Norton Sound Health Corporation landed in the top 11-20% of the nation's highest performing health centers, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA gave NSHC four community health quality recognition awards in honor of achieving clinical quality measures.

NSHC's silver-tier status as a Health Center Quality Leader means the organization is among the top 20% of health centers that achieved the best overall clinical performance nationwide.

Additionally, NSHC earned recognition as an Access Enhancer, as a Health Disparities Reducer, and for its COVID-19 Testing. Over the past year, NSHC has increased the number of patients it serves who receive at least one comprehensive service (including mental health, substance abuse, vision, dental, and/or enabling) by at least 5%. NSHC's quality goals proved to be effective for increasing its population's health in certain areas, including diabetes and hypertension care. The COVID-19 testing distinction recognized NSHC's work to test more than 50% of its patient populations during the pandemic.

In the past, these HRSA quality recognition awards have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars for the NSHC Quality Improvement program. This year, HRSA's Bureau of Primary Care Health announced it is shifting directions from funding health centers for past performance toward recognizing quality, performance, and accelerating future quality improvement and innovation activities through novel funding opportunities and initiatives.

Have you ever wondered about the air we breathe and the quality of it?

This summer, Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the Division of Air Quality began partnering with entities in hub communities to deploy “AQ Mesh” air quality monitors as part of their new Community-Based Air Monitoring Pilot Project.

After hearing about the project, NSHC’s Office of Environmental Health (OEH) partnered with the State to expand this pilot project to Nome. Currently, Nome is one of only seven communities state-wide participating. The other communities participating are Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Homer, Soldotna, Kotzebue.

OEH received the AQ Mesh monitor from ADEC in August and found an excellent partner with KNOM radio station who agreed to let them mount the AQ Mesh monitor on their building during the first week of September.

The AQ Mesh will continuously monitor the community’s outside air for carbon monoxide, particulate matter (dust), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, among several other parameters. The air quality data collected is only from outside air and can be used for trend analysis of local air quality conditions. There is no end date currently set for the project and we hope to continue the partnership for the foreseeable future.

The goal of the AQMesh Community-Based Air Monitoring Project is to help reduce the disparity in air quality data in Alaska. OEH’s primary objectives for partnering with the State on this project are to inform the residents of Nome about the quality of the air we breathe and to help identify any potential air quality issues.

The AQ Mesh has now successfully completed a trial monitoring period, and the data is now publicly available. To view the ADEC Air Quality website and see Nome’s data in “real-time”, visit this link: https://dec.alaska.gov/air/air-monitoring/aqmesh-community-based-monitoring

If you have any questions, reach out to NSHC- OEH, Racheal Lee at (907) 443-3294, by email at rlee@nshcorp.org, to ADEC-Division of Air Quality, Taylor Borgfeldt at (907) 269-7573 or by email at taylor.borgeldt@alaska.gov.

The CAMP Department has walking sticks available for rent, free of charge! The walking sticks come with extra accessories and are perfect for fall hikes or daily strolls.

A form is available for participants who would like to rent a pair. Stop by the CAMP Department at the Liitfik Wellness and Training Center for an application or use the contact information below.

Email: wellness@nshcorp.org or jivanoff2@nshcorp.org

In Nome, the COVID-19 booster vaccinations will only be available at the pharmacy. To schedule an appointment in Nome, please visit https://www.picktime.com/NSHC.

If you are unvaccinated, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Everyone in the region who is 12 years and older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. In a village, residents may contact their local clinic to arrange a vaccination. In Nome, vaccinations are available at the following places and times:

If you have any questions, please email covidinfo@nshcorp.org.

The Nurse Call Line - a free, Nome-based medical advice service - is available at 443-6411.

If you do not have symptoms but would like to get tested for COVID-19, or if you feel you might be a close contact to a recent positive case and would like to get tested, the Nome Operations Building Testing Center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at the corner of Greg Kruschek Avenue and K Street. To schedule an appointment, visit picktime.com/NSHC. In regional villages, residents can contact their local clinic to get tested.

If you develop a cough, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion, fatigue, headache, or loss of taste or smell, please immediately isolate and make an appointment at the Cough and Cold Clinic, open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends, by calling the main appointment desk at (907) 443-3333. You can also call the direct line to the Cough and Cold Clinic at (907) 443-3231.