A local weekly radio program seeks to provide valuable health information to listeners by letting them ask questions to medical experts.

The program, “To Your Health,” is hosted by Norris Broome and airs Friday mornings on Clanton’s WKLF AM 980 from 7:30 to 8:30.

The show was launched in December as a public relations venture between Chilton Medical Center and WKLF.

“We want to impress on the people of our area what a treasure we have in our community — the fact that we have extremely good doctors here, and other medical personnel,” Broome said. “We need to be using them.”

Many local doctors have agreed to appear as guests on the show, and listeners are invited to call in and ask them questions or call prior to the show and pose questions anonymously if they so wish.

One of the most dramatic shows featured Dr. Wayne Barefield, medical director of Chilton Medical Center’s emergency room.

“During his visit we had call after call from people thanking him for the work they do because they had had loved ones treated at the hospital,” Broome said.

For instance, one caller’s daughter was brought back from the brink of death. Another caller, a prominent citizen in the county, said his wife would not be alive today if not for the emergency room staff at CMC.

“We just have a lot to be thankful for, and oftentimes we’re not as appreciative as we need to be,” Broome said.

A primary goal of the program is to educate laypeople about new practices and trends in medicine and other forms of treatment. Broome even admits he has learned a lot just from hosting the show.

“I’m not a medical person, but I’ve learned a heck of a lot,” he said.

Broome noted several benefits of the community hospital, such as its close proximity to residents. Heart attack victims, for example, are often stabilized at CMC even if the hospital is not their ultimate destination.

Another benefit is the hospital’s financial contribution to the community.

“From a dollars and cents standpoint, the hospital infuses $9 million into the community each year,” he said.

The first guest of “To Your Health” was Chilton Medical Center CEO Larry Jeter. This Friday, Dr. Hari Ramasastry is scheduled to appear. Upcoming guests are scheduled as follows:

March 13: Angela Batchelor, head of CMC nursing staff

March 20: Dr. William Moore, gynecologist

March 27: Dr. Charles Brentnall, ear, nose and throat specialist

Listeners may call in questions to 755-0966. The show is also available on WKLF’s FM feed at 95.5.