KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Kodiak Community Health Center held its grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. Construction work was completed this summer, and the doctors and staff moved in last month.
Brenda Friend is the executive director of the Kodiak C-H-C:
— (Clinic 1 29 sec "We’re very excited … we’re all about.")
The clinic had operated out of a portion of the attached Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, but several years ago the center’s board embarked on an expansion campaign that was celebrated on Friday. The clinic accepts all insurance, as well as Medicaid and Medicare, and has a sliding scale for those who are uninsured or under-insured.
Friend grew up in Kodiak, and said there was a time when she could have used a clinic such as this:
— (Clinic 2 44 sec "You know unfortunately … we take care of our own.")
A major funder of the new clinic construction was the Denali Commission. Nancy Merriman is the health facilities program manager for the commission, and was in town for the opening:
— (Clinic 3 20 sec "I think it’s beautiful … really tremendous facility.")
Merriman is no stranger to Kodiak – she worked here for KANA in the mid-90s.
Elizabeth Roberts, one of the five doctors on staff at the Kodiak C-H-C, has worked there for about a year:
— (Clinic 4 44 sec "Yeah, you know I saw … but it’s for anybody.")
The Kodiak Community Health Center specializes in all areas of family practice, women’s health, pediatrics, and diabetes treatment, among its other programs. It is open seven days a week, including evening hours, and it also has what they call "Quick Sick" same-day appointments. The clinic also has Spanish and Tagalog translators on staff.
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