2-1-1 Virginia Launches New Health Care Information Service

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today that the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP) has activated an information line available through 2-1-1 VIRGINIA for patients to locate a health professional for themselves, a child or an aging parent. 2-1-1 VIRGINIA is an easy-to-remember, toll-free phone number connecting people with free information on available community services.

"This pilot program between 2-1-1 VIRGINIA and our health professions regulatory agency provides valuable information to Virginia citizens, especially those who do not have convenient Internet access," Kaine said. "2-1-1 VIRGINIA already provides free and easy access to information and referrals on child care, energy assistance, financial assistance, senior services, and volunteer opportunities. Now we can provide licensing and other important information on almost 34,000 licensed doctors and more than 250,000 other health providers, increasing consumer awareness with information on health care quality and choices."

The line is open from 8:15 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week to provide:

• Status of a healthcare provider's license
• Actions taken on an individual's license by any of the 13 health regulatory boards
• Doctors' office hours and locations, languages spoken, hospital affiliation and more.

VDHP provides the regulatory environment for the delivery of safe and competent health care by licensing qualified health-care professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to both practitioners and consumers of health care services. All health professionals in the commonwealth are regulated by the Department through 13 Boards: Audiology and Speech Pathology, Counseling, Dentistry, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Long-Term Care Administrators, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine.

Kaine placed the first call to 2-1-1 VIRGINIA on February 10, 2006, when every region of the state with the exception of Northern Virginia launched the community resource. Northern Virginia plans to launch in 2007. Since that time, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA has received nearly 20,000 calls. In addition, the 2-1-1 VIRGINIA Web site has recorded 37,500 visits.