South Peninsula Hospital is a non-profit hospital with 25 medical beds and 28 nursing home beds located at the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula. South Peninsula Hospital has been three times named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital out of more than 1,300 critical access hospitals nationwide. We have 56 employed providers and over 40 Registered Nurses with certifications in advanced cardiac life support, emergency nursing pediatrics, trauma nursing, neonatal resuscitative training and two nationally registered Respiratory Therapists. Our team includes Cardiology, Neurology, OBGYNs, Urology, Oncology, Orthopedics, ENTs and 2 IRs.
The ED and Acute-Care Unit encompasses the Trauma/Emergency Services, Forensics Services, medical-surgical beds, step-down care, swing bed, outpatient observation, ICU, the Family Birthing Center, RT/outpatient RT procedures, Out-Patient Services/Clinics, and Chemotherapy/Infusion services. The hospital is the result of a unique partnership between the Kenai Peninsula Borough (service-area tax support for the facility and capital investments), City of Homer (for the land), and SPH, Inc., (the non-profit organization which provides the healthcare).
The hospital is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. An elected Service Area Board provides public recommendation on capital spending with tax dollars and scope of services. The hospital employees over 400 local residents, and is the area’s largest employer, contributing over $20,000,000 annually into the local economy in payroll alone. That, combined with service contracts, materials acquisition and leases, creates significant impact to the southern peninsula’s economic well-being. Some ancillary project funding is provided through grants, the South Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Inc. and the South Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.
South Peninsula Hospital has been three times named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital out of more than 1,300 critical access hospitals nationwide. The top 100 critical access hospitals scored best on the iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength Index, which includes a unique set of measures rating Market Strength, Value-based Strength and Financial Strength as key pillars for benchmarking. It incorporates 56 different performance metrics, including quality, outcomes, patient perspective, affordability and efficiency. iVantage Health Analytics, Inc. manages the HealthStrong Awards Program, which recognizes exceptional performance among all eligible U.S. general acute care hospitals, including all rural hospitals and the more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals.
South Peninsula Hospital’s performance is measured in a number of ways, including the tracking of clinical care, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Quality and patient safety are the cornerstones of the performance at South Peninsula Hospital. A Quality Committee monitors the vital work of ensuring that the highest quality of care is delivered to each patient and the hospital staff incorporates the organization’s values-based behaviors to support that care.
Hospital COMPARE Quality Data (Use this link to see quality data that is reported to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for South Peninsula Hospital, and compare to other hospitals in the state and nation.)
Nursing Home COMPARE Quality Data (Use this link to see quality data that is reported to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for Long Term Care, and compare to other nursing homes in the state and nation.)
The community served by the SPH includes the Southern Kenai Peninsula communities of Anchor Point, Diamond Ridge, Fox River, Fritz Creek, Halibut Cove, Happy Valley, Homer, Kachemak City, Kachemak Selo, Nanwalek, Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik, Port Graham, Razdolna, Seldovia and Voznesenka. All of SPH’s service area falls within the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
As a full-service hospital and health system, the South Peninsula Hospital serves the general Southern Kenai Peninsula (SKP) community, regardless of age, sex, income-level or geographic location within the service area. Some significant populations within the SKP community include families and children, people age 45 or older, and low-income individuals and families. Through the E.R., primary care, V.A. clinic, Home Health, Nursing Home and specialty clinic, the organization serves individuals from all populations. Current Population As of 2019, the population of the Southern Kenai Peninsula (the SPH service area) is 14,969 people, living in 16 communities.1 These communities’ range in size from 86 to more than 5,400 people.2 The communities of Homer, Fritz Creek, and Anchor Point are home to 65 percent of the service area population.3 Figure 2. Southern Kenai Peninsula Population by Community, 2019 Data Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2019 Population Estimates.
Approximately 51 percent of the service area population is male, and 49 percent is female.6 Twenty-two percent of the service area population is under 18 years of age, and 18 percent are 65 years or older. Within individual communities, Fox River CDP has a notably large proportion of youth (under 18 years); Halibut Cove has no youth and a notably large proportion of elders (65 years and over). The communities with the greatest overall populations (e.g., Homer, Anchor Point) have the greatest concentrations of children and elderly due to the sheer volume of the overall population.
Surgical Center:
Surgery Unit is complete with two surgical suites, and one endoscopy suite skilled staff that provides an array of services including general surgery, obstetrics and gynecological, sports medicine, minor plastics, urology, endoscopy and ear/nose/throat services. The surgery team is available 24 hours a day for emergency cases. We also have a full Radiology department and a CLIA certified lab.
Imaging:
SPH provides modern imaging services including advanced technology in General Radiology, 3D Mammography, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound (including Echo-Cardiography and Vascular Studies), MRI, CT, Radiofrequency ablation, Bone Densitometry as well as portable service to the Surgery, ER and Acute Care Departments. Experienced radiologists utilize a Picture Archiving Communications System to allow for digital images to be shared immediately and electronically with physicians.
Laboratory Services:
Laboratory SPH is home to a state-of-the-art clinical lab, CLIA certified for highly complex testing, that provides full services for physician ordered tests. The lab also performs a selection of lab tests without physician’s order through their “Request-a-Test” program, including comprehensive metabolic panels, lipid panels, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, glucose, complete blood count, urinalysis, pregnancy tests and chain of custody drug screening. Long-Term Care.
Acute Care Department:
The acute care department is an 18-bed unit where skilled staff deliver a wide spectrum of care including medical, geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation, nutrition, and health education. The nursing team includes over 40 Registered Nurses with certifications in advanced cardiac life support, emergency nursing pediatrics, trauma nursing, neonatal resuscitative training and two nationally registered Respiratory Therapists.
Intensive Care Unit:
The Intensive Care unit has 2 beds with specialized equipment and highly trained personal to provide extra care for patients who need it. Our Birthing Center is staffed with physicians and midwifes, the birthing center offered private labor-delivery-recovery suites that take into account the needs of laboring mothers, infants, and family members. Patients receive newborn education and access to many resources before being discharged.
Rehabilitation Services:
The rehabilitation department provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hand therapy and pediatric therapy to both inpatient and outpatients.
Specialty Clinics:
The specialty clinic offers additional services for patients including Gynecology, Urology, Oncology and Ear/Nose/Throat care. Most specialty services are provided at the Specialty Clinic, Homer Medical Center and main hospital.
Cancer Care:
Cancer Care South Peninsula Hospital’s Outpatient Infusion Center is a modern facility that features two private therapy rooms, a central therapy area, and patient counseling and education areas. The center provides convenient parking and a private entrance for patients that leads directly into the center.
In addition to the Outpatient Infusion Center, SPH also provides cancer care through an Oncology Clinic. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in a well-equipped, state of the art facility. SPH delivers care for minor illnesses and injuries to life-threatening emergencies as well as stabilization prior to transport by air for more specialized services if necessary.
Functional Medicine Center:
The Functional Medical Center looks for the root cause of disease and addresses lifestyle modifications to enhance personal wellness. SPH opened its Functional Medial Clinic in 2016 to offer the community an opportunity to explore the benefits of functional medicine and expand the services available to patients.
Home Health:
SPH offers a network of Home Health programs designed to meet the needs of elderly and disabled homebound individuals choosing to remain at home in their community. Staff works closely with patients and their families, physicians, and other agencies to develop individualized care plans for people of all ages. Home services include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
SPH’s Home Health Department was named a Top Agency in the 2018 HomeCare Elite recognition list of top-performing home health agencies in the United States.
Long Term Care Facilities:
The hospital’s long-term and extended care facility offers skilled nursing care to patients needing short term rehabilitation or move complex long-term care. The 28-bed facility maintains a warm and comforting atmosphere while providing patients with skilled nursing and medical care.
Orthopedic Care:
Orthopedics South Peninsula Orthopedics offers a full range of orthopedic services including sports medicine, orthopedic surgeries, total joint replacements, and care of cervical and lumbar spinal disorders.
Sleep Center:
The sleep center treats several sleep disorders including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and excessive sleep. Sleep studies are conducted by a registered respiratory therapist and the results are read by a Board-Certified Sleep Disorders Physician.
Birthing Center:
The Birthing Center has scored above state and national averages for infant feeding care best practices, labor and delivery care, postpartum care, facility discharge care, staff training, and structural and organizational support.
