As a valued subscriber to the wealth of resources published by Relias Media, we are sending this reminder that your new issue is now available online. The articles in this issue are listed below:
A patient-centered, collaborative case management tool can help hospital case managers anticipate patients’ needs and ensure an appropriate discharge and transition of care. Inadequate care coordination can lead to rehospitalizations and expensive care.
Patients with complex needs can stretch the resources of even the most experienced case manager. These tend to be patients who have been admitted via the ED, not elective admissions. They are ready for discharge, but various barriers can cause complications.
A hospital-based pulmonary maintenance exercise program can help patients with chronic lung conditions improve their exercise tolerance and regain some lung function, while reducing readmissions, according to the authors of a recent study. The potential cost savings are significant as well.
As baby boomers shift into their senior years, hospital EDs are seeing increasing numbers of older patients, a trend noted by a care coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic. These older, at-risk patients need case management services.
A hospital’s strange sounds, sights, and people can be overwhelming for a child with autism. But a case manager who watches for behavioral cues — and listens carefully to parents — can help that child cope more easily.
A program in the Chicago area is demonstrating the value of tailoring discharge plans to the particular needs of elderly patients with little support outside the hospital. These “solo seniors” often face complex medical challenges after discharge and can experience high rates of readmission without help from family and friends. With hospitals facing significant penalties from 30-day readmissions, the program could be a model for hospitals to emulate.
RN case managers and social workers are key advocates in the delivery of quality healthcare. Their broad skills and training allow them to assess patients’ needs and work well with families and other members of the healthcare team. Negotiating, collaborating, communicating, team-building, precepting, educating, and consulting are the basis of what a successful case manager brings to the care setting each day. This month will begin a discussion of the skill sets every case manager and social worker should possess to be as effective in the role as possible.
Financial Disclosure: Author Melinda Young, Author Jeanie Davis, Editor Jill Drachenberg, Editor Jonathan Springston, Editorial Group Manager Leslie Coplin, and Nurse Planner Toni Cesta, PhD, RN, FAAN, report no consultant, stockholder, speaker’s bureau, research, or other financial relationships with companies having ties to this field of study.
