Did you know that Alaska Behavioral Health provides primary care services at our clinics in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Wasilla? Offering primary care within our behavioral health-focused clinics allows for close collaboration between psychiatric care, primary care and therapy to offer truly integrated, whole-person care. On a very practical level, we can often coordinate multiple appointments on the same day to reduce transportation challenges.
Why do I even need a primary care provider?
Many of our behavioral health clients have gone for years without having a primary care provider, addressing health issues through urgent care centers or hospital emergency rooms. That’s one of the most expensive ways to get health care, and providers in those settings are focused on the emergency on hand – not routine screenings, management of chronic conditions, and becoming familiar with your whole health history. A primary care provider’s goal is to look at your overall health and provide the care that is best for you.
Comprehensive Care for Chronic and Acute Conditions
The primary care team at AKBH treats a wide range of health concerns, including chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, back pain, and acute complaints such as urinary tract infections. Regular health maintenance is another key component of their practice. Providers see patients somewhere between once a year and once a month, depending on their needs. Some visits with established clients can be handled over telehealth, such as routine prescription refills to address stable conditions.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
At AKBH’s Fairbanks clinic, primary care providers Myra Kelly, APRN, FNP- BC and DaRae Pheysey, FNP bring a philosophy of care centered on meeting patients where they are in their health journey.
Myra explains: “If a patient is experiencing food insecurity, then I cannot expect them to be eating lean meat and watching their cholesterol if the cup of noodles in our lobby is the only thing they’re going to get to eat today. I want to collaborate with the client to tailor a plan that best fits their needs safely”.
DaRae emphasizes taking time to truly listen. With new patients, she spends a full hour getting to know them and understanding their needs, a luxury that’s increasingly rare in modern healthcare.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health
During visits, AKBH providers assess patients’ living situations and other social determinants of health: Is the patient in a safe environment? Do they have enough food to eat? Are there other basic needs that must be addressed before focusing on wellness goals? “If basic needs are not met, then we can’t move up the hierarchy to wellness and health,” Myra notes.
To support patients facing challenges, AKBH offers several on-site resources. A clothing closet provides warm coats and other necessities—critical in Alaska’s extreme winter conditions. The practice also provides foot care services, including nail trimmings, since podiatry isn’t covered by Medicare for adults. With temperatures dropping to 40 or 50 degrees below zero in Fairbanks, providers routinely check patients’ feet for circulation issues and signs of frostbite
Connecting Patients to Community Resources
AKBH’s primary care team maintains strong partnerships with community organizations in Fairbanks and Anchorage to ensure patients can access comprehensive support services.
Food Security: Providers can write referrals for the Food is Medicine program through the Fairbanks Food Bank, which allows eligible patients to receive six pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables per day, or 30 pounds per week. In Anchorage, staff assist patients with accessing local food banks.
Case Management: For Medicare patients, the team connects with the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), who can assist with transportation through the senior van service and other needs. Medicaid clients are referred to in-house case managers and peer support specialists for help with health insurance enrollment, paperwork assistance, and connecting to additional services.
Safety and Housing: The practice works with the local domestic violence shelters to assist patients experiencing partner violence and coordinates with rescue missions and other shelter services for those experiencing housing insecurity.
Mental Health and Activities: In Fairbanks, the Northern Hope Center provides activities, engagement, and hot meals for adults with serious mental illness. Fairbanks Resource Agency offers similar programming for adults with special needs and troubled teens, helping clients stay engaged and receive regular meals. In Anchorage, transition age youth and adult clients have access to two separate drop-in centers for daily groups, lunches, and access to laundry and showers.
Substance Use Treatment: For patients struggling with substance use disorders as their primary behavioral health need, providers refer to outside organizations for comprehensive treatment services. Partners include True North Recovery, the Ralph Purdue Center in Fairbanks, Akeela in Anchorage, and Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services in Wasilla. (Alaska Behavioral Health provides Level 1 substance use treatment as part of therapy for those with a primary mental illness diagnosis.)
Medical Specialists: The team regularly coordinates with community providers for radiology and imaging needs, women’s health care and other specialty care.
Welcoming New Patients
The primary care team at Alaska Behavioral Health is currently accepting new patients. Whether you need management of chronic conditions, treatment for acute illnesses, or simply routine health maintenance, AKBH offers comprehensive, compassionate care in a warm and welcoming environment.
To learn more about primary care services at Alaska Behavioral Health or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 907-563-1000.
