Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) is responsible for providing healthcare services to over 50 rural communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in southwest Alaska. The YKHC system includes a primary facility in Bethel and five sub-regional clinics in Aniak, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, St. Mary's, and Toksook Bay. Services offered by YKHC include inpatient care, primary care, specialty services, pediatric care, emergency services, behavioral health counseling, dental and optometry clinics, home care services, and various outreach and education programs.

The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) is an important part of YKHC, providing village-based primary healthcare in 47 village clinics in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. This program offers acute, chronic, and emergency care, preventative services, and health promotion activities to individuals, families, and communities.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is a vast region covering approximately 75,000 square miles in southwest Alaska. It is located where the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers meet the Bering Sea. The region is mostly tundra and is protected as part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

Bethel is the hub community of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and is home to the YKHC. It is approximately 400 miles west of Anchorage and experiences a maritime climate with average temperatures of 65-70°F in the summer and a winter mean of 11°F.

In addition to the primary facility in Bethel, YKHC operates sub-regional clinics in Aniak, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, St. Mary's, and Toksook Bay. These clinics provide similar services to the Bethel hospital and are strategically located to serve the surrounding communities.

YKHC was formed in 1969 by tribal leaders and representatives from 48 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Its establishment was driven by the desire to have more control over healthcare services and improve the retention of healthcare providers.

Today, YKHC continues to play a vital role in providing healthcare services to the rural communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, ensuring access to quality care for individuals and families in the region.