By Delcenia Cosman

Homer Independent Press

In response to concerns recently raised by members of the public on patient care and hospital culture, South Peninsula Hospital will host a virtual community information session and Q&A at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 30.

Derotha Ferraro, director of public relations at SPH, said Wednesday that the information session is a result of “recent podcasts (that) have brought up topics and thoughtful questions related to the hospital’s ownership, structure and governance.”

Those podcasts were aired over the past several weeks by local realtor Chris Story, who has publicly shared grievances with the end-of-life care received by his mother, Lynn Story, at SPH in June. Story attended the hospital operating board of directors meeting on Wednesday and called for an independent evaluation of hospital culture.

Also calling for increased transparency and public engagement in hospital governance, Story drafted a resolution for the South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board recommending that the operating board be elected by service area members rather than remaining what he characterized as “self-perpetuating.”

Currently, individuals interested in serving on the board must submit an application and complete an interview process with the board’s Governance Committee board members. If appointed by the board, new members will serve three-year terms.

Several other community members also described negative patient care experiences in recent years, either for themselves or loved ones, and told members of the board that they did not feel heard by hospital leadership, demanding change. 

Ferraro clarified that Thursday’s meeting will focus on the hospital’s governance structure and accountability measures. Because of patient confidentiality requirements, the meeting will not directly address patient care concerns.

Patient concerns can be submitted to the SPH Quality Department by phone, 907-235-0874, or by email, quality@sphosp.org.

On Wednesday, board president Aaron Weisser also encouraged community members who have had negative experiences at the hospital to share information with the board so that hospital leadership can respond.

“We are highly committed to the improvement of the care that we provide at this hospital,” he said.

According to a July 24 press release from SPH, additional topics during Thursday’s Zoom session will include the roles of hospital leadership, the Board of Directors and medical staff; how the hospital is structured as a nonprofit hospital and contracted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough; how decisions are made to support quality, safety and access to care; how patient concerns and grievances are addressed and how community voices help shape healthcare on the southern Kenai Peninsula. 

Weisser and SPH CEO Ryan Smith will be present to address community questions and concerns. Members of the online audience will have unlimited time to raise questions and comments.

The Zoom event will be recorded and posted on the hospital website.

Learn more and find the meeting Zoom link on the SPH Facebook page or on the hospital online calendar.


Editorial note: Homer Independent Press Editor Michael Armstrong’s sister, Helen Armstrong, is chair of the South Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board. Except for simple copyediting and proofreading, he did not edit or assist in the writing of this article.