CALGARY – Alberta Health Services has added a few new experts to its popular Health Link service.
The toll-free health advice phone line offers Albertans support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Now, users are able to talk to medication specialists and registered dietitians about their concerns.
These individuals can respond to questions beyond the scope of the registered nurses who routinely provide callers with health advice.
“Our registered nurses are very knowledgeable in those areas, but don’t really have that expertise for very complicated and detailed questions,” explains Yvonne Ewanicke, Health Link Alberta site manager in Edmonton. “So they can refer them to either a pharmacists or a dietitian regarding their individual needs.”
“We’ll transfer them live to that service between the hours of 1700 and 0900,” she added.
During off-hours, callers will be referred back to their own pharmacist or will be provided with an off-hours specialist.
Callers with complex nutrition questions and concerns will have the option of having a registered dietitian call them back to provide more specialized information and advice.
“Both medication management and nutrition can significantly impact our overall health,” says Lara Osterreicher, Director of Health Link Alberta Operations. “If we can give better access to information and advice in these areas, it will go a long way in improving the health of Albertans and building healthier communities.”
More than 950,000 Albertans called Health Link Alberta last year and more than 10 million calls have been received since the service launched in 2000.
It’s estimated about 350 Albertans avoid a trip to an emergency department every day, thanks to advice they received from Health Link Alberta.
To contact Health Link:
Calgary (403-943-5465)
Edmonton (780-408-5465)
All other areas of the province – toll-free number (1-866-408-5465)
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