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Continued Advancement of Telehalth Capacity in
Alaska
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium |
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Alaska Telehealth Advisory Council
4000 Ambassador Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
www.anthc.org
Thomas
Nighswander, MD, MPH
Ph: 907-729-3682
Fax: 907-729-1901
Email: tnighswander@anthc.org
Network Partners:
The Alaska Telemedicine Advisory Council (ATAC)
has partnered with the Alaska Native Tribal
Health Consortium Division of Information/Technology,
the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network
(AFHCAN), the University of Alaska Anchorage,
and the Alaska Physician’s EHR Alliance
to conduct this project.
Project Purpose: The Alaska
Telehealth Advisory Council supports five projects
that contribute to further electronic health
information exchange in Alaska and to the development
statewide of electronic information
infrastructure. This is done by contributing
to Telehealth expansion, providing a statewide
health information exchange organization structure
(RHIO), developing a private physician office
pilot, using health information electronic exchange
across State lines, and training in the use
of this technology.
Outcomes Expected: The formation
of an Alaska RHIO; development of a functioning
and interoperable HER in 20 private clinical
offices in Alaska; functioning telemedicine
programs in three non-tribal federally sponsored
Community Health Centers with ten (10) specialty
referral physician sites; operational telemedicine
consultation between ANMC and the Yakama Nation;
and faculty from the Community Health Aide Program
trained in the use of telemedicine for distant
education tools.
Service Area: One project additionally
serves the Yakama Nation in Washington.
Services Provided:
These efforts are primarily infrastructure development,
but also include faculty training in the use
of telemedicine for distance education, provider
training in delivery of telemedicine services,
and ENT
consultation.
Equipment: For Community Health
Center expansion and ENT Center of Excellence,
equipment will include AFHCAN Telemedicine Software,
digital cameras, scanners, electro cardiograms,
video otoscope, teleradiology equipment and
videoconferencing units.
Transmission: Dedicated telephone line
connectivity, with variable bandwidth.
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The Summative Telemedicine Evaluation
Project
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
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Alaska
Telehealth Advisory Council
4000 Ambassador Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
www.anthc.org
Thomas
Nighswander, MD, MPH
Ph: 907-729-3682
Fax: 907-729-1901
Email: tnighswander@anthc.org
Network Partners: The Alaska
Telemedicine Advisory Council (ATAC) has partnered
with the University of Alaska to conduct this
project.
Project Purpose: The Summative Telemedicine
Evaluation Project (STEP) comprehensively evaluated
the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network
(AFHCAN), a 4-year project (1998-2002) funded
through
OAT. Supplemental funding also supported an
International Symposium on Telehealth, and development
of policy recommendations and future plans.
A no cost carryover of OAT funding added several
dimensions to the STEP project, including business
model development, telehealth billing and publication
of abstracts from the conference.
Outcomes Expected: STEP outcomes
include assessment of provider attitudes, and
shifts in attitudes and skills; changes in acceptance
of telemedicine initiatives, and analysis of
changes in rural Alaska
telecommunications infrastructure and services.
Policy recommendations were developed, and the
International Symposium was sponsored and showcased
telehealth evaluations around the world. Outcomes
of final efforts will include business models,
published conference abstracts and analysis
of telehealth billing barriers.
Service Area: State of Alaska.
Services Provided: The project
has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of
the effectiveness of, and gaps in, telemedicine
in Alaska. Findings have formed the basis for
recommendations for the future of
telemedicine in Alaska. Completion in February
2006.
Equipment: Not applicable.
Transmission: Not applicable.
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API
TeleBehavioral Health Project
Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) top
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Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API)
2800 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4677
www.hss.state.ak.us/dbh/API
Ms. Robin Hobbs, MSW, Project Coordinator
Ph: 907-269-7278
Fax: 907-269-7278
Email: Robin_Hobbs@health.state.ak.us
Network Partners: AK Department
of Health and Social Services, Alaska Telemedicine
Advisory Council, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, Tanana Chiefs Conference (Fairbanks),
Ft. Yukon Health Center (Ft. Yukon), Edgar Nollner
Health Center (Galena), Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium
(Chistochina), Dena’ina Clinic (Kenai),
Alaska Native Tribal Healthcare Consortium,
Norton Sound Regional Health Corporation (Nome),
The Sunshine Community Health Center (Talkeetna),
Central Peninsula General Hospital (Soldotna),
and the Camai Health Clinic (Nanek).
Project Purpose: The mission
of the TeleBehavioral Health Project is “to
create, promote, and maintain access to Behavioral
Health services through advanced technology
in rural and frontier Alaska.” Alaska
Psychiatric Institute has developed a TeleBehavioral
Health Program to: (1) to provide behavioral
health services via video-teleconferencing to
remote areas not served by mental health professionals;
(2) to develop distance delivered psychoeducation
to consumers and continuing education to caregivers
in remote villages. Pilot sites have been in
operation with the intent to expand the network.
The expanded TeleBehavioral Health Network will
reduce the need to transport consumers to hub
facilities for standard outpatient behavioral
health services.
Outcomes Expected: (1) Increased
ability for rural behavioral health providers
and primary health clinics to provide standard
outpatient services in their respective facilities
(tracking types and frequencies of services
provided, number of consultations and continuing
education events, patient referral patterns);
(2) Development of a sustainable business model
(explore operational strategies, develop collaborative
business relationships, explore and implement
funding opportunities); (3) Develop a sustainable
distributive model of care to deliver services
using local mid-level practitioners, village
health aides, and village counselors); and (4)
Develop collaborative relationships with other
Alaskan telemedicine providers to use existing
infrastructures.
Service Area: Southeast Alaska
(Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Wrangel, Petersburg);
Kenai Peninsula; Interior Alaska (Fairbanks,
Galena, Bethel, Ft. Yukon); Northern Alaska
(Barrow, Nome, Kotzebue).
Services Provided: Psychiatric
assessment and evaluation services for children,
youth, adults; neuro-psych screening; developmental
pediatric assessment; FAS/FAE evaluation; psychological
testing; psychopharmacology; counseling. Licensure
supervision, case consultation.
Equipment: Polycom VSX 7000.
Transmission: Full and fractional
T-1 lines. |
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