Access Expert Medical Advice From Your Phone With Nurse Now

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Going to the doctor’s office is almost never convenient, and if you’re feeling really sick, you probably just want to stay in bed. But what if you’re unsure whether your symptoms are serious enough to warrant a visit to your doctor, or maybe even the emergency room? Banner Health’s Nurse Now service can help you figure it out.

If you have a medical emergency, please call 911.

What Is Nurse Now?

Banner Health’s Nurse Now program is a free service that supports the regular care you receive from your primary care physician. Nurse Now provides health care advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply call 844-259-9494 to receive help with your immediate medical questions and much more.

What Does Nurse Now Do?

Nurse Now helps patients get the right kind of treatment for their specific health care situation. When you call the toll-free number, one of the experienced nurses will help you determine whether your symptoms are a sign of something serious and if you should seek urgent or emergency care. Banner Health Network’s Nurse Now service also gives patients advice for at-home care and can assist you in finding nearby Banner Health locations that offer the level of care you need.

Who Can Use Nurse Now?

Banner Health offers this service to communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. Call Nurse Now when you’re sick, injured or need other health care advice. Patients can also use Banner Health’s online symptom checker to learn what type of health care they may need.

Why Should You Use Nurse Now?

Nurse Now is a quick and easy tool that allows you to get the medical advice you need from the comfort of your own home. Banner Health’s team of nurses can connect you with valuable resources including:

• A Banner Health pharmacist
• The Banner Poison and Drug Information Center
• Banner Behavioral Health
• Banner Information and Referral Line (classes, education and event registration)

“There are a lot of considerations that go into the advice we give,” Jennifer Robinson, R.N., director of Banner Nurse Now, told azcentral.com. “When a caller tells us their symptoms and provides a bit of their medical history, we can evaluate the situation and determine, based on the time of day as well, whether urgent care or their doctor’s office is more appropriate. There are more than 30 registered nurses who all rely on their experience and clinical judgment to align a caller with the most appropriate level of care based on his or her individual needs.”

Robinson told azcentral.com that it’s important to remember that Nurse Now is not a substitute for calling 911. You should call your local emergency services if you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness severe enough to impair your mobility
• Chest pains
• Signs of a stroke (difficulty speaking, drooping face, sudden-onset weakness in a limb)
• Severe bleeding that will not stop

If your symptoms are less severe — a twisted ankle or stomach pains, for example — Nurse Now is here to help you every step of the way. Robinson suggests skipping any unofficial online diagnosis sites, since you could end up becoming unnecessarily distressed or confused. “Try to steer clear of the internet when you’re worried about symptoms,” she explained to azcentral.com. “There is just too much misinformation out there.”

Learn More About Banner Health’s Nurse Now Program Today

Sources:
Banner Health: Nurse Now
Banner Health: About Banner Health
Banner Health: Online Symptom Checker
azcentral.com: On-call help: Banner Nurse Now provides peace of mind