October 15, 2008
President/CEO Gene Peltola testifies in Washington, DC from Bethel-through the new video teleconferencing technology.
VTC Technology connects Washington DC and Delta
Internet blogs are abuzz about President/CEO Gene Peltola's recent testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Why was it so newsworthy? Because Peltola joined the hearing, "Why Broadband Matters," via video teleconference.
"YKHC not only informed the U.S. Senate why Broadband matters, but proved why it matters," said YKHC's Chief Information Officer David Hodges.
The hearing took place Tuesday, September 16, at 6:30 a.m. Alaska Time. Hodges, LAN/WAN Administrator II Nick Perry, and Telco/Network Manager Rhys Tony, arrived at YKHC at 5 a.m. to set up the video teleconference equipment in the Board Room and ensure connection with the Washington D.C. Capitol building.
Senate Committee member Senator Ted Stevens introduced Peltola and emphasized the importance of broadband technology in delivering healthcare to, and between, rural hospitals and clinics.
Peltola's testimony included the expansion of telepsychiatry and teleradiology services through telemedicine and broadband technology. Telepsychiatry enhances services for the growing number of village-based veterans in the YK Delta region while teleradiology can prevent an unnecessary trip into Anchorage for a village-based patient in a time of rising travel expenses.
A recording of the hearing is available online at: http://www.isoc-ny.org/?p=409.
