• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

CMW Tip of the Week: Talk with patients to determine outcome goals

Case Management Weekly, October 22, 2008

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Case Management Weekly!

This week’s tip, an “Ask the Expert,” comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN.

Q: We social worker and nurse case managers have caseloads that are too big and we don’t know when to discharge patients from the practice. How long should patients be followed?

A: There is a point at which the best interventions either work or don’t work for a particular patient. That point should be preset and constantly discussed between the disease manager and the patient. Ask questions such as, “How will we both know when you feel like the master of your disability/disease/condition?” Making the outcomes (patient goals) measurable and writing them down at the beginning is the best way to keep them in focus. Patient goals should be evaluated regularly.

Have a tip you’d like to share? Or maybe a question for our experts? Email it to editor Julie McGinley at jmcginley@hcpro.com.Your thoughts could be featured in the next issue of Case Management Weekly!

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Case Management Weekly!

• Comment
• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive

Comments