ANTHC Master Plan

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) delivers statewide specialty and tertiary healthcare services to Alaska Native people, catering to a diverse indigenous population across Alaska. E4H has been tasked with developing a comprehensive master plan for patient housing, as well as inpatient and outpatient programs.

With a uniquely structured healthcare system that includes the Tribal Health System, Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), and South-Central Foundation (SCF), the design team navigated a distinct landscape and fact-finding process. The design team conducted over 100 interviews to discover ANTHC unique needs and to prioritize all challenges and deficiencies according to ANTHC vision and capital.

For instance, a patient from Aleutians West Island can visit a field clinic for primary services but needs to arrange travel with ANMC for specialty care.

The isolation of some areas and limited telehealth access poses significant challenges for Alaska’s aging populations. The field clinics should provide integrated services that encompass primary care, dental care, mental health, and traditional healing, all within a single facility.

During the master planning, the design team tackled three major issues: the increasing demand for patient housing and long-term care, reducing campus transportation by consolidating outpatient and inpatient services, and enhancing clinical departments at the main hospital (ANMC).

Additionally, by establishing a community center that integrates indigenous traditions through the use of art, symbols, and materials meaningful to the patients, the environment can offer comfort and cultural connection to those staying on the main campus for treatment.