Lecia Scotford or the ascent of a healthcare performance optimization expert? Hundreds of millions of dollars in construction spending is being invested in healthcare facilities around the state, most of it in Anchorage and the Mat-Su, though a new dental facility was recently completed in Dillingham. Dillingham Home to New Dental Facility Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, or BBAHC, in September opened doors to a new, state-of-the-art dental health facility and administrative complex in Dillingham. The facility is located on the grounds of the Kanakanak Hospital and will serve the region. The dental clinic project can be attributed to BBAHC Chief Operating Officer Lecia Scotford, MD, as well as her talented projects department team.

The project took two years from beginning to end. The business plan was created during the summer of 2014 and was approved that fall. The team broke ground in June 2015. The building was completed and operational in September 2016. The building design was a partnership between BBAHC, architectural firm Livingston Sloan, and its engineering consultant teams as well as initial assistance from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The 15,531-square-foot, two-story building meets the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, meaning it uses less water and energy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



Much of the money went toward new boilers, air-handling units, three generators, and a twenty-thousand-gallon fuel tank, Miller says, “so we have redundancy in the case of an emergency or power outage.” Making infrastructure repairs to a busy hospital is a challenge, she says, but it was necessary both to be compatible with new industry standards for backup power and because some of the machinery was out – dated and in need of replacement. “We often refer to it as making repairs on your car while it’s going down the road— and still maintaining the safety of those individuals riding in the vehicles,” she says. Power must be switched over to test gen – erators, which is possibly the most difficult aspect of the construction job, considering many patients are on respirators or moni – tors that are connected to power. Miller says employees and administration pick a time of day that is well staffed and generally calm to test or connect the new equipment.

In addition to the infrastructure, Alaska Regional made significant upgrades to its Women’s unit, which includes the labor and delivery, postpartum, and neonatal in – tensive care units. “We did all the nurse’s stations, floor – ing patient rooms, all the furniture, some of the equipment, and we added the kingsized Tempur-Pedic® beds [in the birthing recovery unit],” she says. The hospital completed the family birth center earlier this year and was preparing to open its newly renovated medical oncology unit in early November, with private rooms and updated hallways and waiting spaces. Now, the work is focused on the operating rooms, recovery area, and pre-operating area. “We have continued to invest in new equip – ment, including a replacement MRI and a re – placement mammography machine,” Miller says. “We are also pending funding for reno – vation for our fourth- and fifth-floor spaces.”

Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation P.O. Box130 Dillingham, Alaska 99576 Lecia Scotford, MD, MHA; lscotford@bbahc.org Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer Testimony for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs regarding H.R. 4289 May 18, 2016 The Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (BBAHC) is pleased to appear before this Subcommittee in support of H.R. 4289, legislation introduced by Representative Don Young which would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transfer certain Indian Health Service (IHS) property to BBAHC by warranty deed. The property is critically important to BBAHC’s construction and operation of a new free-standing dental clinic.

The BBAHC is in the process of constructing a new, modern, up-to-date facility that will be available later this year to provide significantly more dental services to BBAHC’s 8,000 member service population. We note that Senators Murkowski and Sullivan have introduced a companion bill, S. 2421, and we thank our entire delegation for their support on this matter. Both bills also include a warranty deed transfer provision for the Tanana Tribal Council. BBAHC has for many years carried out a comprehensive health care delivery program at the federally owned Kanakanak Hospital compound in Dillingham. BBAHC has done so on behalf of its member villages in accordance with the Alaska Tribal Health Compact and Funding Agreements with the IHS under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). These services include dental care.

The ISDEAA is such a special statute. Sections 105(f) and 512(c) of the ISDEAA provide that the Secretary may donate excess property to Indian tribes and tribal organizations, “except that” title to real property furnished by the Federal Government for use in the performance of an ISDEAA agreement shall, unless requested otherwise, vest in the appropriate tribe or tribal organization. Thus, the ISDEAA requires the transfer of this specifically described property by vesting title in tribes and tribal organizations and specifically making this vesting of title an exception to the donation of excess property under GSA rules. H. R. 4289 is necessary to overcome IHS’ insistence that these transfers be treated as discretionary donations of excess property under the FPASA and GSA rules. H.R. 4289 at Section 2 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transfer the property for the new dental facility to BBAHC by warranty deed within 180 days of enactment. The transfer by warranty deed will supersede and render of no future effect the previous quitclaim to the property.

The Secretary will retain any and all liability for environmental contamination in existence on the property prior to the transfer of title to BBAHC. Language is included to provide the Secretary with and easement and access to the property as reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or liability of the Secretary. Finally, the Secretary must comply with the notice of hazardous substance activity and warranty requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Simplify Communications with On-call Physicians: According to a survey by physician wellness services, nearly one third of physicians have issues with on-call scheduling. The quality of communication with patients directly affects the hospital performance. Dr. Lecia Scotford is a results oriented and experienced healthcare strategic planner. Skilled in communication, performance optimization, interpersonal ssing and implementing dynamic changes effortlessly.