On any given day, the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) is caring for dozens of patients who no longer need hospital-level care. While they are well enough to leave the hospital, they are not quite ready to go home.

The ANTHC Board of Directors approved construction of a Short-term Skilled Nursing Facility to address this gap in the continuum of care. In early summer 2024, ANTHC broke ground on the $69 million project, which will soon alleviate capacity pressure at the hospital. The facility will provide patient care at the appropriate level and improve our ability to support acute patient care needs at the hospital.

Construction of the 78-bed, 92,000 square-foot, short-term skilled nursing facility will begin in earnest in the coming months, with site fill and balancing underway and footing and foundation work to follow.

The facility is expected to be completed in the summer 2026. The facility will also house an occupational rehabilitation area, public and private dining areas, a chapel, game and activity rooms, and an outdoor courtyard.

Finishes and artwork will be carefully selected, taking Alaska Native cultures and values into consideration.