24/7 Nurseline

This benefit provides members with toll-free access to a Registered Nurse who can address your health care questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members just call the Nurseline number on the back of the Carolina Medicare Prime medical ID card any time, day or night. The hearing impaired will dial the same number to gain access.

As each of us becomes a better-informed health care consumer, we'll be empowered to make wiser decisions about our-and our families'-health and medical concerns. By using Nurseline, members will gain a better understanding of medical conditions and treatment options so they will be more likely to receive the appropriate type of care at the right time.

Carolina Care Plan Nurseline is our members' direct line to health care information. This comprehensive proactive service provides:

• Health and education counseling by Registered Nurses with an average of 19 years of clinical experience.
• Unlimited, toll-free access, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone number is conveniently located on the back of the member's Carolina Medicare Prime medical ID card. The hearing impaired will dial the same number to gain access.
• Direct, 24/7 access to a Health Audio Library that provides more than 400 pre-recorded messages on general health topics. Please see the enclosed flyer for a list of topics. Please be aware that the Audio Library is not a substitute for medical attention. If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or your local emergency medical services number. Click here to view a list of the Audio Library topics.

The Nurseline services are part of our continuing effort to provide you with access to quality health resources in order to help you make informed decisions about your family's health care.

Nurseline Questions & Answers

What Is Carolina Care Plan Nurseline?
Carolina Care Plan Nurseline gives you direct, toll-free telephone access to Registered Nurses (RNs) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By providing you with information and answers to your health related questions, the health line can help you make more informed decisions about your health care.

How can a Nurseline RN help me?
Experienced nurses can offer personal support and provide health information to help you understand your medical problem and self-care options. They can help you prepare questions to ask your doctor and decide when emergency room (ER), hospital, and diagnostic testing services should be obtained. They can also send you information on a variety of health topics. In short, by providing appropriate information, they can help you make more informed and wiser health care decisions.

When Should I Call Nurseline?
Except in cases of emergency, call Carolina Care Plan Nurseline before using any type of health service. If you are wondering if an illness or injury warrants a trip to the ER, have a question you forgot to ask your doctor during an office visit, or want to know more about a prescription medication, medical test, or symptoms of an allergic reaction-we can help. Even if you think you're "worrying about nothing," Nurseline RNs are here to help offer support and information.

If you know you have an urgent need for care, call your physician. If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or your local emergency services number. However, if you need assistance in determining the type of care you need, call Carolina Care Plan Nurseline for guidance.

What Happens When I Call?
When you call the Nurseline, first you will hear a recorded greeting and disclaimer. A Medical Service Representative will then answer your call and ask for your name and member identification number to locate your record.

The representative will ask whether you (or the person you're calling about) are currently experiencing symptoms and, if so, will ask you to describe what's happening. If your symptoms are urgent, the representative will transfer you to a nurse right away. If your symptoms are mild, or if you don't have any symptoms and are calling for health information only, the representative will have a Nurseline RN call you back-usually in less than 30 minutes.

If you are calling about symptoms you or your family member may be experiencing, the nurse will ask a series of questions designed to help you decide whether you should seek medical care. If you decide you don't need to see a doctor right away, the nurse will provide information about how to manage symptoms at home and what changes in your condition would require you to seek care.

If you are calling for general information-for example, if you have questions about a surgical procedure, medical condition, or medication-the nurse will provide educational information tailored to your needs.