We are writing on behalf of the Denali Regional Healthcare Working Group — a newly formed, volunteer coalition of residents and stakeholders working to bring health care to the Denali Borough. At present, the Denali Borough is one of the least medically served regions in the state. Interior Community Health Center (ICHC), a Fairbanks-based organization, owns the Healy Clinic and for a few hours per month staffs the clinic. On April 1, ICHC was scheduled to hold a “health needs assessment” in Healy for the Denali Borough community. The stated goal of the meeting was to “discuss community needs.” As it is Interior Alaska, it snowed.
The meeting was canceled due to “unsafe road conditions.” That first week of April, ICHC had the luxury of canceling a trip down the Parks Highway in winter conditions; this is not an option afforded to Denali Borough residents who have made hundreds, if not thousands, of trips to Fairbanks seeking medical care that ICHC is failing to provide.
On that same day, at least one Denali Borough resident made the trip to Fairbanks for medical care — likely many more. This is the daily reality for the otherwise thriving communities within the Denali Borough: Every sore throat, routine lab test, sports physical or prescription refill means hours on the road and time away from work, school and family.
ICHC assumed ownership of the Healy Clinic in 2005. Prior to that, the clinic was fully staffed and offered primary and urgent care services as well as afterhours emergency care; the community relied on the Healy Clinic for a significant portion of medical needs. Since then — while ICHC has been awarded over $47 million to ensure continuity of care for underserved populations — the services have been reduced so significantly that today the clinic is open for a few hours per month (weather permitting) and telemedicine, only for established patients.
In two decades of community surveys, research projects and comments to the local borough assembly, Denali borough residents have overwhelmingly stated that what is needed locally is consistent primary care and urgent care. The April 1 community health needs assessment was the first of its kind by ICHC in 18 years in Healy. It was highly anticipated as a forum for the community to share what is needed medically and to hear directly from ICHC what is planned for the Healy Clinic. Both residents and the Denali Regional Healthcare Working Group had many questions for ICHC.
Regrettably — and ironically — that meeting was last-minute canceled due to winter road conditions. Disappointingly, many unaware borough residents traveled a great distance and in good-faith on those same winter roads to Healy only to find their trip was in vain. A pivot to a virtual meeting would have been a perfectly acceptable solution to the weather-impact. However the community was already denied virtual attendance when previously requested and supported by the borough, leaving many feeling like victims of an unfortunate April Fool’s prank.
At this time, by our estimation, the Denali Borough is one of the least medically served regions of Alaska. The Denali Regional Healthcare Working Group’s mission is to bring year-round health care to this area. Our first step is to exhaust all existing local options. To achieve this we seek answers from ICHC — who have rented a clinic space for 20 years, receive ample funding and are currently poised to meet the local medical needs. The health needs assessment was canceled, and we were unable to ask the following of ICHC at that forum. Therefore, we ask of ICHC:
1. What services — and when — will be provided at the Healy Clinic?
2. How will these services reflect the stated needs of the Denali Borough community?
3. What are the plans for ICHC’s new clinic building and expanded services in Healy?
4. What is the annual funding ICHC receives to provide care in Healy, and how is that funding currently being used?
We look forward to their response.
Denali Regional Healthcare Working Group consists of John Winklmann, Anne Barker, Seamus Siddall, Todd Shorey and Vanessa Jusczak. The group can be contacted by email at DenaliRWG@gmail.com.
