Northwest connects to Alaska.

• Author: Brelsford, Harry
• Position: Pacific Northwest

To conduct business successfully in Alaska, Pacific Northwest companies rely on high-tech connections. Here's a look at some of these innovative firms and the technology they use to forge ahead in the Last Frontier.

The Pacific Northwest is famous for technology leadership. After all, Intel, the world's largest microprocessor manufacturer, has its largest facility in Portland, Ore. Microsoft, the world's largest software company, is in Redmond, Wash. Micron, a fast-growing memory chip maker, is in Boise, Idaho. So you would expect Pacific Northwest companies to use the latest technology to conduct business.

And that is exactly what is happening. Alaska branch offices and clients connect directly to Northwest firms using electronic mail, leased lines and the Internet. Here are profiles of several cutting-edge Pacific Northwest firms leading the way in Alaska-bound digital communications.

Destination Surgery

"'Destination Surgery' is a verb," comments Dr. Bruce Rolfe of Washington Orthopedics Sports Medicine in Kirkland, Wash. "It is something people do. We enjoy an active patient communications in southeast Alaska that commutes to our facilities for treatment. The key to our success is outpatient treatment. That is, minimizing the stay."

In part, this is accomplished by using the latest technology-based solutions to communicate and coordinate with patients. For example, the office receives e-mail at washortho@aol.com from an injured patient in Sitka. Using "Now-Up To Date" group scheduling software, the patient is scheduled for state-of-the-art treatment.

Other technology tools employed by Rolfe include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging, a tool that provides three-dimensional views of an injury), on-line research services and, in the near future, a toll-free telephone number for convenience.

Preston Gates & Ellis

With family ties to Microsoft Corp. chairman William Gates III, it is not surprising that this Seattle-based law firm is using Microsoft Windows NT Server to drive its networking efforts. The firm is strong on the workstation side, too.

"We have a one-to-one ratio of worker to computer," says Leslie Meagley, director of client development and strategic planning. "We consider ourselves to be technically advanced."

Preston Gates & Ellis' internal database development efforts are a source of pride. "Our client database, known as CIS, is enterprise-wide and has strong keyword search capabilities," says Meagley.

The Seattle law office...