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H R S A News U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration

HRSA NEWS ROOM
http://newsroom.hrsa.gov


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 30, 2004
Contact: HRSA Press Office
301-443-3376

HHS Awards $1.25 Million to Improve Health Care in Remote Alaska Communities

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced an award of $1.25 million to a consortium of Alaska health care organizations to improve the health care of people living in the state’s most remote areas.
 
The Alaska Frontier Extended Stay Consortium, a collaboration among five Alaska organizations, will examine the effectiveness and appropriateness of Frontier Extended Stay Clinics (FESC) in providing health care services in remote locations in Alaska.  Funds will pay for new staff, equipment and quality assurance programs to help these isolated clinics improve their ability to provide extended care services.
 
Often severe weather and distance prevent badly injured or ill patients from obtaining immediate transport to an acute care hospital.  Currently these individuals are held in FESCs until they can be transported or no longer need hospital care.  The clinics cannot be reimbursed through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurers.
 
“Clinics in Alaska and other remote areas face unique and serious barriers to providing care,” said Secretary Thompson.  “These funds will help frontier clinics provide additional services and improve the services they currently provide.”
 
Consortium members include the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Sitka; Cross Roads Medical Center, Glenallen; Illiuik Family Medical Center, Unalaska; and the Native Village of Eyak, Cordova.  A fifth consortium partner, the Alaska Center for Rural Health in Anchorage, will provide evaluation services to the program.
 
HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration and its Office of Rural Health Policy (http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/) administer the grant.
 

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