| Name: |
Case
Management |
| Description: |
Coordinates
care for patients with catastrophic injuries and
chronic illnesses. Ensures that patients are
identified and receive the care and resources
needed to treat their illnesses or injuries in
the least restrictive setting at the most
appropriate time. |
| Diagnoses: |
Spinal
Cord Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cancer,
HIV/AIDS, Transplants, High-Risk Pregnancy and
Premature Infants, Diabetes, COPD, Asthma,
Behavioral Health Issues, Amputations,
End-of-Life Issues, Muscle and Skeleton Injuries,
and other high-cost injuries and chronic
conditions that effect children and adults. |
| Client
age group: |
Infants
through the elderly |
| Drawbacks: |
Case
management is a fragmented practice and is in the
refinement stages of development. Today, many
case managers work in areas with defined benefit
plans dictate treatment. The key to successful
case management is to recognize limits and to
draw from community resources when benefits are
not available. |
| Desirable
skills: |
Clinical
background to understand the medical as well as
the psychosocial issues that accompanies illness
and injuries. Oral and written communication
skills are essential to communicate effectively
with other healthcare professionals, patients,
and their families. Other skills that are needed
are the ability to problem-solve and to be
proficient in conflict resolution skills.
Computer skills, organizational skills, and the
ability to do research are also important to
effective case management. |
| Education: |
Degrees
in nursing and social work makeup the majority of
healthcare professionals in the practice of case
management. Physical, occupational, and
respiratory therapists also work in case
management in their areas of specialty. |
| Employers: |
Managed
Care Organizations; Provider settings, such as
Acute Care Hospitals, Acute, Subacute, and
Long-Term Care Rehabilitation Centers; Employer
settings; DME companies; and Physician's offices. |
| Certification: |
Once case
managers meet the eligibility criteria for
certification, they are encouraged to sit for a
national examination. The Commission for Case
Manager Certification is the most recognized case
management certification. This exam is a
multidisciplinary certification for those who
meet the eligibility criteria set by the
commission. The American Nurses Credentialing
Center also has developed a national case
management certification for those case managers
who are registered nurses. The National
Association of Social Work has developed their
own case management certification specifically
for Social Workers. |
| Associations: |
The Case Management
Society of America
8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 230
Little Rock, AR 72227-2448
501-225-2229 |
| Publications: |
The Case Manager is the official publication of the
Case Management Society of American. |
