Chicago Department of Public Health Encourages Participation in Illinois Helps Program.

Contact:

Alexandra Harkness, MCH, 312-906-6143

312-259-7511 (c)

Efrat Stein, City of Chicago

312-747-9805

Volunteers Wanted for Statewide Emergency Response System

New PSA targets health care professionals and general public.

January 13, 2012—The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) today released a new public service announcement to raise awareness about Illinois Helps, a statewide database that registers volunteers to respond to major disasters and public health emergencies in the state.

MCHC, IDPH and CDPH are encouraging both medical and non-medical volunteers to register with Illinois Helps. More than 3,700 Illinoisans are already registered with the system and may be called upon to respond to any number of emergency situations including blizzards, disease outbreaks like H1N1 and bioterrorism attacks. Illinois Helps also allows hospitals to verify the licenses and credentials of professional health care volunteers who come to their facilities to care for the influx of patients experienced during emergencies.

Click here to view the PSA.

Click here to register with Illinois Helps.

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The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council is a membership and service association comprising more than 150 hospitals and health care organizations working together, since 1935, to improve the delivery of health care services in the greater metropolitan Chicago area. More information is available on the MCHC website at www.mchc.org.

The mission of the Chicago Department of Public Health is to make Chicago a safe and healthier place by working with community partners to promote health, prevent disease, reduce environmental hazards and ensure access to health care for all Chicagoans. Connect with us on Twitter @ChiPublicHealth and on FB at www.facebook.com/ChicagoPublicHealth