Camai! Welcome!
Southcentral Foundation is one of the nation's most innovative health care organizations.
All over the world, people are talking about the improvements made since Alaska Native health care moved from federal to Alaska Native ownership.
They call us for interviews and site visits to find out more, and they ask if it is really true that our customers own, manage, direct, and design our health care system. The answer is YES. Alaska Native people own, manage, direct, design, and drive our Southcentral Foundation Nuka Model of Care.
Alaska Native people have earned this recognition. We are constantly raising the bar and raising expectations for what our health care will look and feel like.
And, we realize we have more work to do.
That is why Southcentral Foundation engages employees and customer/owners in continuous quality and process improvement efforts.
Nearly 28 years ago, we thought about all the changes we could make as the new "customer/owners" of our health care system. We asked other Alaska Native people what they wanted, what they needed and what they valued. The system was built from the ground up based on that feedback. Still today, this is how we operate.
Southcentral Foundation uses advisory councils, surveys, focus groups, a toll-free hotline, and other means to learn what is working and what is not. Our employees are trained to listen, and to use this feedback to make changes, big and small.
We intentionally design everything from our buildings and facilities, to our services and systems, to be responsive to the needs and values of the Native Community. The new wing in the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center reflects these principles.
Southcentral Foundation is increasing the number of Alaska Native people in all positions, and offering training and job progression opportunities. Already, the majority of Southcentral Foundation's employees (including managers) are customer/owners.
Care is being coordinated at Southcentral Foundation, and customer/owners are supported in whatever way makes the most sense to them. Everyday, programs are expanded and improved to assure the emphasis is not just on physical health, but also on mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.
The Family Wellness Warriors Initiative is being integrated into all Southcentral Foundation programs. Employees are being trained in its core concepts: a set of guiding principles and tools each employee should use in every interaction—with customers and fellow employees—to create healthy relationships.
Information technology and data support systems are utilized to provide meaningful information. Customer/owners sit with their providers in "talking rooms" and will soon use what they see in their electronic health records in their conversations.
With these improvements, we will enjoy the benefits of a healthier community. But there is still work to be done. By working together, it is possible to raise the health status of our families and communities and achieve physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
May God continue to bless us on our shared journey,
Southcentral Foundation
President/ CEO