New Mexico Health Connections | my connection | Spring 2019

{ SPRING 2019 | FOR MEMBERS OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH CONNECTIONS } connecting you to better health & wellness Y ou’re feeling lousy, and you know you need medical care. But you’re not sure if your symptoms require urgent or emergency care. Some- times it’s difficult to determine what level of care you need on your own, especially when you’re injured or sick. Learn the difference between urgent care, emergency care and the New Mexico Health Connections (NMHC) Care Connect nurse advice line. When you should go to the emergency department The emergency department is meant to treat life-threatening situations—illnesses or injuries that could cause death, serious harm to your health or damage to your ability to function if not treated immediately. Examples include severe bleeding, spinal cord or back injuries, chest pain, broken bones, difficulty breathing, pregnancy concerns, or psychiatric issues. If you have an emergency, you should go to the nearest emergency room. When you should go to urgent care Urgent care centers are walk-in clinics that can handle a variety of medical problems that should be treated but are not life-threatening. While they cannot substitute for your primary care provider, urgent care is useful when you need treatment and can’t get in to see your doctor, and it usually costs less than an emergency room visit. When you should call the NMHC Care Connect Line If you’re unsure whether to seek emergency, urgent or routine care, call the NMHC Care Connect Line. Experienced registered nurses are here for you and your covered dependents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no charge. A Care Connect Line nurse will assess your medical situation and help you decide what level of care to seek. Call 844-308-2552 . Depending on your medical needs, a Care Connect Line nurse may connect you with a board-certified doctor for a telephone con- sultation via MDLIVE®, a national leader in telehealth. MDLIVE doctors are in the NMHC network and have a license to practice in New Mexico. Where to gowhen you just don’t know { H E L P I S AVA I L A B L E I N M A N Y L A N G UA G E S } Our Customer Service Center has Spanish- and Navajo- speaking representatives to assist callers. We also offer translation and interpretation services for more than 200 additional languages. If you would like to use these services, please call Customer Service at 855-769-6642 , Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.