Helping patients with diabetes manage their care and avoid preventable readmissions is challenging under normal circumstances, but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casey is on her way to the closest emergency department (ED). She is ill and has felt this way for the past nine days. Her symptoms resemble those associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created challenges for case management departments. They must balance protecting the health of case management staff while maximizing productivity. In this new environment, departments are closely examining the role of the utilization review (UR) case manager.
Patients who leave the hospital against medical advice are more likely than other patients to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, adding up to a sizable and costly problem, according to a study published June 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.
Health disparities have received plenty of attention lately, and for good reason. These differences, which exist among various groups in the United States, can affect everything from readmission rates to health outcomes and are often the result of environmental, social, and economic factors.
Irene, an expert medical case manager, is worried about her mother, Sadie, who is 87 years old with severe cardiovascular disease and mild-to-moderate dementia. Sadie lives in an assisted living facility. Clearly, she belongs to the group identified as being the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant effect on both health systems and patients. As we continue to understand its clinical, psychosocial, and economic consequences, especially the magnitude of the financial losses to hospitals, the development of new and innovative ways to connect with and support patients is a silver lining.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for everyone, but medical professionals who are working directly with sick patients—and in turn putting themselves and potentially their families at risk—face unique levels of trauma.
