After experiencing high turnover throughout the last 12 months, Skagway’s Dahl Memorial Clinic has hired a new medical director and provider this week. And that’s not the only move the clinic has made to bring new staff on board. KHNS’ Mike Swasey spoke with the Clinic Board President Cory Thole about the recent clinic staff developments.

Swasey – There’s been some new news coming out of the clinic late last week. I got word that there has been a new hire as a medical director, can you tell me about it?

Thole – Yep. His name is Brent Kunzler and he arrived last week and he has signed a two-year contract as a medical provider and is also fulfilling the medical director extra duty contract.

Swasey – So what are the duties of the medical director that he’ll be performing?

Thole – They basically oversee the medical side of the clinic in terms of doing chart review, making recommendations for procedures, they have a lot of involvement in some of the necessary recording and operations in regards to our HRSA grant. I guess you could say he’s the team lead on the medical side of the clinic.

Swasey – And as I understand it, he’s got a military background. 

Thole – One of the reasons that he was excited to move to Skagway and do something different was so that he could practice medicine somewhere where he’s not being shot at.

Swasey – Well, that’s a benefit of living in Skagway people don’t shoot at you unless you’re a mountain goat. Can you tell me what the HRSA grant is, since you brought it up?

Thole – It’s the federal Community Health Center grant.

Swasey – And that’s just a portion of the clinic’s budget, right?

Thole – The funding for the clinic budget kind of comes out of three pots of money, you could say. The $1.37 million or so comes out of the HRSA grant. And then, of course, there is the revenue side of the clinic that helps fund the clinic. And then on top of those two aspects, there is, being a division of the municipality, the municipality budgets for a certain amount of money with the clinic operations as well.

Swasey – So the clinic wouldn’t be able to operate without the HRSA grant and the municipality chipping in is what I’m understanding?

Thole – That is correct. 

Swasey – Okay. So that’s part of the news. And then the other news coming out of the clinic, which I got word of and I have not been able to corroborate so maybe you’ll be able to tell me, did Johanna Huff actually rescind her resignation?

Thole – I understand that she has sent that letter, but I can’t speak much to that being a personnel matter. 

Swasey – Okay, so nothing’s a done deal, she just sent a letter saying hey, I’d like to stay if it’s still possible. 

Thole – Yep. 

Swasey – Anything else going on with the clinic?

Thole – Yeah, we have offered a contract to a winter seasonal registered nurse. Her name is Kelly Cook. And it is just waiting to pass legal review. As long as everything goes according to plan, she will begin working on October 18. And then, of course, Bill Weiss is back as a locum provider. So at this point, we have three providers and soon, hopefully, two RN’s, as well as our medical assistants.

Swasey – Okay, still looking out for a full-time physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. 

Thole – Correct. 

Swasey – And is that the last position on the provider side that the clinic needs to fill? 

Thole – That is correct. 

Swasey – Cory, thanks so much for taking the time. I appreciate it. I know you’ve got a tight schedule. I’ll let you go.

Thole – No problem, later Mike.

The Dahl Memorial Clinic is still looking for a PA or Nurse Practitioner, an IT position, a medical assistant, and the search is ongoing for an Executive Director. The new Medical Director Brent Kunzler started this Monday.

 

**This story has been updated to include the correct spelling of Brent Kunzler.**