As the largest private-practice radiology group in the state, Alaska Radiology Associates (ARA) is at the forefront of delivering critical imaging, interventional radiology, and teleradiology services. With an experienced team of eighteen board-certified radiologists—trained at top radiology residency programs—ARA combines expertise with compassion to deliver hiqh-quality, timely services to hospitals and medical providers in urban and rural Alaska. “We have a heart for working closely with leading healthcare providers to diagnose and treat patients in a professional, accessible, and compassionate manner,” says ARA Chief Administrative Officer Ward Hinger.

Founded in 1969, ARA excels at leveraging cutting-edge technology, including radiology-related artificial intelligence (AI). In 2023, ARA employed AI tools that can serve as critical skill multipliers for physicians, allowing improvements in patient care and clinical outcomes while reducing overall healthcare costs. Additionally, ARA is proud to hold the management and services agreements for Imaging Associates (IA), which is also the conduit for ARA’s professional teleradiology-related services. “IA has built a technological platform that is reliable, redundant, and tailored to meet the unique needs of our Alaskan customers,” Hinger says.

The collaboration between ARA and IA—aptly known as “Connect49”— thrives thanks to a strategic alliance with GCI. In 2014, Connect49 partnered with GCI to build and deliver a fully redundant, highly reliable teleradiology platform and unified radiology workflow. Today, these subspecialized teleradiology services are making a profound difference in the quality, timeliness, and cost of care for rural Alaskans.

Hinger attributes much of this success to GCI, Alaska’s largest, most advanced network, and its dependable, high-speed broadband internet service. ARA can swiftly transmit high-resolution, digital images across the state, ensuring the right subspecialized radiologists receive the right images—regardless of their location. “This is particularly important for the seven emergency departments ARA supports 24/7,” Hinger says. “It would be impossible for ARA to provide the level of often lifesaving services we are currently providing Alaskans if it weren’t for our amazing partnership with GCI.”