Holiday Travel Just Got Easier with TRICARE’s Nurse Advice Line
11/19/2014
The holidays are here TRICARE beneficiaries! As you go over the river and through the woods to visit friends and family, remember that you are more likely to get the common cold, flu or any other illness that comes with cold weather. Illnesses and ailments can happen anytime, anywhere, especially when traveling to and from our loved ones for the holidays.
You should always make sure to get all routine care before you travel. If you or a member of your family becomes ill at Christmas dinner, suffers a mishap while cooking that holiday meal, or just have a health concern while you are traveling, you can call the Military Health System’s new Nurse Advice Line (NAL) for advice and assistance.
When you call the NAL, the nurse on the line will ask you questions about the symptoms that you or your family member are experiencing. These questions were developed by physicians to help the NAL’s Registered Nurses (RNS) provide you with the best, most accurate advice on whether you need to seek care and when you should seek care. If you need medical care while you’re traveling, the NAL nurse will help you find a safe, high-quality health care facility in the TRICARE network. If you are a military hospital or clinic enrollee, the NAL will send a follow-up note to your primary care manager and medical team back home so they know how you are doing and if they need to submit an urgent care referral for you. Please remember, the patient who has the health problem needs to be present either on the phone or in the same room as the person calling on his or her behalf during the NAL call in order for the Registered Nurse to provide the best assessment.
The NAL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You and your family can safely travel this holiday with TRICARE and the NAL. For more information on accessing the NAL while on the go, visit the TRICARE website.