Skagway’s health clinic must respond to the grant program which provides roughly one third of its funding. As KHNS reporter Melinda Munson explains, the clinic needs to update its bylaws to meet the grant requirements.
The Dahl Memorial Clinic Board of Directors scheduled two meetings this month to discuss HRSA compliance issues.
The federal Health Resources and Service Administration grant provides $1.3 million to the clinic each year. The clinic has been notified they need to detail changes and are on a 90-day deadline.
Clinic Director Albert Wall says that one of HRSA’s issues involves Skagway’s city code.
“Right now, the structure of what are typically thought of as bylaws of the board exists in city code, in minute detail in city code,” Wall said. “HRSA will not accept that. And I have an email from HRSA, which I believe you said is in your packet from the region 10 director, which basically says the board must have its own bylaws that stand by itself.”
The clinic’s special meetings will take place April 10 at 7 p.m. and April 22 at 6 p.m.
Wall says he is feeling optimistic about the path forward with HRSA.
“You know, my almost entire focus for the last 60 days has been on HRSA response,” Wall said. “It is a very serious matter. I’m excited, relieved and happy as to where we’re at right now. I think the conversations with the mayor have gone well. I liked the product that has been put together by the joint effort of consulting the attorneys, and I think it’s the right direction to go. So I’m sleeping better at night at the moment.”
In other Skagway health news, the first dental clinic in approximately three years is scheduled for the end of April. Wall describes it as a slow roll-out. The record-keeping system is not yet in place so the clinic will begin with paper charts.
The Dahl Clinic is also focusing on fully stocking the dispensary as it explores insurance and procedures for a possible full-scale pharmacy.
