Much of what makes Alaska so unique also makes working in care management particularly rewarding. From changing seasons and stunning landscape to a geographically dispersed and aging patient population, the environment requires care manager RNs to think strategically and creatively and advocate fiercely for patients. Here are several ways working on the care management team at Providence Anchorage Medical Center (PAMC) allows you to make an outsized impact.

You’ll advocate for patients who are often late in their illness.

When someone is admitted to the hospital, care manager RNs step in, ready to ensure the patient’s care and services are coordinated as quickly and safely as possible, in preparation for the care transition home. But often, at PAMC, patients arrive with more advanced illnesses and complex needs due to factors such as:

• Geographic barriers, since 80% of Alaska’s communities are only reachable by small boat or snow machine (Alaska Safety Alliance).
• Limited access to primary care providers and specialists in rural areas.
• A lack of a nearby family to facilitate care, since many younger Alaskans migrate to urban centers for work or reside in the lower 48 states, leaving older adults in rural or remote communities without support (National Institutes of Health).
• High rates of chronic illness, economic challenges and behavioral health crises.

“Many of our patients have been managing serious illness for longer than they should have had to because they were too far away to get help sooner,” said Brenda Franz, Senior Director of Nursing at PAMC. “Once they’re with us, it’s complex, demanding work, but it’s so rewarding to know you positively changed or even helped save someone’s life.”

You’ll encounter unique challenges in Alaska that are wide-reaching and deeply rewarding.

Care managers begin every interaction with an eye toward discharge—and that care milestone looks very different in Anchorage, going far beyond coordinating with a local skilled nursing facility or arranging a home health referral.

At PAMC, care managers coordinate complex transitions for patients arriving from:

• Rural and remote Alaskan communities.
• Regional hospitals without specialty services.
• Tribal and community-based health systems.

You’ll be tasked with always thinking creatively, strategically and culturally.

For these reasons, PAMC care managers have greater autonomy, creativity and influence compared to their counterparts in hospitals in the Lower 48 States. This often means planning care and discharge for patients who will return to communities hundreds of miles away who may not have local access to specialty follow-up or rehabilitation centers.

“When our RNs plan a discharge, they’re not just thinking about the next step; they’re thinking about what happens when a patient is back in a village 400 miles away with no specialist or even a pharmacy nearby,” says Brenda. “They need to think critically and creatively about how to ensure these patients can maintain health once they’re discharged from the hospital.” As part of PAMC’s mission, it’s important to connect patients to resources and support systems that address their healthcare needs and understand the root cause associated with health disparities; especially for the older-adult population.

Our care manager RNs prioritize culturally responsive care, working directly with rural health aides, tribal health organizations and families to build care plans that respect the voice and values of individual Alaskans. They make a major impact, engage in deeper patient advocacy and support healthcare access for Alaskans throughout the state, not just those who live in Anchorage.

You’ll be a key member of a high-performing team backed by a leading healthcare organization.

As a part of Alaska’s largest medical center and a statewide referral hub, care managers are involved early in risk mitigation, working at the top of their scope alongside experienced, collaborative, mission-driven teams to provide whole-person care to all. This high-impact role is analytical and clinically integrated, rather than task-driven.

In this role, care manager RNs:

• Collaborate closely with physicians and interdisciplinary teams.
• Actively influence length‑of‑stay and utilization decisions.
• Balance patient advocacy, regulatory requirements and real‑world access and constraints, to include Medicare, Medicaid and community resources to support the transition of care to the level of care (home or the post-acute care facilities).
• Engage in ongoing monitoring to evaluate changing health, financial and social conditions.

“What I value most is that we work with a truly trusted and valued healthcare team—social workers, hospitalists, nurses, therapists, physicians and administrators. Everyone’s perspectives and insights carry weight for us to achieve the best outcomes,” says Brenda.

In addition, even though PAMC is based in Anchorage, it’s not just an Anchorage hospital. It’s Alaska’s primary referral, specialty and transfer hub, and which means care managers work with access to:

• A full interdisciplinary team.
• On‑site leadership and clinical collaboration.
• The resources of a large, mission‑driven organization.

Not only do caregivers have access to the best tools and technologies to perform their roles, but they also receive industry-leading benefits that protect their mental, physical and spiritual health as well as their financial wellbeing.

Join our care management team in Anchorage and make an impact in Alaska

If you’d like to grow your care management career while practicing in Alaska’s largest and most complex acute‑care environment, PAMC offers the opportunity to directly support patients and communities across the entire state. View our current openings today,  and be sure to update your Talent Network profile so our recruiters have your most current information.