(Anchorage) – Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy at the moment introduced that lots of of medical personnel are coming to Alaska to help the State’s well being care services. Almost 300 registered nurses and greater than 100 licensed nursing assistants or affected person care technicians are among the many well being care employees anticipated to reach quickly in Alaska underneath an $87 million contract between the State of Alaska and the federal Common Companies Administration. The incoming well being care employees, the primary of whom are anticipated to reach in Alaska subsequent week, are a part of a complete assist plan for Alaska’s well being care system, finalized this week by the Dunleavy Administration for medical services strained by an inflow of COVID-19 sufferers.
“We requested Alaskans for the final 12 months and a half to work collectively on the problem posed by COVID-19,” stated Governor Dunleavy. “Our hospitals need assistance with staffing, provides, and Alaskans to do their half. At the moment’s announcement brings certified well being professionals once we want it and gives Alaskans with the instruments we have to handle by this troublesome time.”
The administration’s plan contains:
- An Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Dwelling Affiliation contract to assist recruit and broaden the licensed nursing assistant workforce.
- Emergency rules handed by the Alaska Board of Nursing to get extra Alaskans skilled and authorized as Nurse Aides extra rapidly. The regulation change aligns Alaska CNA coaching necessities with the federal necessities for 120 days, decreasing the variety of coaching hours from 140 to 75, and requires coaching applications to fulfill the federal coaching necessities.
- The State Emergency Medical Companies (EMS) Workplace is working with native EMS businesses on methods to alleviate overcrowding in hospitals. Methods will look completely different in every neighborhood, however embrace offering companies that facilitate early discharge of hospital sufferers to open beds for others searching for care. Different methods embrace transporting sufferers to alternate locations, or treating sufferers on the scene, and avoiding a hospital run.
- Offering COVID-19 at-home take a look at kits to assist in-person studying for youths and households to check earlier than going to high school to curb the unfold of COVID-19.
On Sept. 22, the Alaska Division of Well being and Social Companies (DHSS) enabled Disaster Requirements of Care by the brand new addendum to the present Public Well being Emergency Order. Commissioner of Well being and Social Companies Adam Crum stated that whereas the addendum offers a well being care framework for suppliers, suppliers will proceed to make affected person choices in response to their insurance policies and obtainable assets.
“This addendum to the present Public Well being Emergency Order, licensed by Home Invoice 76, gives steering to Alaska’s hospitals, well being care suppliers and native well being authorities in assist of disaster requirements of care ought to they be wanted for a facility or neighborhood,” stated Crum. “Let me be clear: this isn’t a catastrophe declaration, nor a mandate, and doesn’t require any new laws. The aim of this addendum is to supply assist and steering to our state’s well being care suppliers as they proceed to take care of Alaskans throughout these unprecedented occasions.”
Learn the Addendum to the Public Well being Emergency Order.
Learn the Information Sheet to the Addendum and the Hospital Capability Actions
Learn the ASHNHA letter response.
The addendum additionally presents taking part well being care services protection underneath the civil legal responsibility clause handed by the Legislature in HB76.
“We wish well being care suppliers to know that the State of Alaska is extremely pleased with and grateful for the care they’re persevering with to supply to Alaskans,” stated Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “Our well being care professionals are accustomed to offering the very best care they probably can for his or her sufferers, however assets at the moment are stretched to some extent that the majority of us by no means anticipated to see in our careers. Troublesome choices will have to be revamped whose care needs to be prioritized, and we’re right here to assist our suppliers to supply the very best take care of as many sufferers as doable throughout these difficult occasions.”
Alaskans who want emergency care ought to nonetheless go to the emergency room and never delay or keep away from searching for medical care. Hospitals and well being care services will proceed to work arduous to verify Alaskans obtain applicable care. Although the incoming assets and bulletins at the moment are meant to forestall disaster requirements of care from having for use, these disaster requirements of care can be found if wanted.
Vaccines are available statewide. DHSS reviews that from Jan. 16 to Sept. 11, 2021, 80 p.c of all instances, 88 p.c of all hospitalizations, and 87 p.c of deaths amongst Alaska residents, aged 12 years or older, had been in individuals who weren’t totally vaccinated.
“I’m asking all Alaskans to do your half by minimizing your well being dangers, not only for the virus, however in your private security” stated Governor Dunleavy. “Assume earlier than taking dangers. Let’s assist the hospitals by decreasing the pressure on them for accidents. Each little bit counts.”
###