Southeast Communities Gain Increased Access to Primary Health Care

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Southeast Alaska residents will have more access to primary care with telehealth equipment and reliable, secure broadband connections thanks to a new relationship between the Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. (JAMHI) and Alaska Communications ALSK. JAMHI is a non-profit organization providing comprehensive services for Alaskans experiencing mental illness and related problems in Juneau, Gustavus, Elfin Cove and Tenakee Springs.

The state's leading broadband and IT solutions provider will connect health care providers in rural clinics with their counterparts at JAMHI and Sitka Community Hospital in Juneau and Sitka, using telemedicine devices. Alaska Communications is now a reseller of these devices, which allow health care providers to diagnose patient symptoms from hundreds of miles away in real time over Alaska Communications' secure, reliable network. Examples of these include electronic stethoscopes, dermatology scopes, and medical carts with HD cameras for video consultations with patients.

"Working with Alaska Communications allows us to improve access to behavioral health care throughout Southeast," JAMHI Clinical Director Doug Harris said. "Patients will be able to see health care providers more frequently using some of the latest technology in the telemedicine space. We'll improve the quality of care we're bringing to our patients."

"We're pleased to bring secure, reliable connectivity and these new solutions to JAMHI and its many patients in Southeast," Alaska Communications Vice President of Enterprise Sales Bill Bishop said. "We're proud to invest in Alaskans throughout all parts of our state, and help organizations like JAMHI improve the quality of care it can bring to its patients."

About Alaska Communications

Alaska Communications ALSK is the leading provider of advanced broadband and IT managed services for businesses and consumers in Alaska. The company operates a highly reliable, advanced statewide data network with the latest technology and the most diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States. For more information, visit www.alaskacommunications.com or www.alsk.com.

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