Unsure about seeking medical care during a pandemic? Talk to an expert nurse.

Navigating the healthcare system can be complicated during "normal" times. With COVID-19, this feels even more daunting for patients and families who may be unsure about where to go or who to see for their medical needs.

Good news: LCMC Health is here to help.

Our Nurse Hotline is a free phone service providing experienced nurses who can assist with a variety of questions, including:

• Initial COVID-19 screening and up-to-date information on testing locations and availability in the greater New Orleans area. You can also call the hotline to find out test results for tests performed at one of our locations.
• Ready-to-work screenings: Does your employer require a COVID-19 return-to-work clearance by a healthcare provider? Our nurses can facilitate an assessment and coordinate a virtual primary care visit to generate a return-to-work letter for your employer if appropriate.
• Addressing any health concerns a caller may have by providing clinical guidance and connecting them to appropriate care if needed
• Assistance with finding care within the LCMC Health system

Another important aspect of the hotline is the home monitoring program for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. These patients tested positive because they received care at an LCMC Health facility or were tested at an LCMC Health mobile testing site. The patients register through the LCMC Health Patient Portal and complete a daily symptom tracker online.

If any symptoms reported by a patient trigger an alert, a hotline nurse will contact the patient to discuss symptoms and connect the patient with a physician if necessary.

“Expanding the hotline to become LCMC Health’s virtual front door is the natural evolution of this service and will help meet the needs of our community during this unprecedented time,” said Dr. John Heaton, LCMC Health President of Clinical and System Operations.

“We believe offering a Nurse Hotline that encourages individuals to reach out to discuss any health care concerns they may have can make an immediate and lasting impact on the health of our population. We want to make it as easy as possible to create access to care that is both approachable and compassionate.”

The Nurse Hotline telephone number is 504.962.6202. Learn more about the Nurse Hotline here.