healthcare

This month marks ten years since the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Dena’ina Wellness Center opened its doors in Kenai. The tribe held a celebration to commemorate the milestone and honor its strides in holistic care and indigenous healing.

The facility comes after the hospital’s community needs assessment, which determined that expanded mental wellness services were a top concern. The clinic is currently accepting new patients through a referral process.

Kenai District Superintendent Clayton Holland says healthcare insurance costs in the district have a negative effect on teacher recruitment and retention. These bills, he says, could create a cheaper option.

In an emergency, paramedics in Nikiski might have 30 minutes with a patient before dropping them at the hospital. They likely won’t meet again until that…