he Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, or ASHNHA, shortened its name in June, becoming the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association, or AHHA.

Despite losing the “S,” the association still advocates for the healthcare industry statewide, and despite losing the “N,” nursing homes are still under its umbrella. Established in 1953, AHHA represents more than sixty-five hospitals in Alaska, as well as nursing facilities, home health agencies, and other healthcare partners. It also represents Alaska in national healthcare networks: the American Hospital Association, the American Health Care Association, and the National Center for Assisted Living.

The organization publishes an annual analysis of the Alaska healthcare workforce. The most recent edition (as of this writing), prepared by Rain Coast Data with figures from 2020, reports strong growth in healthcare wages and employment. Indeed, the healthcare sector is one of the few to employ more people now than before the economic disruption wrought by COVID-19, according to monthly figures from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Even before the pandemic, AHHA found that Alaska has a greater prevalence of frontline family medicine physicians than the national average, which is handy for anyone scheduling a doctor’s appointment. Alaska is lower than average in the prevalence of nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, so there is room for improvement.

For this month’s Alaska Trends, we give the healthcare workforce a thorough examination to diagnose its areas of strength. Open wide and say AHHA!