Welcome to Foster County Medical Center Phone Nurse Services.

”Your direct link to your Health Care Provider”

Phone Nurse Direct Number:      (701)652-7223

Toll Free Number:                     (800)532-8623 – ask for the phone nurse office

The “Phone Nurse” is a service that provides a link to your Physician or Physician’s Assistant.  It is staffed by a clinic nurse Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM.

Why do I call the Phone Nurse?

x    To relay a message to my Physician or Physician’s Assistant

x    Obtain basic health or medical advice

x    Request a medication refill

What happens when I call for advice?

1.       The phone nurse will ask you some basic details.

2.     She will then ask question about your symptoms and other issues relating to your health.

3.     The phone nurse with may suggest ways you can care for yourself or she may need to review your symptoms with your Physician or Physician’s Assistant.

4.     After review with your Physician or Physician’s Assistant, the phone nurse will call you back with specific instructions from your Physician or Physician’s Assistant.

5.     All information is documented in your chart and kept confidential.

What happens if I call for a medication refill?

1.       It is advised to FIRST call your pharmacy.  Your pharmacist will fax a “medication renewal request” directly to our clinic. This helps ensure that we are ordering the correct medication and dose that you are currently on.

2.     After receiving the request, your chart is obtained and your Physician or Physician’s Assistant will review your chart and authorize refills if appropriate. 

3.     Once a refill is authorized the phone nurse will communicate the request with your pharmacist.

4.     Please note the following exceptions or delays:

§         Due to the high volume of requests, please allow 3 business days for a refill of a medication.

§         If your Physician or Physician’s Assistant is out of the office up to two business days, your request is not processed until he/she returns. 

§         If your Physician or Physician’s Assistant is out of the office for more than two business days, your request will be forwarded to the “on-call” provider for approval.

§         This process may be delayed if your request is not authorized or quantity is limited due to certain circumstances, such as:  additional lab required, recheck appointment is necessary, etc.  In these circumstances, the phone nurse will notify you, or you may receive the message from your pharmacist for further instructions.

What if I reach the answering service?

§         Only messages that do not require immediate attention should be left on the messaging system.

§         Closely listen to the message – every effort is made to staff the phone nurse office on a full time basis, but this is not always possible.

§         Often there is a high call volume, if the phone nurse is on with another patient; the phone system will transfer you to the voice mailbox.  You are encouraged to leave a message and you will receive a return phone call, as soon as possible.

DO NOT CALL THE PHONE NURSE IF:

x    You, or the party of concern, have chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding or injury, poison ingestion, seizure, loss of vision or any other life threatening problem, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.