Improved Access to Healthcare is Goal
Alaska eHealth Network moves Rural Alaskans toward safer, more convenient healthcare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2009
People in rural Alaska are one step closer to safer, more convenient health care with the signing of a contract that will help develop an "Alaska e-health network" for telehealth and health information exchange. The contract, signed Feb. 20th, begins design and development of a statewide, broadband network aimed at improving the healthcare infrastructure throughout Alaska.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) awarded the contract to GCI, the largest telecommunications provider in Alaska, using funds from a $10.5 million grant it received in December 2007 from the Federal Communication Commission Rural Health Pilot Program.
GCI is an Alaska company with years of experience in network design and management, with specialized expertise in designing solutions for unique rural environments. GCI currently owns and operates ConnectMD, a medical network that securely connects more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout Alaska and Washington State.
Overall, an Alaska health information exchange network will improve patients' access to care, reduce unnecessary testing and procedures, improve patient safety, reduce health agency administrative costs, and enhance rapid response to public health emergencies.
"This step forward is great news for any rural or urban Alaskans who will ever need healthcare—and that includes most all of us," said Paul Sherry, Interim President, Alaska eHealth Network (AeHN) Board of Directors. "When completed, this network will make healthcare not only safer and more efficient, but also less expensive by reducing costs across the board—saving as much as $250 million annually in Alaska."
AeHN's specific objective, said Sherry, is to unify separate electronic health care networks now in existence or being developed throughout the state, and to help rural health providers connect with referral providers both in Alaska and in the lower 48 states. These improved connections will facilitate the exchange of critical health information that will help improve patient care.
The network will also support telemedicine services, the transfer of high-resolution images and lab results for patient care, as well as videoconferencing and Voice-over-Internet applications. It will make healthcare safer by helping to ensure health information is up-to-date and relayed quickly, and by preventing potentially dangerous combinations of incompatible medications.
"For years we have worked toward a networked Alaska healthcare community that has high-speed connections within our state and to health institutions in the Lower 48. An open network will enable all Alaska providers to deliver superior care to patients, regardless of location," said Martin Cary, Vice President and General Manager of GCI's Managed Broadband Services. "We have partnered with many public and private institutions to do just this, and now the opportunity to connect the networks is fast approaching. GCI is pleased to have the opportunity to apply its rural engineering talent and healthcare experience to contribute to the design of the Alaska eHealth Network."
Under key provisions of the contract, GCI will analyze current network capabilities for the existing healthcare network components in Alaska, and identify gaps and duplications in connectivity. GCI will also conduct a best practices study to determine the most effective solution for connecting providers statewide. In addition, GCI will prepare draft specifications to help join networks with clearly defined central services, and appropriate privacy and security assurances.
The overall goal for project completion of this contract for the Design Phase is six months.
Upon conclusion of this contract, AeHN's future plans include the installation and deployment of the telecommunications network recommended by the design engineers. This next phase will link existing networks and create new connections to rural locations where no connectivity currently exists.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium was designated by a group of Alaska partners to act as interim project manager for the design and development of the network. In the fall of 2008, the partners created AeHN to manage Alaska's e-health network for the long-term.
Primary partners include the Alaska Federal Health Care Partnership, the Alaska Primary Care Association, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Homes Association, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the University of Alaska, AARP Alaska, and the State Department of Health and Social Services.
