St. Elias specialty hospital to offer more services: Providence and Bridgecare joint venture provides long-term acute care.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi

Mount St. Elias, at 18,008 feet, is the second highest peak in North America after Mount McKinley. Besides the immense vertical terrain, its terrible weather conditions are legendary. It is this long trek, requiting determination, hope and resolve that reflects the same daunting challenge that patients of St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage face as they battle metaphorical storms and what seems to be an impassable mountain in an attempt to cross over to a better, functional way of life, where returning to home and family wait at the summit of their recovery.

"The climb is often treacherous and conditions can be difficult, but when you reach the top, there is accomplishment and it is worth the difficult journey," says Patti McGuire, St. Elias public relations consultant, explaining the name of the hospital.

Dr. David McGuire, an Anchorage physician and Patti's husband, originally identified the need for St. Elias when his son was in a tragic automobile accident. Because there was no appropriate health care facility for his son following initial acute treatment, he was forced to leave Alaska for care and was separated from his family, requiring them to commute to the out-of-state hospital. Dr. McGuire remained concerned for those who suffered the same circumstances and, based on his belief that "Alaskans should take care of their own," initiated the St. Elias development.

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JOINT VENTURE

The $24 million facility, which opened in 2006, is Alaska's first long-term acute care hospital and is a joint venture with Providence Health System and Alabama-based BridgeCare Hospitals. It is a Medicare-certified and Joint Commission accredited facility.

There are 60 beds for patients who require extended inpatient acute care, stays of 25 days or more. The 65,000-squarefoot building opens to a large lobby and with the exception of four rooms, all are private and benefit from Alaska scenery and natural light. Large grounds where therapists can help patients take their first steps outside on a pathway that surrounds the building also surround the hospital.

Patients are typically being treated for stroke, cancer, kidney disease, special wound care, ventilation and cardiovascular problems. The medical teams are very specialized, Sharon Kurz, St. Elias CEO says, and there is a high level of staffing with four patients to every one medical professional, adding that most patients are admitted directly from a traditional acute care...