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Alaska Crossings Medical Policies
Alaska Crossings considers the physical health and well being of your child of upmost
importance. Please review the following information regarding medical processes within the
program.
Letter from the Alaska Crossings Medical Director
Medical History Disclosure by Parents/Guardians
Prescription and Over the Counter Medication Policy
Informed consent for medical treatment
Confidentiality and Clinical Records
Alaska Crossings Staff Medical Training Requirements
Letter from the Alaska Crossings Medical
Director
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Your child is soon to embark on an exciting adventure with AICS Alaska Crossings. This program
will challenge them both emotionally and physically. As the medical director for Alaska
Crossings, I wish for your child to be as physically healthy as possible during the program so
that they may get the most out of this experience.
Thank you for taking the time to fill out the medical intake form. It is very important for me
to know about any specific medical challenges your child has faced or perhaps continues to deal
with. After reviewing this information, we occasionally make recommendations for further
medical evaluation to ensure your child's medical safety before they
participate in the program.
When your child arrives in Wrangell they will be seen by me or one of my colleagues at our
Primary Care Clinic for a physical exam. With help from the information you have provided, I
will be able to address any medical concerns before they head out on their program. If they are
found to have an infection or injury that can be treated, you will be informed and we will
start treatment.
Alaska Crossings is a behavioral based program. Some of our participants have been prescribed
medication to help them cope with behavioral or psychological challenges. You and your
child's regular doctors are the best judges of the medications and dosages
that best help your child. During the program we do not adjust long-term medications that your
child has been prescribed before arriving, unless there is a clear adverse medical reaction. We
do not start children on medications to deal with mental health issues. We feel again that this
is best done with your regular doctor.
If medical problems arise during the program, they are discussed with the Medical Control
Officer in town and appropriate action is taken. Participants who have illnesses or injuries
that cannot be managed in the field will be brought into Wrangell and treated in the clinic or
through the emergency department of the Wrangell Medical Center. You will be contacted if this
occurs.
If you have any questions about how medical issues are managed in the Alaska Crossings
organization, please make us aware so we can respond to your concerns.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lynn Prysunka, MD, CCFP
Medical Director
Alaska Crossings Wilderness Program
Medical History Disclosure by
Parents/Guardians
Parents/Guardians are responsible for accurately completing the medical history portion of the
intake packet. If the history reveals conditions that might pose a risk to your child, other
participants or staff in our program, our Medical Director will review the information and make
a recommendation as to admission and conditions for participation.
Prescription and Over the Counter
Medication policy
When a participant is taking medications we adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Prescription Medication
• Prescription medication must be prescribed by a physician.
• Prescription medication must be prescribed to the participant.
• Medication must not be expired.
• Medications prescribed for one participant shall not be used by another participant.
• Participants will self-administer their medications. However, Alaska Crossings staff
will retain physical possession of the medication supply and administration directions.
Alaska Crossings staff will supervise the taking of medications.
• Prescription medications are kept in a locked container when possible.
• It is not possible to refrigerate medications. Participants taking refrigerated
medications must find a medically acceptable substitute that does not require refrigeration.
- Individual records will be kept for any medications taken by participants. This
information includes the prescribing physician's name, the description of the medication and
dosage, method of administration, verification in writing by the staff and the participant
that the medication was taken and times and dates the medication was administered.
- In the event of a missed medication or medication administration error Alaska
Crossings staff are required to notify the Medical Control Officer as soon as possible for
further direction.
- At the end of each program, staff will return all medications to the Parents /Guardians.
Staff will count the medication, tally the records of use during the program and make sure
all the medication is accounted for. Parents/Guardians will be informed of the count prior to
the participant returning home. Parents should count the medications once the participant
returns to ensure that all medications are accounted for.
- Participants are encouraged to fully inform staff of any medical problems or concerns
they may be experiencing. Staff report and record all medical issues. Our program always
assumes that a concern is medical until proven otherwise. All staff carry trauma medical
kits. The head guides carry advanced diagnostic equipment including a stethoscope, blood
pressure cuff, pulse oximiter, otoscope (for looking in ears) and thermometers. In the
event of a concern staff take vitals and complete a medical assessment. Field staff have
access to outside medical consultation 24 hours a day. This includes telemedicine where
digital photos can be sent via the satellite telephone for review.
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Some prescription medications can cause issues with heat regulation. If your child is on
one of these medications they will be placed on a Hyperthermia Watch. Hyperthermia Watches
are conducted when the temperature is 80° F or higher. At this point staff are required to
take your child’s temperature three times a day and in case of overheating, take immediate
action to lower their body temperature.
Informed consent for medical
treatment
Participants and their families will be informed about the nature of any medical care,
procedures and treatment that they receive.
Confidentiality and Clinical
Records
By law, information regarding the identity, clinical records and status of all participants is
protected under the Health Insurance Portability& Accountability Act (HIPAA). Protected
health information is not and cannot be disclosed by any staff member to any persons other than
those who we have, on file, written authorization to disclose or receive this
information.
We comply with federal and state law which recognize the following exceptions:
- Information regarding imminent danger to self or others, criminal activity involving
program or program personnel, or medical emergency.
- Information regarding suspected child abuse.
- Information about communicable diseases, which have significant public health
implications, including HIV/AIDS, is reported to the Wrangell Public Health Department.
- Disclosure of information may be allowed by court order under limited circumstances.
Alaska Crossings Staff Medical Training
Requirements
- Alaska Crossings staff are instructed on topicsincluding advanced procedures for
wilderness medical response, evacuation procedures, simulation training, medication
delivery training, emergency communication training at the annual Staff Training.
- Before each program Alaska Crossings staff review client medications and
identified health concerns with the Medical Control Director.
- Field Guides obtain and maintain a field trauma kit at all times.
- The US Coast Guard visits Alaska Crossings annually, delivering a
special briefing on systems and rescues.
- Alaska Crossings requires that guides are trained as Wilderness First Responder or
EMT's. All guides must be trained at the professional level of CPR.
- Alaska Crossings conducts on going risk assessments and collects data on a real time
basis on all incidents in the program. This helps us to respond to issues in a timely manner.
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