GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES 2-1-1 VIRGINIA CITIZEN ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON HEALTH SERVICES
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor
Timothy M. Kaine FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor November 13, 2006
Contact: Kevin Hall Sandra Whitley Ryals/VDHP
Phone: (804) 225-4260 (804) 662-9919
Cell Phone: (804) 393-9406 (804) 263-1345
Internet:
GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES 2-1-1 VIRGINIA CITIZEN ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON HEALTH SERVICES
~ Patient-to-provider connection through the Va. Dept. of Health Professions ~
RICHMOND – Governor 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,” Governor 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:
List of 3 items
• 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.
list end
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 & Speech Pathology, Counseling, Dentistry, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Long-Term Care
Administrators, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine.
Governor 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,