Wondering if you should call Ochsner On Call? If you have health concerns or need advice and want to save time, the answer is yes. Many primary care doctors recommend you call the nurse care advice line before scheduling an appointment. Doing so allows a nurse to assess you in the comfort of your home, help you decide the best course of action for your care needs and provide you with the resources to get that care.

Some of the most common reasons people call Ochsner On Call include:

• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

• Viral symptoms, such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, body aches, chills or weakness

• Questions or concerns about symptoms your new baby is having

• Joint or limb pain

• Medication questions

• Minor chest pain

• Pediatric fever

• Pre-operative and postoperative symptoms or questions

• Sinus symptoms (runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, facial pressure, etc.)

When you call Ochsner On Call, you may be connected with a nurse immediately, placed on a brief hold or receive a call back.

When you’re connected with an Ochsner On Call nurse, your call starts with a nurse confirming your identity. You will then be asked a series of yes or no questions that allow the nurse to understand the severity of your symptoms, your medical history and any other important factors to be considered. Based on the information discussed, the nurse will suggest standardized and evidence-based care recommendations to have your needs addressed.

These steps may include one or more of the following:

• Enrolling in programs that make it easier to maintain good health (our nurses even help you enroll, if appropriate)

• Waiting for symptoms to improve, with the nurse calling you back to reassess symptoms and provide next steps for care

• Taking over-the-counter medications and other home treatment

• Seeking urgent care for minor illnesses, and emergency services for limb- or life-threatening situations

• Visiting a doctor (our nurses can schedule appointments for you with Ochsner doctor while you are on the phone)

• Scheduling a virtual visit through MyOchsner and using Ochsner Connected Anywhere for urgent care from home (when appropriate)

After your call, our nurses keep your doctor in the loop. Information about your call is securely provided to doctors through our electronic medical records system so they can provide the best care for you in the future and understand what took place during the call and provide any needed follow-up care.

Ochsner On Call nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who come from various backgrounds of nursing experience and specialties. These nurses have received specialized training to translate this experience to assist you by phone. Additionally, each nurse holds a multistate nursing license that allows them to serve patients in any of the 30+ states in the United States that participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact.

To ensure you get your questions answered in a timely fashion, Ochsner On Call nurses don’t split time with hospitalized patients. They focus 100% on the nurse care advice line.

Ochsner On Call is a free care advice line available wherever you happen to be. Simply call 1-800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155. A caring nurse will answer and provide you, in real time, with resources and guidance to meet your healthcare needs.

Year after year, thousands of people turn to Ochsner On Call for advice on care options and more. Outside organizations also recognize the success of the program. The most notable recognition comes from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission.

Today, Ochsner On Call is one of fewer than 25 Health Call Centers with Utilization Review Accreditation Commission accreditation. Earning and maintaining this accreditation requires strict standards, consistent quality and friendly care in a timely manner. Nurses and all call center staff are held to the highest standards to ensure that they provide exemplary customer service, efficient and safe care guidance and information, and attainable sources for care needs.

Our goal is to be a quick call away any time you have questions about your symptoms. We want to ensure that you get the right care in the right place at the right time so you can get back to enjoying your life.