We are a nonprofit organization facilitating comprehensive health data sharing and utility tools to improve the health and wellbeing of all Alaskans.
03/19/2026
Health Information Exchange in action:
James’s story is a fictional example inspired by real situations experienced by patients and care teams across Alaska. It illustrates how Health Information Exchange supports continuity of care by notifying providers of patient encounters across different locations, helping them recognize patterns and coordinate follow-up care.
The story is fictional. The impact is real.
Learn more about healthEconnect Alaska’s Health Information Exchange network at healtheconnectak.org
03/05/2026
Team Spotlight: Mary Eckart
If you’ve run into us at conferences, stopped by our table, or attended one of our presentations or demos, chances are you’ve already met one of our engagement team members.
Mary Eckart, Clinical Engagement Specialist, has been part of the healthEconnect Alaska team since 2022.
Mary works with clinics and practices across Alaska to help them connect to the HIE, supporting organizations as they begin sharing and accessing health information to better serve their patients.
One of the things Mary enjoys most about her work is the opportunity to connect with healthcare professionals across the state. “I love getting to meet healthcare providers and staff across all specialties and backgrounds, and hearing about their unique challenges and data needs.”
She’s also passionate about the role healthEconnect plays in improving care across Alaska. “healthEconnect is here to improve the lives of Alaskans and make hardworking healthcare providers' jobs easier. It's a privilege to get to be a part of modernizing health care across our great state!”
Mary is a lifelong Alaskan, and her love for the state extends beyond the work she does in healthcare. “I love the mountains! I was born and raised here, and the scenery never gets old!”
To learn more about healthEconnect Alaska or to connect with our team, visit healthEconnectak.org.
02/26/2026
We’re looking forward to attending the Alaska Behavioral Health Association Spring Members’ and Affiliates’ Conference next week, March 3 to 4.
This gathering is always a meaningful opportunity to connect with partners across the state who are doing critical work in behavioral health. We are especially looking forward to the conversations. We want to hear about your experiences, challenges, and ideas, and explore how we can better support that work together.
Stop by our booth to connect with team members Mary Eckart, Clinical Engagement Specialist, and Chris Sturm, Healthcare Engagement Specialist. Learn more about healthEconnect Alaska's services, explore opportunities for joining the network, and pick up some fun swag!
We are also pleased to host a discussion-based session: “Asking Behavioral Health Providers: What are Your Data Sharing Concerns, Challenges and Success Stories.”
We hope you will join the conversation, and we hope to see you there!
02/19/2026
Health Information Exchange in action:
Alaina’s story is a fictional example inspired by real situations experienced by care teams across Alaska. It illustrates how Health Information Exchange supports access to timely patient information, reducing time spent tracking down records and supporting more coordinated care.
The story is fictional. The impact is real.
Learn more about healthEconnect Alaska’s Health Information Exchange network at healtheconnectak.org
02/05/2026
Many HIE Portal users don’t realize they can adjust their dashboard to better match how they work.
Our new video and PDF guide walk through how to use the My Patient Summary tool to customize your dashboard so the information you rely on most is easier to access, helping reduce extra clicks and streamline your workflow.
You can find additional guides and tools on our website: healthEconnectAK.org
01/29/2026
We’re kicking off our first Team Spotlight by introducing our newest team member, Chris Sturm, Healthcare Engagement Specialist, who has been with us for just over two months.
Chris works closely with our engagement team to onboard hospitals and medical practices with a strong focus on bringing Behavioral Health organizations and programs into the HIE. His role centers on building partnerships and awareness of HIE tools.
What’s stood out most so far is the team’s collaborative spirit. Chris adds, "I love the integrity that everyone shows about sharing health data - it's unquestionable that we are stewards.”
Before joining healthEconnect Alaska, Chris worked as a clinician supporting individuals with complex behaviors. That experience drives his excitement for this work. "One of the biggest challenges was getting additional relevant records of the clients. The amount of follow-up and the time to get records sometimes delayed delivery of the most needed service. I am extremely excited about helping bridge this gap for behavioral health providers."
He’s especially inspired by the HIE’s ability to close care gaps statewide. “If someone is injured on the Kenai and their records from Juneau are available, they’ll receive better and more comprehensive care.”
When he needs to reset, Chris turns to Alaska’s mountains. "They contain so much beauty and are one thing that makes this state great. They're also a reminder of our place in the world."
We’re glad to have you on the team, Chris!
To learn more about healthEconnect Alaska or to reach out to any of our team members, visit healthEconnectAK.org.
01/22/2026
It was a pleasure to participate in last week’s Rural Health Transformation Program Convening hosted by the Alaska Department of Health.
We appreciated the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with partners from across the state about advancing Alaska’s healthcare system. The convening emphasized keeping patients at the center of care, strengthening the workforce, and modernizing care delivery across communities, which aligns closely with our mission to support collaboration and better health information exchange.
We’re grateful to be part of these discussions and look forward to continuing our work with partners statewide to improve access, coordination, and outcomes for Alaskans.
Photo credit: Alaska Department of Health
01/15/2026
Health Information Exchange in action:
Wassillie’s story is a fictional example inspired by real situations experienced by patients and care teams across Alaska. It illustrates how Health Information Exchange supports quality care through informed clinical decisions and coordinated care.
The story is fictional. The impact is real.
Learn more about healthEconnect Alaska’s Health Information Exchange network at healtheconnectak.org
01/08/2026
Have you ever come across something new in the HIE Portal?
We publish release notes when updates are made to our Portal, from subtle visual changes to new functionality, so participants can understand what has changed or been improved.
Release notes, along with other helpful materials, are available in our online Resource Library. While we will continue to share direct communication and additional resources for larger updates, release notes are a useful way to stay informed about smaller changes you may notice along the way.
Happy holidays from all of us at healthEconnect Alaska. We wish our partners, participants, and community a safe and restful holiday season, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.
11/20/2025
We’re excited to share a new training resource designed to help network participants learn how to access and use the HIE Portal with confidence.
Our training video and step-by-step PDF guide walk you through:
🔹 How to launch the HIE Portal
🔹 How to look up patients
🔹 How to find key clinical information and patient history
Explore these tools and browse our full Resource Library to discover more videos and guides.
Did you know that healthEconnect Alaska offers an online Resource Library for our HIE network participants? You’ll find:
• How-to PDF guides
• Tutorial videos
• Release notes
• Provider and patient FAQs
Explore resources by topic or media type, and stay up to date on the latest improvements supporting connected care across Alaska. We’re continuing to add new resources regularly, so check back often!
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Established in 2009, healtheConnect Alaska began its mission as Alaska eHealth Network. Like many health information exchanges across the country, ambitious strategies were put in place to develop a robust, two-way exchange of complete patient records.
Big changes don’t happen overnight, technology doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to, and the healthcare market has been fraught with volatility. Alaska eHealth Network made some progress. And also came up against barriers and challenges.
Today
Alaska eHealth Network is healtheConnect Alaska. Like our predecessor, we have the same vision for meaningful healthcare sharing throughout Alaska. We have new leadership and staff members, new technology partners and infrastructure, and a new sustainability plan grounded in a customer-centric, value-rich, highly engaged approach to ensure the community’s voice is heard and their data sharing needs are met.
Fully connecting the Alaska healthcare community will take time and continued effort. Our commitment to offering meaningful health sharing services and forging healthcare alliances throughout Alaska and the patient community continues.
Health Information Exchange happens at the speed of trust.
