Happy Case Management Week!

October 9-15, 2011 marks this year’s week-long celebration, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurse case managers make and educating the public about the significant work they perform.

Pathway Medical Staffing is celebrating Case Management week with a $50 gift card giveaway. All you have to do is tell us one thing that case management brings to the successful delivery of healthcare.

Take a minute to stop by and share your thoughts so that you’ll be entered to win.

As an added bonus, if you like us on Facebook you will double your chances of winning. When you share something on the Nursing Beyond the Bedside wall during Case Management Week, you will be entered in the $50 drawing again!

Here are just a few of the great entries we have already received from your fellow nurse case managers…

“We really get to follow the patient through their full course of hospitalization. We speak with all their doctors to get them in and out of the hospital on time, with all the special services they need. We also set up many outside services for them to help speed along their recovery as fast as can be.” – KBzezinski, RN, CCM (3 Years in Case Management)

“Case management brings a complete collaboration and coordination of team work with all health care professionals and paraprofessionals throughout the care management process. It eases the burden from patients and families navigating the health care system, while preventing repeated hospitalizations.” – Marilyn Samuels (+10 Years in Case Management)

“I believe Case Management brings “Personalization” to Healthcare. A great Case Manager is a patients personal coach and advocate to guide them in receiving the best quality healthcare available. Applying a personal touch within your case management duties shows the patient you care about their health and they are just not a number in the healthcare system.” - Jennifer Johnson (2 Years in Case Management)

Good luck to all of the nurse case managers that have already entered.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts to be entered to win.

Happy Case Management Week!

October 10-16, 2010 marks this year’s week-long celebration, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurse case managers make and educating the public about the significant work they perform.

Pathway Medical Staffing is celebrating Case Management week with a $50 gift card giveaway.  All you have to do is tell us what every successful case manager must know and you will be entered to win.

Take a minute to stop by and share your thoughts so that you’ll be entered to win.

Here are just a few of the great entries we have already received from your fellow nurse case managers… What Every Successful Case Manager Must Know:

“Listen with your heart and lead with your brain. You need to be a patient advocate and also work for the best interest of your company at the same time. This can be a difficult balancing act at times, but the rewards will be worth it.”

“Listening to the patient and truly hearing their individual needs during a health crisis or chronic health problem.”

“Always have a plan B.”

“What you do matters!”

“Always remember that the end goal of case management is to maintain the best optimal health, safety and well being of the client or patient.”

“Always be ready to expect the unexpected!”

“A good knowledge base, excellent communication and interpersonal skills.”

“Patient advocacy and fiscal responsibility are usually a tug of war, but a good Case Manager can find that delicate balance.”

“Every case manager should know that patients are the center of our purpose and if we keep that in mind, we will always make the right decision.”

Good luck to all of the nurse case managers that have already entered.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts to be entered to win.

Stories from Case Managers in Honor of Case Management Week…

I guess it started in the home care setting, when I worked in the  field as an infusion and home care nurse, moved on to a CHHA as a coordinator, and then moved to be a clinical manager and subsequently director of clinical services in a licensed and CHHA Agency.  

No matter what setting, home care is really case management with a different name. One focuses on assessing the patient and family needs, coordinating multiple services, and working collaboratively with clinical and insurance staff.   At my cancer care facility I came to Case Management when the program was restructured and started it’s Appeals and Denials program. Now, as the insurance Liaison Manager; I oversee the Patient Care advocacy program that advocates for patients who have complex needs that cannot be met within their local network; Manage the Inpatient Denials and Appeals program which maintains a reversal rate of 65-70%; and manage the administrative staff who are the liaisons with the insurance companies for the inpatient population.

Robin C –  RN, MPA
Insurance Liaison Manager

Stories from Case Managers in Honor of Case Management Week…

My name is Stacey I am a case manager, and have been in my position for approximately 10 months. I am new to case management and I have gained a wealth of case management knowledge. But I must say the most rewarding thing about my experiences is that I am able to maintain my compassion for being a RN and advocate for my patients. 

A most memorable moment as a case manager and a life lesson is one of a recent experience I had on my assigned unit. I had a patient with a specific managed insurance that normally, 98% of the time, denies and does not grant authorization for acute rehab. The patient was refferred to acute but did not meet the obvious criteria so I was told by the team that the patient should go to SAR because “her insurance won’t give authorization anyway.”

I met with the patient because the social worker stated the patient had some insurance concerns. I met with the patient and she really wanted to “bounce back” and receive acute rehab. She became very anxious when she was told that she would not get into acute rehab because of her insurance. I listened and heard her cry and went through her chart and found a qualifing factor: neurological defict that was a new onset event post op. I advocated and presented this to her insurance asked them to please consider this case.

That afternoon I received a call she was granted approval and authorization was given. I met with the patient again and informed her that she had been granted authorization for acute rehab and that she would be discharged there. She became tearful and gave me a big hug. She was thankful which made me feel like that bedside nurse I will always be in my heart. I learned that case managers play a significant part in the admission stay and discharge of patients. I learned that we are dependent on by many, number one: the patients. It was rewarding to put a smile on her face and play the role of patient advocate; as I feel a nurse should be.

Stacey