Scheduling an appointment for a health screening event at Union Hospital can now be done using a new feature added to the hospital?s internet web site:  www.unionhospital.org.  Carey Gardner, director of development and community relations, says on-line registration is available for any community health event that requires registration or an appointment time.

?Many people use the hospital?s web site Events Calendar to check where they can have a cholesterol check or attend a physician?s presentation,? Gardner says.  ?Now you can register for our events and even schedule your appointment time through the hospital web site.?

Gardner says some health and wellness events like community health fairs or screening events at the area senior centers do not require advance appointments.  Other events like lipid panel testing, doctor?s presentations, and healthcare career events require advance registration or an appointment.

?On-line registration will help take some of the load off the phone lines for these events,? Gardner says.  Each on-line appointment is confirmed by a return e-mail to the sender.  ?We suggest they print that confirmation e-mail and keep it as a reminder of their appointment day, time, and place.?

Gardner says the first big test for the on-line registration process will be the annual Kiwanis Community Health Profile coming up on Saturday, Oct. 8 between 6 and 11 a.m.  The event usually attracts more than 800 people and they all need to make an appointment.  The on-line registration system is expected to take some of the load off the telephones.

?We?ve already started to take on-line appointments for the Kiwanis program.  It?s the featured event on the hospital web site home page or you can go to the Calendar of Events for October and make an appointment from there.?

Gardner says appointments for the Kiwanis blood profile event can also be made via telephone as they always have been.  ?Our phone banks will be open on September 27 and 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. both days.  The number to call is (330) 364-0950.?

Gardner says the on-line registration capability was programmed by the hospital web site designer Whitemyer Advertising in Zoar.

?On-line registration adds to the value and service the hospital?s web site offers, Gardner says.  In addition the web site offers an on-line health information library, physician directory, and information about hospital services and healthcare careers.