At the REMSA call center they field everything from major accidents to aches and pains and bumps and bruises.
In the past, just about everyone would get a ride to the emergency room, but today if you have a non life-threatening ailment you may get patched through to the nurse hotline - where they will give you free health care advice. 24/7.
"Then at the end of the call we determine the level of care the patient needs, whether it be go the emergency room, if necessary send an ambulance, or go to urgent care, or stay home and talk to your physician the next day,” says Elaine Messerli, RN, 24 Hour Nurse Hotline.
REMSA received a $9.8 million federal grant two years ago to create the nurse hotline as well as specially-trained community health paramedics. They can better access the situation and determine if the patient needs transport to the er or a different facility, like less expensive urgent care saving you money.
"Almost a thousand people who go to the ER 12 times in a single year. That's $65 million in charges - many are uninsured, there's a real need for a program that will keep them out of the emergency department,” says Dr. Trudy Larson, Dir. Community Health Alliance UNR.
Since the program began back in 2012, REMSA says more than 1,800 emergency room transports have been avoided saving millions in health care dollars while providing better care.
And REMSA says the program is a success and will reduce patient health care costs locally by $10.5 million over 3 years while better serving those in need.
The average cost of an ambulance ride to the hospital is $1,500 compared to urgent care - that costs about $150.
The number for the REMSA nurse hotline is 775-858-1000. And again it's available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
