Efforts to educate medical staff members on Medicare or other payer policies can be like herding cats. However, it is necessary to ensure compliance. The case management department cannot improve level of care decisions without cooperation from medical staff members.
We received more than 700 responses to the 2011 Case Management Monthly Salary Surveyfrom RN case managers (51%), case management directors (23%), case management managers/supervisors (16%), and social work (SW) case managers from all over the country.
Facilities that hold regular interdisciplinary care coordination rounds often say such meetings save time. However, the rounds can turn from time-savers to time-wasters if the matters discussed do not stay on topic or drag on.
Case managers and social workers have an active role in helping patients and families make end-of-life decisions such as using palliative care and hospice.
