If you’re feeling drained and uninspired at work lately, you’re not alone. A survey published in the June 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine found that burnout among doctors costs the U.S. healthcare system some $4.6 billion each year due to turnover and reduced clinical hours.
Case managers typically provide support to adult patients in the hospital, focusing on their medical and social needs and easing their transition to the next level of care. But often, these patients aren’t the only ones who need support—they sometimes also have children or grandchildren who are struggling.
Medicare audits by quality improvement organizations and contractors have become a routine responsibility for directors of case management. Here are some practical and best-practice tips for successful audit outcomes
Hospitals are doing a better job at protecting patients from safety problems leading to deaths from accidents, infections, injuries, and medical errors, but there is still much room for improvement, according to the most recent Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade report.
Improving care quality for patients experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness is a challenge for many organizations. Some hospitals have decided that providing housing to those in need can not only help needy patients but also significantly reduce healthcare costs.
Social factors such as homelessness can lead to higher healthcare costs, more frequent readmissions, and longer lengths of stay for affected patients. But for the first time, hospitals may be able to recoup some of those expenses.
A case manager suspects that an 89-year-old patient, who is a frequent user of inpatient services, might be a victim of elder abuse due to falls that cannot be medically explained.
