VILLAGE HEALTH SERVICES

Providing health services in our village communities would not be possible without the Community Health Aide Program. The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) was formally recognized and funded by Congress beginning in 1968 and includes medical, dental and behavior health aides. The program has been central in facilitating improved access to care for Rural Alaskans with cooperation between tribal organizations, state, and federal governments. This Federal program provides clear standards, training, supervision, and treatment protocols for each discipline to guide the delivery of services within Tribal Health Organizations who use this care model.

Community Health Aides

Community Health Aides (CHA/Ps) are village-based providers trained to provide acute, routine, follow-up, chronic, and emergency care. CHA/Ps work directly under a physician and receive clinical supervision to maintain and expand their skills with the direction of the CHAP Supervising Instructor.

Behavioral Health Aides

Behavioral Health Aides (BHA/Ps) are village-based counselors, health educators, and advocates. BHAs work directly under a licensed clinician to address individual and community-based behavioral health needs including those related to alcohol, drug, and tobacco use, as well as mental health problems such as grief, depression, suicide, and related issues. BHAs seek to achieve balance in the community by integrating their sensitivity to cultural needs with specialized training in behavioral health concerns and approaches to treatment.

Dental Health Aide Therapists

Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) work directly under a dentist and provide patient and community-based preventive dental services, basic restorations and uncomplicated extractions. KANA’s DHAT travels to village clinics on a regularly scheduled basis in coordination with the dental team. Village Clinics provide health services including medical, dental and behavioral health to all village residents. Health care services are delivered by Care Teams including village-based Community Health Aides and Behavioral Health Aides who work collaboratively with Kodiak Providers and support staff. Care Teams ensure patients have consistent access to quality care for our rural communities. Our team-based care model supports KANA’s Patient Centered Medical Home values and improves our patients’ experiences and outcomes.

MEDICAL SERVICES

Medical services are provided in the village by either a Community Health Aide (CHA/P), midlevel (PA, NP), or doctor (MD). The village based CHA/P and midlevel are part of the patient’s care team and works closely with KANA based providers, case managers, navigators and patient registration and scheduling staff to transition and coordinate care between the village, Kodiak, and Anchorage when needed. Village designated care team Primary Care Providers travel monthly to their assigned village clinics to provide direct patient care, as well as work in person with their village based providers. The village-based team members assist with coordinating patient appointments and supports the Provider during their visit. In order to ensure adequate Provider coverage in village clinics, traveling Providers are assigned to ensure
continuous medical services at all times.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

Behavioral Health Services are provided by Behavioral Health Aides (BHA/Ps) at Village Clinics. Kodiak Behavioral Health Clinicians are available via telehealth and through periodic village visits to provide individual and family counseling services. BHA/Ps work closely with village providers to ensure an integrated approach to care between primary medical care and behavioral health services.

DENTAL SERVICES

Our village providers are not trained in dentistry, but they can assess and refer patients to their dentist for emergent care. Patients can access village based dental services during regularly scheduled dental visits. KANA’s dental team performs routine dental care including cleanings, exams, fillings, and limited procedures.

TELEHEALTH SERVICES

Patients can access an expanded set of services from the village clinic using telehealth, including specialty appointments such as oncology, physical therapy, nutrition therapy, WIC, and more. Telehealth technology has greatly increased the number of services KANA can offer to our village patients.

VILLAGE AFTER HOURS ACCESS TO CARE

Patients can access medical care after-hours, directing non-urgent calls to KANA’s nurse advice line and emergency calls to the village provider on-call. Emergencies requiring Medevac services for patients in need of higher levels of care, are coordinated by the on-call provider.

Village Clinic Emergency After Hours Contact information: