By Sentinel Staff
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has entered into a contract with White’s Inc. to provide pharmacy services at Sitka’s long-term care facility, currently in the Sitka Community Hospital building.
SEARHC said the agreement is another step toward merging the Native-owned regional consortium and the community hospital “to create an integrated health care delivery system.”
“SEARHC is excited to work with White’s in continuation of the excellent pharmacy services it has provided to SCH residents,” the news release said. “The arrangement, which was negotiated through several collaborative conversations, will ensure that quality pharmacy services will be provided to the LTC residents.”
SEARHC President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Clement said, “We believe it’s important to work with our various community partners as we build Sitka’s sustainable health care system. ... During this last year, we’ve had several conversations with White’s about pharmacy services in Sitka and are pleased with the final outcome.”
“We are happy to have reached an agreement with SEARHC for pharmacy services in the LTC,” White’s co-owner Trish White said in the news release. “This agreement allows us to continue providing valuable services to the residents, which is a priority for us.”
Under SEARHC’s direction, White’s will provide consultation on pharmacy services in the facility; work closely with attending physicians, the LTC medical director and director of nursing; develop and maintain appropriate policies and procedures; provide SEARHC LTC team and pharmacy director with written reports; establish sufficiently detailed systems and records; maintain all proper licensing and drug distribution and dispensing records at all dispensing locations in the facility; and more.
“In this new role, it’s essential that we effectively coordinate with Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital’s pharmacy and physicians to ensure residents benefit from timely pharmacy services,” White said in the announcement. “I am confident we will do so.”
She added today, “We hope for more collaboration in the future.”
Trish and her husband Dirk White purchased Fry’s Pharmacy in 1985, and renamed it White’s a few years later. They bought Harry Race Pharmacy in 1992.
