Health Line Provides Families A Link To
Health Care Information

3-17-98
University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's University Health Services is offering an electronic news service for families of students at the University Park campus.

Updates on preventive health programs, vaccination clinics and general health-related information will be e-mailed several times each semester to families who subscribe. The service, the result of a continuous quality improvement survey administered fall of 1996. The survey asked students where they obtained information when faced with health-related concerns. More than 70 percent of the respondents indicated that they contact family members for advice.

"We realize that families are very interested in being informed about health care issues at Penn State," says Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services. "Electronic communication is an effective means of getting important information out promptly. We hope this new service will help families answer questions from their children -- and answer their own questions."

Currently, Ritenour provides information through an extensive Web site, which includes a "Quick Tips Advice Line." Students submit general health questions electronically and receive confidential responses to their e-mail address. An electronic prescription refill service is also available through the site. For more information, or a subscribtion to the news service, send your name and e-mail address to 216 Ritenour Bldg., University Park, PA 16802; or complete the subscription form on the web at http://www.psu.edu/UHS

**pmk**

Contact: Pamela Meier Koons (814) 865-6555 (office) pmm7@psu.edu