Lab services and women’s screenings back in Kenai Good news for Kenai Peninsula residents: Central Peninsula Kenai Health Center has expanded its on-site services, bringing back laboratory draws and adding mammography and bone density screening. This restores convenient, local access to care that the community has been asking for. Lab services return When lab collection services went offline last fall, Kenai patients needing routine blood work had to make the drive to Central Peninsula Hospital (CPH) in Soldotna. That gap has been filled. Lab draws are once again available at Central Peninsula Kenai Health Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mammography returns after 8 years Perhaps the most meaningful milestone in this expansion is the return of mammography screening to Central Peninsula Kenai Health Center. This restoration was made possible in part through the remarkable generosity of the Kenai Peninsula community. This year’s Evening by the River, hosted by the Central Peninsula Health Foundation, drew its largest crowd ever— more than 135 attendees—and raised a record $264,350. Combined with a commitment from CPH to cover the remaining balance, the total investment reached $565,000 for a brand-new mammography system installed at the hospital in Soldotna. That upgrade allowed the existing machine to be relocated to Central Peninsula Kenai Health Center, where it is now serving patients once again. “Restoring mammography access in Kenai has been a priority for our team, and we are so grateful to the community whose generosity made it possible,” says Angela Hinnegan, CEO of CPH. “Early detection saves lives, and now more women can access that care close to home.” DEXA bone density scans also offered In addition to screening mammography, Central Peninsula Kenai Health Center now also offers DEXA bone density exams. Screening mammograms are available without a provider order, though patients need a physician on file to receive results. Bone density studies require a provider order. Results are typically returned within three to five business days; if prior images must be requested from another facility, results may take up to 30 days. To schedule, call 907-714-4420 or 907-714-4542. The center accepts the same insurance plans as CPH, including Medicaid and Medicare. For the women of the Kenai Peninsula, this is more than a restored service—it’s a reminder that early detection saves lives and that their community showed up to make it happen. Care built for Kenai Central Peninsula Hospital’s Kenai Health Center was built as a partnership between the hospital, the State of Alaska Division of Public Health, the City of Kenai and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. 630 Barnacle Way, Kenai | 907-714-4495 PULSE Summer 2026 7
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