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BC HEALTHGUIDE PROGRAM – KEY FACTS

Since April 1, 2001 to end of December 31, 2006:

• Almost 2.4 million BC HealthGuide handbooks have been distributed to households, health professionals, and health related agencies in BC.
• More than 59,000 BC First Nations Health handbooks were distributed to Aboriginal communities throughout BC.
• Close to 24,000 French handbooks (Guide-santé) are being distributed.
• Chinese and Punjabi handbooks will be available in Spring 2007.
• Over 70.8 million hits (page views) have been made to BC HealthGuide OnLine Web site.
• Since it started operating, the BC NurseLine has received over 1 million calls from British Columbians seeking health information and advice.

From April 1, 2001 to December 31, 2006:  

• Of the calls triaged by the BC NurseLine:
• 66,248 calls (5.35 percent) resulted in medical services being avoided as a result of the advice received from the BC NurseLine.  This includes 1,636 of all 911 calls, 31,056 of all ER calls, and 33,556 of all Medical Doctor related calls.
•  391,513 calls (31.60 percent) were triaged to an appropriate medical service.  This includes  2,230 of all 911 calls and  35,997 of all ER calls downgraded to a more clinically appropriate and less resource intensive level of health service, thereby enabling the delivery of a more appropriate and efficient level of care. The BC NurseLine nurses upgraded 15,335 ER calls to 911, 30,320 Medical Doctor related calls to a more urgent level of health service.  307,632 calls for information resulted in an upgrade to a medical service.  Early intervention in treating health problems prevents further deterioration of that ailment limiting the development of a more serious health condition.
• 507,243 calls (40.94 percent) provided British Columbians with medical information and/or advice preventing possible use of a medical service.  These included calls requesting information on home treatment, medication, public health alerts, conditions/diagnosis and general health.
•  208,041 calls (16.79 percent) resulted in confirmation that the appropriate medical service was being used.

On June 19, 2003, the pharmacist enhancement to the BC NurseLine was implemented. 

• Callers from BC can speak with a pharmacist about medication-related questions between
  5:00 pm and 9:00 am, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
  
  
• Since the implementation of the pharmacist advice line, over 37,358 medication-related calls were transferred from the BC NurseLine to the BC NurseLine Pharmacists.  During this time, over 3,626 calls were identified as being triggered by adverse drug reactions – more than 9 percent of all medication-related calls transferred from the BC NurseLine.

• BC NurseLine Pharmacists have submitted 781 Adverse Drug Reaction Reports to the BC Regional ADR Centre, which have been approved for submission to Health Canada to monitor adverse effects that are either unexpected, serious, or for newly marketed medications.

Awards:

• In June 2006 the Fraser Health Authority was awarded the national New Health Professionals Network - Celebration of Medicare Awards as the Hospice Palliative Care Tele-nursing Project, in partnership with the BC NurseLine. 
  
• In March 2004, the Pharmacist Service for the BC NurseLine (Network Healthcare) was recognized nationally and was selected to receive the 2004 Canadian Pharmacists Association Patient Care Achievement Award for Innovation.  This award recognizes outstanding innovation in pharmacy practice aimed at improving patient outcomes. 
• In September 2004, the BC HealthGuide Program was selected as a finalist for the Premier's Innovation and Excellence Awards, in the category of Innovation, for its work on enhancing the BC NurseLine service through the addition of the BC NurseLine Pharmacist Network. 
  
• In October 2003, the Pharmacist Service for BC NurseLine (Network Healthcare) was recognized provincially and was selected to receive the 2003 British Columbia Pharmacy Association's (BCPhA) Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award. The award salutes exemplary service by BCPhA members that enhances the entire profession and is recognized both inside and outside of pharmacy.

For more information, contact the BC HealthGuide Program.