ALASKA NATIVE MEDICAL CENTER

CHEER is celebrating a CHAMPS hospital this week: Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) for their creative and impactful work to improve newborn hearing screenings! Located in Anchorage, AK, ANMC serves a predominantly Alaska Native population with culturally responsive, high-quality care. In April, their team launched a fun and effective initiative to increase bedside hearing screenings. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) received training and participated in simulations to perform hearing screens in patient rooms, bringing care directly to families in a supportive and personal way.

To encourage participation, the team hosted a month-long “stamp chart” competition. For every in-room hearing screen completed, CNAs earned a stamp next to their name. At the end of the month, two outstanding CNAs, Kathryn Hoke and Clara Greene, were recognized for their dedication and high volume of screenings. Their prizes included movie tickets, a spotlight in the hospital newsletter, and custom signs that said, “You are ear-replaceable.”

“This work is important to us because we care for an underserved population and want our patients to have the best care and support for themselves and their babies,” shares the ANMC team. “Breastmilk is the first traditional food, and we want to support our patients in establishing that if they so choose.”

Congratulations, Alaska Native Medical Center—and thank you to Kathryn and Clara for your commitment to maternal-infant health!