FAQ’s General
Housing
What are the typical housing arrangements?
On-campus housing, which is attached to the hospital, consists of apartments. Off-campus housing can vary from duplexes to houses. The Federal Government sets the guidelines for housing occupancy, with family size determining the number of bedrooms. Units can range from one to three-bedrooms.
What does subsidized housing entail?
Subsidized housing means that the Arctic Slope Native Association will pay a percentage of your rent, while you will be responsible for the remaining balance. Your balance due will be deducted out of your bi-weekly paychecks.
Are utilities included?
Utilities and local phone are included. Cable and Internet service are not subsidized but are available for purchase from local companies.
Can I bring pets?
Yes. We do have pet-friendly units in both our on-campus and off-campus housing. There is a $500 per pet deposit. There is also a limit to the number and size of the pets you can bring.
Are there housing deposits?
Yes. There is a $500 cleaning/security deposit, and if applicable, a $500 per pet deposit. These deposits will be deducted from your first few paychecks.
Can you smoke in the housing units?
No. All units are non-smoking.
What type of amenities does on-campus housing have?
All units will have a microwave. Some units have a dishwasher and washers and dryers, while some share a group laundry. There are units that have an extra freezer. There is a common staff area that has a large screen TV, computer, and general area to socialize. There is also a workout room that is available to all staff.
What should I bring with me?
All housing units are furnished with major furniture items. You will need to bring your own linens, kitchen items, clothes, TV, computer, and cleaning items. Even though we pay up to $4,500 ($6,000 for physicians and dentists) to move your goods to Barrow, we do not cover the cost of moving them out of Barrow. So, it is recommended you bring only what you feel is necessary. A great way to purchase items you don’t want to move back and forth is to visit one of the many rummage and moving sales in Barrow.
Community/About Barrow
How do I get around town?
There is no municipal bus service in Barrow. If you would like use of a car, you can use part of the relocation allowance to ship your car up or purchase a used car once in Barrow. There are also the options of cabs and purchasing four-wheelers or snow machines.
What is there to do in Barrow?
Barrow has a relaxed environment where you can read and watch movies in your home; or you can be busy every night of the week at cultural activities, science related talks, events at the schools, classes at the community college, craft groups, working out, or socializing with friends.
See the Activities section for more details.
Is there a dentist in Barrow?
Yes. The hospital runs a dental clinic. There are also several dentists who have private practices in Barrow on a part-time basis.
How expensive is food?
Because all food is flown in, it can be expensive. To give you an idea, a gallon of milk in Barrow is around $7.00. However, there are ways to avoid expensive groceries. Non-perishables can be sent up as part of your moving allowance. You can also order from grocery stores in Fairbanks and have the items flown up, or you can watch for half-price sales at the local grocery store.
What is the weather like?
Temperatures usually remain below freezing for most of the year, with temperatures reaching above 32°F an average of 110 days per year. Freezing temperatures have been observed in each month of the year. February is generally the coldest month. Beginning in March temperatures start a general upward trend, with July being warmest month of the year. During late July or early August, the Arctic Ocean usually becomes ice-free for the summer. Readings of 70°F or above have been known to occur on occasion. The end of summer is reached in September, and by November, about half of the daily mean temperatures are either zero or below. Snow covers the ground about eight months of the year, with some snowfall usually happening every month of the year.
How many days of darkness do you have?
Each year the sun dips below the horizon at 12:50 PM on November 18, and is not seen again until 11:51 a.m. on January 24. From the 24th on, the amount of daylight increases by more than nine minutes per day.
How many days do you have where the sun never sets?
By 1:06 a.m. on May 10, daylight has increased to 24 hours per day. The sun remains visible from that time until August 2, when it begins to set again for 1 hour and 25 minutes. The decrease in hours of daylight from that point on is also nine minutes per day.
What type of clothes do people wear to keep warm?
Because the temperatures drop below zero, it is important to have outdoor clothes that are appropriate for subzero weather such as a parka, snow pants, warm gloves, hat and boots. It is important to have a facemask as well. During breakup, when the snow is melting, mud boots are recommended. Indoors, the temperatures can be warmer than what one would expect, so it is important to bring lighter indoor clothing.
How is mailed delivered?
You can obtain a PO Box at the local post office. Mail is delivered Monday-Saturday. The PO Boxes are no charge, aside from a $1 key deposit. The other option is to have your mail delivered to the hospital address. Permanent employees are given a box at the hospital where their mail is distributed. There, mail is delivered Monday-Friday. Large items are kept in a shared room where you can pick them up. When you first move to Barrow, you can use the hospital PO Box as a place to have your personal items sent, and then you can decide if you want your own private mailbox at the Post Office.
What kind of food does the cafeteria serve?
The hospital cafeteria serves three meals a day during set times. The meals are determined by the kitchen staff and contain a main item and accompaniments. Meals are currently $6 each.
Are there restaurants in Barrow?
Yes. There several restaurants in Barrow that serve American or Asian food.
What services are offered in Barrow?
Barrow is the main service area for the North Slope and therefore has many services. There is a community college, government offices, a utility office, post office, several grocery stores and a convenience store, medical services, schools, a hardware store, video stores, restaurants, car repair services, a library, and a heritage center.
Is there hunting and fishing in Barrow?
It is legal for a non-native resident of the North Slope to hunt caribou, geese, and to fish. It is recommended to inquire with UIC and the North Slope Borough for permits and proper land use.
Is Barrow a friendly place to live?
Certainly. Barrow residents are warm and welcoming, and encourage staff to participate in and learn about the native way of life.
About Hospital
Are you JCAHO accredited?
Yes, we are a critical access designation by JCAHO.
How many beds are in your hospital?
Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital is a 14-bed hospital. Our Inpatient unit is an all age medical/surgical unit with two beds available for low risk labor and delivery. We do not have an operating room. Our Outpatient unit is a six-room clinic and a two-bed emergency room.
What auxiliary departments do you have?
In addition to our Inpatient and Outpatient units, we have a Laboratory, Pharmacy and Imaging Services. We also have Case Management, Health Information, Human Resources, IT, Patient Accounts, Accounting and Finance, and Screening for Life.
I understand you are building a new hospital. When will that be completed?
Our new hospital is scheduled for completion in 2010. The new hospital is projected to be four times larger than our current facility—totaling approximately 100,000 square feet. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in number of staff overall, but that may not apply to each department.
Benefits
What are your benefits?
We offer airfare for you and your immediate family to travel one way to Barrow for your initial relocation. We offer up to $4,500 ($6,000 for physicians and dentists) in a relocation allowance, as well as subsidized housing. We observe 13 paid holidays and you accrue 7.5 hours of personal days per bi-weekly paycheck—for a total of 25 personal days per year. We have two retirement programs, a 403 (b) and 401 (a). We have medical/dental/vision/pharmacy coverage with the premium paid in full for the employee, and partial premium payment for dependants. Direct deposit is available.
Does Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital qualify for the IHS loan repayment program?
Yes. Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital is a designated loan repayment site for the IHS. To obtain more information on the loan repayment program, go to the IHS website at www.ihs.gov.
Travel
How much does it cost to travel in and out of Barrow?
As with all air travel, flight prices vary greatly by season and depend on advance purchase. You can get great deals on airfare if you plan ahead. Typically, airfare from Barrow to Seattle can range anywhere from $600-$1,200. | 
