It is National Case Management Week. EZHealthCare wants to acknowledge all the Case Managers in the various areas of care provision. We see and use Case Managers in virtually every aspect of the health care system. We see them in Acute Care Hospitals, Long term care facilities, home health services, physician offices as well as Rehab facilities. They can be found in clinics, managed care organizations (health insurance companies) and even on the internet. My entire web site and business is based on a community based case management model. In this sense, I can function as your case manager.
The Case Managers are the ones who act as a central point of care coordination along with your physician. In cases where your primary physician cannot or does not act as a central coordination the Case Manager can assist in this manner. The basis of Case Management is to “manage” the case/care…your case. This does not mean we provide hands-on-care for your illnesses…your doctor should do that. We can assist you in pulling the different pieces of the healthcare puzzle together. This helps eliminate gaps in care, duplication in care by more than one physician and to help you understand your conditions to better self-manage. This is usually a Case Manager’s goal with you…to assist you to become more independent with your care and that includes providing education and resources. There are times when you may need the services of a case manager for a prolonged or extended amount of time.
My services at EZHealthCare include that of Community Based Case Management. If you would like to know more about how I can help YOU, please contact me at alice@EZHealthCareOnline.com or check my web site: www.EZHealthCareOnline.com
Monday, October 6, 2008
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Isn't the case manager just there to insulate the hospital and physicians from demanding patients and relatives? What does one do when a case manager does not return your phone calls?
ReplyDeleteHi. Thanks for the comment. The true role of the Case Manager is not to insulate, but to be a patient advocate and liaison between all areas of one's services. If that role does not exist in an organization, it is so easy for people to get lost in the system. Even with this role you can get lost in the system, but it is less likely. By serving as a liaison, the case manager can identify gaps in care, potential miss-communication and discharge services.
ReplyDeleteIf a Case Manager does not return your calls you can go to the Supervisor or Director of that case manager and explain your situation. Most times this will get action. Many people do not take this step because they are concerned that the care giver might retaliate with the patient. Sadly, that may happen somewhere but I can say I have never known that it did happen. Please consider the possibility of taking the issue above the case manager's head. I welcome any other concerns or comments.