Providence: a milemarker in Alaska history: 'Good neighbor' is Alaska's largest employer for 7th consecutive year.

• Author: Resz, Heather A.
• Position: ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2008 CORPORATE 100 - Company overview

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Providence Health is more than just the state's largest employer and the largest nonprofit; it's a good neighbor.

Sometimes it seems like everywhere a person looks in Alaska there is one more way Providence is involved in the community.

"Our mission is focused on the vulnerable parts of our population," said Al Parrish, chief executive for Providence Health and Services Alaska. "Because of that, the role becomes pretty big."

Providence's mission says: "As People of Providence, we reveal God's love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service."

Day-to-day that impacts how Providence provides health care to patients, Parrish said.

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"We don't just take care of the physical," he said. "When people come to our facilities we care for the mind, the spirit and the body. We look at the whole person."

In turn, Parrish also credits how Providence cares for people as the catalyst for its success.

Providence took over the lead as Alaska's largest private-sector employer in 2001 and has remained at the top since, according to Alaska Economic Trends, February 2008.

The health care industry is one of the largest sectors of Alaska's economy and has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the state's economy for the past 30 years.

The report attributes Alaska's rapid, sustained growth in health care to factors such as new technologies, advances in local care and the state's aging population.

In Alaska's demographic profile, Parrish said the two that are growing the fastest are the 65 and over group and the 45- to 65-year-old group.

That's important because people need more health care later in life, not less, he said.

The state's 65-plus population grew by 50 percent between 1996 and 2006, and according to the most recent projections, it will double by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030, according to the February 2008 report.

PARRISH: LONG HISTORY WITH PROVIDENCE

Providence traces its roots in Alaska back to 1902 when the Sisters of Providence brought health care to Nome during the Gold Rush.

Today the nonprofit employs 4,100 people at its facilities in Anchorage, Wasilla, Kodiak Island, Seward and Valdez. Providence also offers health care to people in Washington, Oregon, California and Montana.

Parrish traces his Alaska roots to former Gov. Walter Hickel who hired him to help open the new Captain Cook Hotel in 1965. He worked for Gov. Hickel until 1974 when former Gov. Bill...