ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (June 22, 2005) – Communications Technology, Inc. (COMTek), the fastest and most reliable high-speed broadband service provider available in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), announced today that it will be the broadband provider for the “Virgin Islands eHealth Initiative.” The new push to improve, streamline and lower the cost of high-quality health care for USVI residents is the latest cutting-edge technology role for COMTek, which also is recognized as the U.S. leader in delivery of broadband over powerlines (BPL).
Announcing his Chantilly, VA.-based company’s full-fledged support for the Virgin Islands eHealth Initiative, COMTek President and CEO Dr. Joseph E. Fergus said today: “When Dr. Cora Christian asked COMTek to get involved, I knew that we had to provide the infrastructure/technology platform for this initiative. Simply put, this initiative requires a state-of-the-art network environment. When you are talking about the transfer of people’s most sensitive health information, it is essential that you turn to a company with a demonstrated track record of providing trusted solutions in a highly competitive environment. COMTek looks forward to providing the platform that will make the eHealth Initiative work for all Virgin Islanders.”
A prominent figure in the Virgin Islands for 30 years, Dr. Cora L. Christian, MPH, has the distinction of being the first native female of the U.S. Virgin Islands to become a medical doctor. As a board certified practicing family physician, she now serves as the medical director of USVI Health Care Quality Improvement and is chief medical consultant to Hovensa, L.L.C., a leading USVI refiner.
In her capacity as the driving force behind the Virgin Islands eHealth Initiative, Dr. Christian said: "I really feel that the eHealth Initiative will be to health care in the 21st century what immunizations were to health care in the 20th century. It will revolutionize both the operations for the medical providers and make health care a more consumer-friendly and consumer-involved process. Without Dr. Joseph Fergus, who responded without hesitation, this would not be happening in the USVI. COMTek is the glue to make this operation possible. They are providing the highway on which doctors and patients alike can get efficient and secure access to medical health records information."
Fergus noted that providing reliable, high-speed and secure telecommunications infrastructure will be an essential piece of the puzzle if the eHealth Initiative is going to work as intended for the medical community and consumers in the USVI. By using COMTek’s advanced platform, the Virgin Islands could realize its potential of leading the nation in the effective use of fully networked health care information systems, according to Fergus.
The COMTek president and CEO represented his company as co-chair of the technology section of the Virgin Islands eHealth Initiative Conference held in St. Croix on June 14, 2005.
ABOUT COMTek
Communication Technologies, Inc. (http://www.comtechnologies.com) is now delivering the first commercial application of broadband over powerline technology to be deployed on a city-wide basis anywhere in the United States. As a leading telecommunications and information systems technology company, COMTek provides worldwide broadband network service, the complete lifecycle of systems integration (including software development), network operation, systems administration, information security, and training. On December 1, 2004, COMTek announced that it has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. The firm’s outstanding success story made it a natural for inclusion on the prestigious “Inc. 500” hottest company list. With 14 years of experience and more than 900 employees, COMTek is headquartered in Chantilly, VA., and also maintains offices in Norfolk, VA., Hampton, VA., San Antonio, TX, Fayetteville, NC, Olympia, WA., and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.
CONTACT:
Ailis Aaron, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com
BACKGROUND:
In an executive order issued on April 27, 2004, President George W. Bush called for widespread deployment of health information technology within 10 years in order to achieve substantial improvements in safety and efficiency in our healthcare system. As it stands today, the U.S. health care system is highly inefficient and still largely paper-based, with patient information scattered across the files of literally tens of thousands hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, doctor offices, and health maintenance organizations. As a result, physicians and other medical experts often have difficulty getting a quick and full picture of patient information.
Like the rest of the U.S., the US Virgin Islands have a long way to make the most of technology in the health care arena. According to the organizers of the Virgin Islands eHealth Initiative, an electronic health record system is currently in place connecting hospitals and clinics on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The hope is that a territory-wide Virgin Islands health care community that is fully connected through technology will serve patients better by enhancing safety, effectiveness, timeliness, efficiency, and access to care.
CONTACT: Ailis Aaron, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com
