About HealthLink BC
HealthLink BC delivers high quality telehealth services across the continuum of care to the public and health care providers that positively impacts the health care experience, health outcomes and the availability and use of health human resources in a way that will improve the affordability and sustainability of health care in British Columbia.
Some of British Columbia's most trusted and recognized health information services are consolidated in HealthLink BC.
We've brought together the existing and reliable services that British Columbians count on for health information — BC HealthGuide, BC HealthFiles, BC NurseLine and Pharmacist service, and Dial-A-Dietitian — and expanded these with an online and by-phone navigation service to help B.C. residents find the publicly funded health resources and facilities they require, closest to where they live.
Through HealthLink BC programs and services, you can get the information you need to manage your health concerns or those of your family.
By phone: 8-1-1
Speak to a nurse: Call 8-1-1 to ask a registered nurse your health questions, any hour of the day or night. Nurses are available 24/7 to help you with non-emergency health concerns, to discuss symptoms and procedures and recommend whether you should see a health professional.
Speak to a pharmacist: Call 8-1-1 to ask a pharmacist your medication questions. Pharmacists are available every night from 5pm to 9am when your community pharmacist may be unavailable.
Speak to a dietitian: Call 8-1-1 to ask a registered dietitian your nutrition related questions. Dietitians are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm for nutrition consultation and healthy eating advice.
Speak to a health service representative: Call 8-1-1 to speak to a health service representative who will help you find your way in the health system. The health navigation team at HealthLink BC can direct you to the services you need, closest to where you live. British Columbians can also find this service, with a mapping function to help you further locate resources and facilities, on the web at HealthLinkBC.ca.
Translation services are available for all of HealthLink BC’s phone services in over 130 languages on request. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance (TTY), call 7-1-1.
On the web: HealthLinkBC.ca
Visit HealthLinkBC.ca to check your symptoms, learn about health conditions and topics, and find health resources and services you need.
HealthLinkBC.ca has medically-approved information on over 4,000 health topics in our searchable database. You will find reliable information on medications and prescription drugs here too through our comprehensive medication library.
The integrated search and mapping function of our new Health Navigation Service helps you find the publicly funded health services you need, closest to where you live.
In print: BC HealthGuide and BC HealthFiles
We’ve written the book on how to recognize and cope with common health concerns. Preventing illness, home treatment and when to see a health professional – it’s all in the free BC HealthGuide Handbook, available in English, French, Chinese, and Punjabi. For more information visit HealthLinkBC.ca.
In addition to the book, we have over 200 BC HealthFiles — single page fact sheets on public health and safety topics, available on the website and at public health units. Some BC HealthFiles are available in French, Chinese, Punjabi, Farsi, Spanish, or Vietnamese. Visit HealthLinkBC.ca to view the full list of available BC HealthFiles.
The handbook and other resources are available free of charge only to British Columbia residents and organizations that help to distribute these in their community. For more information or to request printed materials, call 8-1-1 or visit the Printed Resources section of the HealthLink BC website.
bcbedline
HealthLink BC also provides services to healthcare providers.
bcbedline is a 24/7 operation that collaborates with physicians and healthcare providers to ensure an integrated systems approach is taken to provide the safe, timely and cost effective transfer of acute and critically ill patients to a higher level of care both within and outside of BC. bcbedline also provides a web-based provincial bed management system; a single source of bed status information designed to assist physicians with the timely transfer of patients. Visit www.bcbcbedline.ca for further information.
