinic in Kwethluk are an example to all of us for putting our patients first and the power of team work. Congratulations!
The Health Aide workforce represents the sustainability of health care in the YK Delta. Each month, YKHC awards special recognition to an outstanding Health Aide. If you would like to recognize a particular Health Aide, contact the Field Supervision Instructor at 543-6160.
