When asked about the top impacts of COVID-19 on staff and patients, Anchorage Health Center Manager Jenna Kroll cited “stress from political struggles that threaten to limit our patients’ access to care.”
Access to reproductive health care can be tricky in Alaska, in which travel distance to care can be a significant barrier. By mid-April, travel restrictions remain in place, keeping patients’ access to Planned Parenthood care top of mind for our staff.
“We are frustrated that we are not able to help all the people who need care, who we want to help,” said Kroll.
However, Kroll pointed out that Anchorage staff have gone above and beyond in their willingness to adapt to COVID-19 – this often means updated daily, and sometimes hourly, instructions for best practices around reducing transmission of the virus.
“They’ve done a great job adapting to these changes quickly, and in fully showing up for each other and the patients,” said Kroll.
Anchorage Health Center served nearly 7,000 patients in 2019 and is averaging over 500 patient visits a month this year, despite the impacts of social distancing and travel restrictions. In many ways, the Anchorage health center serves as a hub for reproductive health care in Alaska.
“There is still a great demand for our services within the community,” Kroll said.
Need continues for support through donations, which can be given through www.ppgnhi.org/donate.
Anchorage, as well as all of Planned Parenthood’s health centers, are in need of donations of cloth masks, in order to preserve medical grade PPE for exams. For patterns and instructions, please contact Nikki Bogden, Events Coordinator, [email protected].
Tags: Alaska, health center, covid-19