Leaders of Alaska’s largest hospitals say a steep rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations is straining a health care system that’s already struggling with staffing shortages and a burned-out workforce.
"Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association"
Alaska patients have reduced access to out-of-state telehealth appointments as emergency declarations end
Doctors are usually required by the state to have a license to provide telehealth services to a patient located in Alaska. But when COVID-19 hit, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill that waived that requirement.
A pandemic rule change could make it easier to get treatment for opioid addiction in Alaska
Buprenorphine typically requires an in-person visit for a prescription because it is categorized as a controlled substance. It works to block withdrawal symptoms but doesn’t get users high like heroin or fentanyl do.
Patients, hospitals want Dunleavy and lawmakers to work out differences on disaster declaration
More than five weeks after the declaration expired, Dunleavy and some legislators disagree with other lawmakers over whether to bring the disaster declaration back.
Alaska’s vaccine plan, testing mandate could be thrown into uncertainty if Legislature fails to act
The state’s authority to prioritize vaccines for at-risk groups would also end if the declaration ends, and communities that do not have health powers will be left behind, according to the Division of Public Health.
As groups clamor for the vaccine, here’s how Alaska will decide who’s next in line
For the next several months, there will be far fewer vaccine doses available than people who want to receive them. Which raises the difficult question of who should get it first.
Alaska hospital officials warn of ‘dire’ staffing situation ahead of holiday
Alaska is already suffering from a shortage of health care workers as coronavirus cases continue to climb, and Thanksgiving get-togethers could only make things worse
Across Alaska, as the pandemic sends more staff home, hospitals prepare for the worst
More and more workers are out sick or quarantining. At the same time, more patients with coronavirus are filling hospital beds.
Anchorage hospital overflow site remains at ‘ready,’ but officials worry about staffing
State data showed just five ICU beds available in Anchorage Thursday, the lowest level so far during the pandemic.
Health care providers, municipalities call for Dunleavy to extend disaster declaration
It doesn’t appear that any state has intentionally ended its emergency orders.