HealthLinkBC
| Formation | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Type | BC Government-Funded |
| Purpose | To provide health information and advice to British Colombians |
Region served | Victoria, Langley and Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada |
Official language | English with an additional option of 130 languages translations upon request |
Key people | Bob Bell, Chief Operating Officer |
Parent organization | Emergency and Health Services Commission |
| Website | [1] |
HealthLink BC was launched as a cost-effective health information and advice service provider for the residents of British Columbia, Canada. HealthLink BC delivers 24/7 non-emergency health information services to residents of BC by phone (8-1-1), online (www.HealthLinkBC.ca) and via print resources (BC HealthGuide and HealthLinkBC Files) which assist residents in making better healthcare decisions.
ONLINE
www.HealthlinkBC.ca
HealthLinkBC.ca provides current, medically-approved information on more than 4,000 health topics and 4,500 services in its searchable online database. The database offers information about each topic and condition, advice on how to treat some situations at home and when to consider it an emergency.
Other features include:
• an easy-to-use online symptom checker;
• an integrated online search and mapping function which helps British Columbians find the health services they need, closest to where they live;
• ‘Health Alerts’ for current health topics;
• ‘Health Tools’ for healthy living such as a calorie calculator, quizzes and Decision Points to assist with making wise health decisions and Action Sets to help you learn and practice better ways to manage your health and the health of those in your care; and
• a reliable information on prescription and over-the-counter drugs in a comprehensive medication library.
BY PHONE
8-1-1
Navigation Services
All calls to 8-1-1 are answered by a specially trained Health Service Representative and, as appropriate, calls may be transferred to one of HealthLink BC’s registered nurses, dietitians or pharmacists for further information and advice.
This 24/7 telephone service also provides navigation and referral information to the BC public. When appropriate, health service representatives assist callers with locating the health services they need, closest to where they live. This service, with its mapping function to help locate further resources and facilities, is also available on the web at www.HealthLinkBC.ca In 2009, nearly 464,200 calls to 8-1-1 were answered by HealthLink BC’s Navigation Services. Of these calls, 82 per cent were transferred to a nurse, four per cent to a dietitian or pharmacist and less than one per cent required transfer to a resource outside HealthLink BC.
Nursing Services
(formerly known as BC NurseLine)
Registered Nurses are available via phone 24/7 to provide confidential health information and advice such as non-emergency health concerns, symptoms and procedures or recommend seeing a doctor or going to a hospital.
In 2009, HealthLink BC’s Nursing Services addressed 392,819 calls, an average of 1,076 calls per day. During the H1N1 influenza outbreak of the same year, the service received as many as 2,700 calls per day.
Pharmacist Services
Pharmacists are on call at 8-1-1 every night from 5:00pm to 9:00am, when community pharmacists may be unavailable, to help with medication-related concerns and provide confidential information and advice on prescription and over-the-counter medications.
During 2009, HealthLink BC’s Pharmacist Services answered 23,095 calls, an average of 63 calls per day.
Dietitian Services
(formerly Dial-A-Dietitian)
Licensed Registered Dietitians are available at 8-1-1 every weekday from 9:00am – 5:00pm to provide easy-to-use nutrition information, consultation about specific dietary concerns and support for self-care and healthy living.
In 2009, HealthLink BC’s Dietitian Services answered 19,062 calls, an average of 52 calls per day. Nursing, Pharmacist, Dietitian and Navigation Services are available in more than 130 languages upon request.
IN PRINT
BC HealthGuide
The BC HealthGuide is a 400+ page printed handbook which is available free-of-charge to residents of British Columbia. It provides information on more than 200 common health topics such as how to recognize and cope with common health concerns, prevent illness, home treatment and when to see a health professional.
The BC HealthGuide is available in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi. The BC HealthGuide and other HealthLink BC information materials can be ordered from HealthLink BC’s online Order Desk at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/mailform/bchealthguide_resource-request.jsp
HealthLinkBC Files
The HealthLinkBC Files is a series of more than 200 health information sheets with BC-specific information on common health topics. These can be downloaded from the HealthLink BC website. A number of HealthLinkBC Files have been translated into selected languages including English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese and Farsi.
In addition to public health services, HealthLink BC also offers a number of professional services to workers in the healthcare field. These include:
bcbedline
This is 24/7 bed management service that collaborates with physicians and healthcare providers to ensure safe, timely and cost-effective transfer of acute and critically ill patients to a higher level of care.
The Community Healthcare and Resource Directory (CHARD)
This service provides a secure web-based directory of mental health and addictions resources in BC for licensed general medical practitioners and their medical office assistants.
Trans Fat Information Line
This service was developed in response to BC’s 2009 legislation restricting the use of trans fats in the province’s food service establishments. The information line provides food industry workers with toll-free access to HealthLink BC’s Dietitian Services for education and coaching on food handling practices to restrict trans fat.
See also
- [9-1-1 call and dispatch centre for BC
- List of emergency organizations in British Columbia