Guardian Flight Celebrates Community Health Aides
9.10.2024
Guardian Flight is excited to celebrate Community Health Aide Appreciation Day on September 10, recognizing the contributions of community health aides throughout Alaska.
Guardian Flight is excited to celebrate Community Health Aide Appreciation Day on September 10, recognizing the contributions of Community Health Aides throughout the state. This state-wide day of recognition was established in 2023, though Community Health Aides (CHAs) have played an integral role in providing medical care to residents and visitors throughout the state for decades, dating back to the 1950’s. Guardian Flight encourages Alaska residents to take a moment on Tuesday to offer their appreciation to the state’s approximate 550 CHAs who serve in over 170 rural, and often remote, villages.
CHAs are the frontline of healthcare in their communities, assessing and often providing emergent care to their neighbors, treating chronic and acute conditions. They provide routine and preventative care, respond to emergencies and keep patients stable while waiting for transport to a higher level of care. CHAs play a key role in improving access to care for Alaska Natives and American Indians who live in remote parts of the state. Guardian Flight’s teams work regularly with CHAs to transport patients who require a higher level of care.
“It is an honor and privilege to work alongside our Community Health Aides,” said Delvinee Dillingham, regional director for Guardian Flight. “The care they provide to our remote communities is essential and life-saving. Recognizing the contributions of Alaska’s CHAs to the health and well-being of our neighbors is of utmost importance to our teams.”
Dillingham and other leaders from Guardian Flight worked closely with state representatives after bringing this initiative forward to the state legislature, fighting and ensuring it passed into law. They were present when Community Health Aide Appreciation Day was signed into law on July 20, 2023. It is a day Guardian Flight first responders hope all Alaskans will participate in and show appreciation for the compassion, service, and dedication CHAs provide every day to communities throughout Alaska.
CHAs are the frontline of healthcare in their communities, assessing and often providing emergent care to their neighbors, treating chronic and acute conditions. They provide routine and preventative care, respond to emergencies and keep patients stable while waiting for transport to a higher level of care. CHAs play a key role in improving access to care for Alaska Natives and American Indians who live in remote parts of the state. Guardian Flight’s teams work regularly with CHAs to transport patients who require a higher level of care.
“It is an honor and privilege to work alongside our Community Health Aides,” said Delvinee Dillingham, regional director for Guardian Flight. “The care they provide to our remote communities is essential and life-saving. Recognizing the contributions of Alaska’s CHAs to the health and well-being of our neighbors is of utmost importance to our teams.”
Dillingham and other leaders from Guardian Flight worked closely with state representatives after bringing this initiative forward to the state legislature, fighting and ensuring it passed into law. They were present when Community Health Aide Appreciation Day was signed into law on July 20, 2023. It is a day Guardian Flight first responders hope all Alaskans will participate in and show appreciation for the compassion, service, and dedication CHAs provide every day to communities throughout Alaska.
