Health Link Alberta – the phone service that provices information to Albertans seeking health advice – turned 10 this year.
The first call to the service was received in September 2000, and since then, Health Link has had more than eight-million calls from Albertans. Registered nurses answer calls 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
"There are times when people aren’t sure if they should go to the emergency department," said Dr. Chris Eagle, acting President and CEO of Alberta Health Services. "Having Health Link available provides advice and helps callers make the right choice. This improves both quality of care and access."
The service was first launched in Edmonton with 40 employees, and opened a Calgary site in 2002. Today, Health Link employs about 380 people, and responds to one million calls a year.
To mark the decade anniversary, AHS is launching a public-education campaign to teach people about available heath service in the province, including Health Link. By showing the public what is availabe, AHS hopes to lift pressure off of emergency departments, while making sure Albertans receive the right care in the right place.
Alberta’s Five-Year Action Plan will expand Health Link services by March 2012 by utilizing new technologies, and increasing awareness of the service.
Health Link’s numbers are:
Edmonton – 780-408-5465
Calgary – 403-943-5465
Toll-free, for all other areas of the province – 1-866-408-5465
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