The purpose of our inspections is to determine a health care provider's ability to give services which are safe and of an acceptable quality. We inspect health care providers, according to requirements set by the state and federal government generally once a year, and more often when there are problems. Complaint investigations are investigated within two days if there is potential threat to patient health or safety. We travel throughout Alaska , from Nome to Ketchikan and out on the Aleutian chain. The size of the survey teams varies depending on the size of facility and complexity of program.
Inspections can take from two to five days to complete.
State law requires most health facilities to be licensed annually. In addition, health care providers must comply with federal requirements if they wish to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Our purpose is to promote and maintain quality health care for all Alaskans. Department of Health and Social Services State of Alaska Webpage Admin.