The View from the Top

2017 was definitely a turning point for the Alaska healthcare system, as the world of managed care began its long awaited march into our state. With an economic recession as its glide path and pressure cooker attention on healthcare costs, resistance was futile and the world as we knew it will never be the same.

To our good fortune, operating in a managed care environment is right up our alley. With 174+ sister facilities in the lower 48, we have instant access to subject matter experts with 20+ years of experience dealing with what we are just now navigating today.

Functionally and strategically, nothing changes. We will continue to focus our time, energy and resources on delivering the highest quality of care in a compassionate, caring "like family" environment, as economically as possible. Aligning ourselves with quality providers and being a preferred place to practice remains a priority as well. This includes leveraging our Centers of Excellence designations in Total Joint, Spine, Minimally Invasive Procedures and Robotics - recognitions we received as a result of your support and partnerships. Payor and consumers are looking for differentiators, and we have them!

We have spent the last 4 years fine tuning the "chassis" of our organization, from investing in technology to stabilizing our workforce, ensuring we have the right resources in the right places - all while bringing our physical plant up to 21st century standards to ensure our platform for care delivery is in the best shape possible.

2018 is the year we take things to the next level - but it's going to take some elbow grease to get us there. This will include defined systems, structure, and accountability measures across the entire organization. Your support and active involvement will be critical to our success in raising the bar for all that we serve.

Thank you in advance for engaging in this journey with us. Our "why" makes this easy. After all, it is what we would want for our most cherished loved ones, right?

Julie