Timely, healthy reminders for Alberta parents

Story by Tara Grindle

More Alberta parents are keeping up to date on important childhood milestones nowadays thanks to electronic health reminders.

This free email-subscription service — provided through Health Link Alberta — has already attracted the attention of more than 14,000 parents across the province.

“Health Link staff ask callers with young children if they would like to sign up for the service,” says Shaunne Letourneau, director of Health Link Alberta. “This generation is very plugged-in to technology and they often prefer to get information electronically. This program is helping to meet that need.”

By registering, parents receive regular emails based on their child’s age, highlighting important childhood milestones. Regular updates on growth and development and important health initiatives, such as immunization schedules, are sent directly to mom and dad’s inboxes.

With an infinite number of health websites available at the click of a mouse, it can also be a challenge for parents to find accurate online health information. As well as provide important reminders, the emails also direct families to reliable and relevant online health resources.

“This is such an important piece of the program,” says Letourneau. “We want parents to have consistent information that’s relevant to their child’s age and to the province of Alberta. This helps them cut through the clutter and get directly to information they can trust.”

The program, which began as a pilot project in Edmonton in 2008, was expanded provincewide in May, 2010.
If you would like to register for email reminders, please contact Health Link Alberta in Calgary (403-943-5465), Edmonton (780-408-5465), or in all other areas of the province toll-free (1-866-408-5465).

Operated through Alberta Health Services, Health Link Alberta is the province’s toll-free, 24-hour telephone nurse advice and health information service.