Case Managers
A Case Manager is a professional, usually a social worker or nurse, who serves as a point of contact for individuals with disabilities and family members. This person coordinates the process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual’s health needs. Case managers consult with key service providers to ensure that the health care plan is developed appropriately and monitored for effective service based on specified and desired outcomes. Case managers are expected to maintain quality in service provision for individual clients and the wider target population.Responsibilities and Duties include:
- Assessing the physical, functional, social, psychological, environmental, and financial needs of patients.
- Identifying a cost-effective comprehensive plan to meet the families’ service needs and implement the plan.
- Providing referrals to appropriate community resources. *Facilitating access and communication when multiple services are involved.
- Monitoring activities to ensure that services are being delivered and meeting the needs of the patients.
- Assessing the patient’s formal and informal support system.
- Monitoring the patient’s progress toward goal achievement and reassessing changes in health status.
- Monitoring the care plan to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of services; ensuring that services are being delivered and meets the needs of the patient.
- Acting as patient advocate; identifying and developing new community resources; assisting with problem solving.
A case manager usually has a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in nursing.
References:
http://www.cmsa.org.au/definition.html
http://www.cchd.org/employment/job_class/Nurse%20Case%20Manager.pdf
http://www.ccmcertification.org/pages/136body.html