Addressing Healthcare Challenges in Fairbanks: A New Approach to Primary and Specialty Care

Remote Patient Monitoring with Troy Medical

Residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, face unique and persistent challenges when it comes to accessing both primary and specialty healthcare services. The region’s remote location, combined with harsh weather conditions and geographic isolation, makes recruiting and retaining in-person physicians especially difficult. As a result, many people experience long wait times, travel great distances for care, or sometimes go without necessary medical treatment altogether.

While it would be ideal for every resident to have ready access to both primary care and all specialty services without delay, the reality is far more complex. The scarcity of healthcare providers in Fairbanks is not simply a matter of local effort; it is deeply tied to broader logistical and environmental challenges. Harsh winters, limited infrastructure, and professional isolation deter many clinicians from relocating to this remote community.

Recognizing these challenges, Dr. Kara Hartl—a physician with deep ties to Fairbanks—refused to accept this status quo. Rather than waiting for conditions to change, she pioneered an innovative solution designed specifically for rural healthcare realities. Troy Medical, founded by Dr. Hartl, offers a hybrid care model that combines the expertise of virtual doctors with the invaluable support of local in-person medical assistants. This model is further enhanced by comprehensive care coordination to ensure patients receive seamless, timely, and high-quality care close to home.

This approach enables Fairbanks residents to access specialty consultations remotely while still benefiting from hands-on assistance and personalized support in their local clinics. The hybrid telehealth model mitigates the need for long-distance travel or enduring long appointment wait times, while still delivering excellent medical care.

While the goal of universal in-person primary and specialty care remains aspirational, Troy Medical’s innovative model provides a practical and effective alternative. It bridges the healthcare access gap in Fairbanks by offering patients a way to receive advanced medical care without sacrificing convenience or quality. For a community facing the realities of geography and climate, this new solution is a critical step toward better health outcomes and improved quality of life.