News Details

Windstream Offers Customized Solutions for Health Care Providers

April 28, 2010

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Windstream (Nasdaq:WIN), a recognized leader in providing customized communications solutions for advanced telehealth and telemedicine, is encouraging its rural health care provider customers to apply for reduced rates on communication and Internet services through the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program of the Universal Service Fund.

The RHC Program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), offers discounts on services such as high-speed Internet access and other advanced telecom services to eligible rural health care providers. The program was created to ensure that these providers pay no more than their urban counterparts for telecommunications solutions used to provision health care services. These discounts enable rural health care providers to save on current products, upgrade to more advanced solutions, or even install new and improved technology.

Today's health care industry faces a wide range of transformational challenges -- such as medical error reduction, efficient practice management, asset and resource tracking, patient privacy requirements, patient data storage, government regulation compliance, limited financial resources and professional development requirements -- all while maintaining and improving the quality of patient care.

"As an approved service provider for USAC programs with solid experience in delivering state-of-the-art communication services to the medical industry, Windstream can help rural health care providers navigate the challenges they face in today's changing medical world while continuing their quest for quality patient care," said Don Perkins, Windstream vice president of business marketing. "The possibilities and benefits are virtually endless."

With Windstream's customized solutions, hospitals, clinics and physicians in our rural areas are able to quickly collaborate and consult with resources in urban areas for more rapid patient diagnosis. Using Windstream's network products, they can access continuing education programs remotely, saving both time and money. By reducing expenses and travel time for patients and practitioners, decreasing medical errors and quickly sharing critical patient information, health care providers are able to focus on their ultimate goal of providing patient-centric, affordable care.

Windstream's variety of communications options for the healthcare industry includes options such as MPLS and Virtual Private Networking (VPN), which provide secure connections when transmitting confidential patient data, allow for real-time communication and collaboration, or even facilitate multimedia access for specialist consultations. Ethernet Internet allows physicians to download and upload large data files, up to 100 Mbps, with dedicated Internet access, and Windstream's Managed Security solution delivers comprehensive privacy protection against network-level and content-level threats, ensuring patient records are kept confidential.

Customers who are interested in the Rural Health Care program should go to www.windstream.com/business/enterprise/healthcare-industry.html for more information.

For more information about Windstream's advanced technology and data services, visit www.windstream.com/business.

About Windstream

Windstream Corp. (Nasdaq:WIN), headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., is an S&P 500 company with communications operations in 21 states and about $3.7 billion in annual revenues. Windstream provides phone, high-speed Internet and high-definition digital TV services. The company also offers a wide range of IP-based voice and data services and advanced phone systems and equipment to businesses and government agencies. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstream.com.

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CONTACT:  Windstream Corporation
          Media Contact:
          Alice Hartnett
          704-845-7381
          alice.hartnett@windstream.com