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Formation2001 (2008)
TypeGovernment-Funded
PurposeTo provide health information and advice to British Columbians
Region served
British Columbia, Canada
Official language
English with an additional option of 130 languages
Key people
Bob Bell, Chief Operating Officer
Parent organization
Ministry of Health Services
WebsiteHealthLinkBC.ca

HealthLinkBC is a government-funded telehealth service launched in 2001, which provides non-emergency health information to the residents of British Columbia, Canada through combined telephone, internet, and print resources.[1][2] HealthLinkBC has two dedicated phone numbers 8-1-1 and 7-1-1 for hearing impaired callers.[3]

Health service representatives assist callers with speaking to a registered nurse, dietitian or pharmacist about health related concerns or find health resources in their area.[4] HealthLinkBC operates within BC's Ministry of Health Services.

HealthLinkBC is also responsible for the Health and Seniors Information Line at 1-800-465-4911. This service offers information on both health and non-health related federal and provincial government programs and services for British Columbia seniors.

Translation services in 130 languages are available upon request.

History

The organization was launched in 2001 as the BC HealthGuide Program by BC's Ministry of Health Services. The program provides telephone triage and health information through integrated telephone, web and print resources. At its launch, it consisted of three main components: the BC HealthGuide, a medically-approved handbook delivered to all BC households; a toll-free telephone line, staffed by registered nurses 24/7/365 who provide confidential health information and triage services over the telephone and a website, called BC HealthGuide Online, which provided a knowledge base of health information and provided links to other credible consumer health information sources and web sites.

On November 21, 2008, the Executive Council of British Columbia launched a newly branded organization, HealthLinkBC, along with its 8-1-1 number.[5] This brought together all of the organization’s various services under a single brand and telephone number. These services include Nursing, Dietitian, Pharmacist and Navigation Services, "HealthLinkBC.ca" and "HealthLinkBC Files".

Scope of service

HealthLinkBC provides health information services to all regions of British Columbia via its website which contains BC-specific health information and a publicly available database of government-funded and not-for-profit health services and resources in British Columbia; its 8-1-1 telephone number; the BC HealthGuide, a printed handbook that contains information on common health topics, which is available in pharmacies and by mail; and the HealthLinkBC Files, a series of one-page health information sheets.

Public services

Health service representatives provide general health information, health resource referral information and transfer calls to HealthLinkBC’s professionals over the telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Registered nurses are available 24 hours a day to provide general and specific health information and advice including palliative care support over the telephone. Registered dietitians are available Monday to Thursday 8 am – 8 pm and Friday 8 am - 5 pm to assist callers with dietary and nutrition questions over the telephone. Licensed pharmacists are available every day between 5 pm – 9 am to provide confidential information and advice on prescription and over-the-counter medications over the telephone.

The 'Trans Fat Information Line' is a specialized service which provides food industry workers with education and coaching on food handling practices to restrict trans fat. (This service was developed in response to BC’s 2009 legislation restricting the use of trans fats in the province’s food service establishments)[6]

'BC HealthGuide' is a 400+ page printed medical handbook available free-of-charge to residents of British Columbia.[7] It provides information on common health topics such as how to recognize and cope with common health issues, illness prevention, home treatment and when to see a health professional. The BC HealthGuide is available in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi.

'HealthLinkBC Files' are a series of health information sheets with BC-specific information on common health topics. A number of HealthLinkBC Files have been translated into other languages including: French, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese and Persian. HealthLink BC also works with the Government of the Yukon to provide services to residents of the Yukon.[8] Yukon residents have access to HealthLinkBC.ca and 8-1-1 and have been provided with a Yukon version of the HealthGuide handbook in English and French.

Professional support services

'Community Healthcare and Resource Directory' (CHARD); provides a secure web-based directory of mental health and addictions resources in BC. This has been specifically developed for licensed general medical practitioners and their medical office assistants.[9]

'Call Transfer to 8-1-1’ provides access to 8-1-1 (using automated call transfer), and is offered to other BC health service delivery organizations who also use the phone to provide access to their service. Examples include: VCHA Newborn Hotline – after-hours, callers to the Hotline are automatically transferred to 8-1-1;[10] BC Ambulance Service – when a call to 9-1-1 does not warrant the dispatch of an ambulance, callers are automatically transferred to 8-1-1; and, FHA Primary Health Care Office – after-hours, callers are automatically transferred to 8-1-1.

‘Customized 8-1-1’ refers to identified callers or groups that are provided customized services by utilizing 8-1-1 resources. Examples include: FHA Hospice Palliative Care – after-hours, clients call 8-1-1 and receive a customised service that supplements their ongoing palliative care program; and, Yukon Territory – when a caller accesses 8-1-1 from the Yukon, they receive a customised service that reflects the resources and services available to their locale.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "HealthLink BC Home Page". Healthlinkbc.ca. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  2. ^ MacLeod, Donna (2009). "Healthlink BC: British Columbians Have Trusted Health Information at Their Fingertips". Journal of Consumer Health On the Internet. 13 (2): 173–179. doi:10.1080/15398280902897046. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
  3. ^ "Toll Free Health Information Lines". Health.gov.bc.ca. 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  4. ^ "-Quality Improvement of Literacy, Telecare and Self Help Collaborative" (PDF). BC HealthGuide Program Evaluation Final Report. 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
  5. ^ "Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport - 8-1-1 SERVICE MAKES ACCESSING HEALTH ADVICE EASIER". Gov.bc.ca. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  6. ^ "Restrict Trans Fat | BC Regulation for Food Service Establishments". Restricttransfat.ca. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2010-07-29. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Changing immigrants' attitudes towards intentions to use the BC HealthGuide Program: Culturally specific video messaging for health promotion" (PDF). Journal of Applied Research on Learning. 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  8. ^ "Yukon HealthGuide". Ykhealthguide.org. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  9. ^ "GPSC and HealthLink BC pilot mental health and addiction resource directory | BC Medical Journal". Bcmj.org. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  10. ^ "HealthLink BC : Find Services and Resources". Find.healthlinkbc.ca. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  11. ^ "Yukon HealthLine - 811 - Health and Social Services- Government of Yukon". Hss.gov.yk.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
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