About Alaska Family Doctor

Dear Friends,

            Welcome to Alaska Family Doctor.  I am very excited about our medical practice, and I think you will be, too. 

           When Dr. Lawrence and I set out to create an innovative health practice in rural Alaska, we were eager to put patients back in the center of healthcare.  We established our practice with the goal of creating an atmosphere that encourages people to be at their healthiest.  We wanted to maintain traditional cultural ideals like honoring elders, working together, being tough, and being smart, among others.

            We have taken that first step.  Alaska Family Doctor is meeting the primary care needs of patients from every walk of life in the Norton Sound region.  We are doing our best to establish a thriving medical practice that listens to the needs of patients.  We want our patients to receive excellent healthcare.

            Dr. Lawrence and I are excited about several aspects of Alaska Family Doctor.  We have found that patients love the online scheduling feature of the website.  Patients can see the schedule and choose a time that works into their schedule.  Patients like the online prescription renewal feature—it’s great to be able to renew at a convenient time.  One of the biggest benefits that we share is open-access scheduling, which provides for established patients to schedule same-day or next-day appointments.

            Of all these benefits, we have found that patients seem to most value face-to-face time with Dr. Lawrence.  Spending half an hour or a whole hour with Dr. Lawrence gives patients time to discuss important health issues instead of worrying about rushed consultations.  We are finding that patients appreciate being able to work through their health concerns without being rushed. 

            You may have seen Dr. Lawrence’s column in The Nome Nugget.  The point of these articles, as well as radio spots you may hear on KNOM and KICY, and the education link on our website, are designed to provide trusted healthcare information.  A big part of being healthy is learning what steps to take to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

            We like hearing from patients.  What do you like about AFD?  What would you like to see next?  What topics would you like to see addressed in the paper, on the air, or online?  We see excellent healthcare as the starting point for something really fabulous.  Let us know what you think.


Sincerely,
Laura Degnan Lawrence
President/CEO
Alaska Family Doctor

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