AICS-SEARHC merger delayed until April

WRANGELL – A planned-for merger between two regional healthcare providers has been put on hold for two months.

Alaska Island Community Services was to merge with larger organization SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) on February 1, but the consolidation will have to wait until April 1. The merger was formally announced last October, and heads of both organizations subsequently met with Wrangell officials in November and in January to explain the transition.

AICS executive Mark Walker has said the move was needed due to growth in the organization. Since its founding in Wrangel...