GETTING THE NUMBER ON HEALTH LINE

The Health Line number, (573) 332-0030, which lets the public access a multitude of health information, needs to get into more hands, Health Line committee members said. And they plan to advertise more heavily.

The Healthier Community Coalition for Chart, which organized in October 1995, kicked off the Health Line number in April.

The group had previously identified areas in health care in which the community needs to improve. More access to health care information was one of the targeted issues. Other items included transportation to medical care, teen pregnancy, and the education of the public on wellness.

CHART member Charlotte Craig said the number is a response to the needs of the community.

"There is a need to increase access to medical care in the community," she said. "It is a major barrier to the health of the community if people do not know where to go to get it (health care)."

Craig said Health Line is another attempt to increase the overall health of residents in the community.

Those who call the number can access the health care topics of hospitals, walk-in clinics, immunizations, physician referrals, family planning services, support groups, drug and alcohol treatment, sexually transmitted diseases, Medicaid-Medicare services and abuse or neglect.

After selecting a topic, the caller can connect the health care agencies desired.

Members of the coalition plan to make the public more aware of the number by extending the avenues of its advertisement.

The number is advertised on business cards, magnets, billboards, newspaper, television, flyers and posters. Areas of distribution have included the school system, hospitals, clinics, churches, businesses and organizations. The committee plans to increase their distribution of the number to Southeast Missouri State University and the public through more flyers and speaking engagements.