Considering communication is at the heart of what all case managers do, case management leaders should think about making solving the problem of language and cultural barriers a top priority.
The case manager must examine every component of the discharge process for opportunities for improvement; one aspect that deserves increased investigation is the handoff of the patient from the hospital to another care provider.
When executing an interstate transfer, case managers must account for different Medicaid programs and payers, high transportation costs, and unfamiliar physicians—not to mention the challenge of finding an accepting facility.
At this juncture in the evolution of case management services, we have reached the tipping point of hospitals acknowledging that they should have some evaluation of each patient’s level-of-care needs at the front door.
Instead of paying for hospital and physician services separately, the ACE demonstration program bundles payments for specific cardiac and orthopedic procedures into one lump sum to encourage collaboration.
The daily flash rounds meeting at Greenville Hospital System is a quick, informal meeting that allows various departments to share patient information and encourage teamwork.
