Debra Stein has been a registered nurse for the past 10 years. She left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in March and started a website called COVID-19 Health Experts in April. The site gives patients access to a team of registered nurses 24 hours a day to answer COVID-19 questions.
“I wanted to create a company that helps people at their homes so that they’re not in fear of going into the hospital at risk of getting the coronavirus,” Stein told the Journal.
Users can talk to nurses through an online instant messaging chat for $30, or a Zoom chat for $60. Stein said that a nurse would be available to each user in seconds, even during the middle of the night.
“[Users] can talk to [a nurse] about symptom management and what are the next steps and what are the best options they can take from here on out,” Stein said. A nurse can recommend that a patient go to the emergency room or to follow-up with a doctor depending on their symptoms.
“I wanted to create a company that helps people at their homes so that they’re not in fear of going into the hospital at risk of getting the coronavirus.” — Debra Stein
She added that people also can talk to a nurse if they’re just feeling anxious about the pandemic. “I feel like this could really help a lot of people calm their nerves,” Stein said.
She also hopes to provide users with the option to purchase COVID-19 test kits in the coming weeks. She said she plans to get those test kits from a private company.
“They are basically nasal swabs and you get it in the mail and then send it back to see your results in 1-2 days,” Stein said, adding, “I’m looking forward to helping patients. I’m not treating them, but it’s more like managing their symptoms.”
