I first arrived in Alaska more than 20 years ago as a college student, having found myself between universities and majors. During that transformative semester away, I spent time in Homer, Pedro Bay, and even South Korea and Russia. It was during these adventures that I decided to pursue a career in healthcare… and also to return to Homer. When offered the chance to do both things two decades later, I said yes.

I started at South Peninsula Hospital in the Long Term Care facility as a nurse practitioner, eventually assuming the LTC Director and Administrator roles. I hold a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the Medical University of South Carolina, with specialized training in gerontology, and I’ve long been passionate about elder issues, palliative care, and hospice services. Early on, I recognized that this work and this community are something special; I wanted to stick around. I was delighted and honored by my time at the LTC facility, and I’ve felt the same way with each subsequent role at SPH. Nearly six years later, this place has truly become home for my family. We are deeply invested in Homer and committed to its flourishing.

I accepted the position of Chief Nursing Officer in 2022 to serve more broadly across the organization and continue learning from the people who make it so special. After three years, and following a bittersweet leadership transition as Angela Hinnegan moved to Central Peninsula Hospital, I was asked to step into the Chief Operating Officer position. I’m grateful for the chance to support this organization and this community in a new way.

My responsibilities as COO extend beyond patient care to making care accessible. Access isn’t just about the right equipment, caregivers, or specialties; it’s about making it easy for people to get the care they need, when they need it. That’s why, in addition to opening an urgent care this summer, we’re concentrating on a few practical priorities: parking, portal, and phones.

Parking


To free up space for patients and visitors, we have implemented creative employee parking options. These include financially incentivizing employees to walk or carpool, partnering with a local church to use several of their spaces, and plans to develop additional parking pads on properties we already own. While we also plan to expand parking on the main campus in the future, these projects take time to design, fund, and execute safely. We understand that safe, convenient parking is a key part of accessing care, and we are actively working to improve it.

Portal


While we are still learning the nuances of our new electronic health system, we grow more familiar and comfortable with Epic every day. The inpatient transition went relatively smoothly, but we recognize that those working and receiving care in the outpatient setting did not have the same experience. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to refine our workflows. To support this, we brought in a clinical informatics consultant to provide expert guidance and help us get the most out of the system. We acknowledge that being able to use the portal, review your information, and communicate with your care team are important parts of healthcare access, and we are committed to improving this experience.

Phones


We heard you, from community conversations, to patient satisfaction surveys, and even informal chats at the grocery store; you want to speak to someone when you call. We agree, and that’s why we’ve hired additional scheduling staff. We are also establishing an on-site call center this summer to ensure calls are answered and voicemails are promptly returned.

Please continue to give us input. We read every patient satisfaction survey response. We take seriously perspectives shared at community events. We review every submission to the “Feedback” button on our website. We’d love to see you at our next Community Conversation hosted by the Homer Chamber of Commerce on Monday, April 27 at noon. You are also welcome to call me directly. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to partner with you in improving access to South Peninsula Hospital.

Sincerely,

Rachael Kincaid, DNP, Chief Operating Officer
907-235-0932

Rachael Kincaid is the Chief Operating Officer at South Peninsula Hospital and when not at work, can usually be found chasing her children and husband around Homer.