GROUP SETS UP HEALTH INFORMATION HOTLINE

A group of 10 Cape Girardeau County organizations have joined to implement a health service information line. It's a good idea that should help both users and providers.

The hotline number is 573-332-0030. It will provide recorded information on hospitals, walk-in clinics, immunizations, physician referral services, family planning services, support groups, drug and alcohol treatment programs, sexual transmitted diseases, Medicaid and Medicare services and abuse and neglect. In turn, providers will be to track the type of services in which most callers are interested.

Members of the coalition who developed the hotline deserve a hearty pat on the back: county health department, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, area medical society, Community Caring Council, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Mentoring Partnership, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Southeast Missouri State University and Vision 2000.

The idea of the hotline is to break down the health-care barrier between service providers and customers. It's a great notion that should benefit health care consumers in this area.