The Nurse Line
from Better Health magazine, Fall, 2000
Have a Health
Question? Then Call The Nurse Line
Have you ever noticed that medical questions always
seem to arise after business hours - when there's
no one around to ask? That's precisely why Danville
Regional Health System is offering a new, 24-hour The
Nurse Line telephone line - designed to help you determine
your next steps when you have health questions.
According to Chris Hackler, B.S.N., Director of Women's
and Children's Services at Danville Regional Health
System, the service is free and easy to use - and offers
immediate benefits to the community. "The The Nurse
Line program is a computerized, symptom-based system
that our nurses use to determine protocols for various
health problems," said Ms. Hackler. "It is
not designed to give you a diagnosis. It is meant to
help you determine whether or not you should see a doctor
immediately, wait until the next day, or take measures
yourself at home."
When you dial the Health Referral Line at (434) 799-WELL
or 1-877-799-WELL, you will be given a voice prompt
to choose to speak to a health referral representative
or to talk to a nurse. "If you are looking for
information on a health topic, want to register for
a class, or need to find a physician, you should speak
to your health referral representative," said Ms.
Hackler. "But if you have questions regarding a
health problem, you may want to connect with The Nurse Line."
Calls are received seven days a week, 24 hours a day
by on-duty registered nurses at the Medical Center's
pediatrics unit. "The nurse will ask you what your
symptoms are, and based upon what you say, he or she
will ask more specific questions based on medical protocols.
The computer system helps us to recommend a course of
action."
The program is overseen by a medical directory who
ensure the program's effectiveness. Each nurse has received
extensive training on the system. "This is a wonderful
service to the community, and we want everyone to feel
free to utilize it," said Ms. Hackler. "There's
no problem too small for The Nurse Line, and it's free
to the public."
To talk to a nurse, seven days a week, 24 hours a day,
call The Nurse Line at (434) 799-WELL or toll-free at 1-877-799-WELL.
For comments about our Web site, or for questions regarding
the many services of Danville Regional Health System,
e-mail
us.
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