Alaska Primary Care Association Selects GCI ConnectMD To Build and Deploy Its 21st Century Health Care Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2008
ANCHORAGE, AK – The Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA) today announced its selection of GCI (NASDAQ: GNCMA) ConnectMD, the leading provider of telecommunication services to health care organizations in Alaska, as its service provider to expand patient reach and quality of care throughout the state. Through GCI ConnectMD, the APCA, a nonprofit organization that strives to provide all Alaskans with access to medical, dental and behavioral health care, will integrate modern health care technology into six of Alaska’s most remote regions: Bethel, Homer, Wrangell, Skagway, Unalaska and Cordova.
To help provide for this critical mission, GCI ConnectMD will design, implement and manage a Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure to support the Alaska Community Health Integrated Network (ACHIN), a project of the APCA. ACHIN recently deployed Practice Management (PMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) applications, two IT improvements that increase business efficiencies and contribute to greater quality of care, and needed a sophisticated technological network that was globally manageable, scalable to future needs and capable of supporting partners and services. Through GCI ConnectMD, ACHIN's remote clinics will be connected to one another for the first time ever and will have the technological support necessary to employ 21st century health care IT tools.
Beth Fleischer, APCA's IT director, explains why they chose GCI ConnectMD for such an important mission. "GCI's network is by far the most extensive and efficient in reaching the remote locations we serve," she said. "We needed a network infrastructure that would not only meet our short-term goals, but could grow with us as partners as our initiative expands. We continue to be impressed by the level of commitment from GCI ConnectMD and its vision of connecting the disparate elements of Alaska's health care system. It's a significant undertaking that ensures each and every person in Alaska has access to the most modern healthcare in the country, even in the most rural parts of the state."
"We applaud the vision APCA has for integrating technology into its delivery of health services," said Steve Constantine, Director of GCI Medical & Video Services. "We're delighted to support this huge technological step forward and know patients across Alaska will realize the benefits of such a partnership."
About GCI and GCI ConnectMD
As a publicly traded company with more than 25 years of experience and nearly $500 million in revenue, GCI is the largest Alaska-based and -operated integrated telecommunications provider. A pioneer in bundled services, GCI provides local, wireless and long-distance telephone, cable television, Internet and data communication services. Please visit www.gci.com for more information.
The largest medical network in the Pacific Northwest, GCI ConnectMD is comprised of more than 140 clinics, hospitals, and medical facilities across Washington and Alaska. The ConnectMD network supports medical business operations and the secure exchange of medical data. Please visit www.connectmd.com for more information.
