Healthcare

Alaska’s Healthcare

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OVID-19 is old news: that’s the key takeaway from this month’s special section on the healthcare industry, judging by the lack of articles on that topic. The novel coronavirus is still lurking, but the novelty has worn off. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, daily deaths in Alaska have dropped to less than one per day after peaking in January at nearly ten. Estimated infections surged in July and August but have settled at around 2,000 on any given day, about the baseline trend all year.

Thus, with COVID-19 not exactly in the rearview mirror but riding quietly in the back seat, the special section can ask some different questions about healthcare.

What role can animals play? “A Helping Hoof (or Paw)” has the answers.

Where can transgender Alaskans seek medical resources? “Affirming Care” finds the providers.

Which pain management options do physicians favor? “A Battle of Nerves” reviews the state of the art and the new research being conducted locally.

How are assisted living facilities meeting the needs of Alaska’s aging population? A recent construction boom means that “Seniors Have Choices.”

And who disposes of icky medical waste? Meet them in “Waste Away.”

For further healthcare data, flip to the Alaska Trends section for data about workforce and wages.