Alaska's hospitals rise to their challenges: mission statements show vision for Alaska's growing health needs.

• Author: Sergeant, Deborah Jeanne
• Position: HEALTH & MEDICINE - Providence Health & Services Alaska - Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium - Alaska Regional Hospital - List

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Just like members of any community, each member of Alaska's health care community has its own strengths and challenges. But the community's diversity enables it to provide a more comprehensive range and efficiency of care.

PROVIDENCE

Providence Health & Services Alaska (www.providence.org) states its mission: "As people of Providence, we reveal God's love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service" although service is provided for all who seek care.

The organization was founded more than 100 years ago when the Sisters of Providence brought health care to Nome. Today, Providence serves people in Anchorage, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Eagle River, the Mat-Su and Soldotna.

The state's largest hospital, 371-bed Providence Alaska Medical Center offers Adult Critical Care, Behavioral Health Services, The Children's Hospital at Providence, The Providence Cancer Center, Emergency Department, Heart & Vascular Center, Imaging Services, Laboratory Services, LifeMed Alaska Air Ambulance, Maternity Center, Neuroscience Services, including a Sleep Center, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and REACH telestroke program, Orthopedic Services and Surgery Services.

Providence's current project will expand and modernize areas related to prenatal and birthing, the cardiac surgery program, surgical services and some support services, all by 2014.

The changing health care environment, influenced by health care reform and an aging population, presents one of Providence's biggest viability challenges. Helping patients become more responsible for their own health is part of the solution, along with promoting wellness-based health care.

"We remain privileged to carry on the Mission of the Sisters of Providence," said Bruce Lamoureux, chief executive officer. "Our commitment to excellence and compassionate care will continue to guide us through the challenges and opportunities we face in the furore."

ANTHC

The mission of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (www.anthctoday. org) based in Anchorage is "to achieve status as the healthiest people in the world for Alaska Natives, to provide excellent care in a hospital setting while simultaneously working with regional health care offices to meet the medical needs in the Bush and to work in a collaborative team environment to make sure preventive and proactive needs are addressed."

Primarily serving Natives, ANTHC was founded in 1997 and is owned by Alaska Natives through tribal governments and regional nonprofit organizations.

ANTHC operates the only certified Level 2 trauma system in the state, along with auxiliary patient services, diabetes program, emergency department, cancer care, otolaryngology, respiratory therapy and surgery.

Fiona Brosnan, representing the organization, said ANTHC's...