What is the main purpose of case management in healthcare?
The primary goal of case management is to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care possible in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. Case management connects patients and their families to the resources and expertise they require for their care. Case managers advocate for patients and assist healthcare providers in understanding their needs. They work with doctors, patients, and their families to develop a strategy for achieving the best medical outcomes.
What is the steps in case management?
1. Screening
This is the first step in the case management process. As the name indicates, it involves determining the nature of the case and if it needs any case management systems expertise. In other words, it screens for authenticity or genuineness.
2. Assessment
After a case has been screened as genuinely needing expertise, a professional will assess it in greater depth. The purpose of this is to determine the extent of the problem so that an appropriate solution can be formulated.
3. Risk Evaluation
This step is critical for determining the level of risk involved in a specific risk. Knowing this allows case officers or managers to decide whether or not to prioritise it. Urgent cases must be addressed immediately, while less serious cases can be handled appropriately.
4. Planning
As the name implies, this step entails developing a strategy for dealing with a case and coordinating the activities of the patient and providers. It entails setting goals and developing a plan of action to achieve them.
5. Implementation
This step entails putting the plan into action and carrying out the tasks. Setting up appointments, doing the necessary legwork, meeting with providers, elaborating on the case, and so on are all part of it.
6. Follow-up
Following up entails evaluating the plan's implementation and the outcomes it produces. Case managers will typically gather relevant information in order to assess the effectiveness of their plan.
7. Evaluation of Outcomes
This is the final step. It entails reviewing the outcomes and gathering feedback on the entire case and how it was handled. It includes metrics such as time spent, health outcomes, cost, workflow efficiency, patient experience, and so on. This assists case managers in determining their performance and identifying areas for improvement.