8 OCTOBER 2023A friend of mine, Dr. Colleen Morley, current president of the Case Management Society of America, is often heard saying that case management is "the best kept secret in healthcare." Case managers serve a critical role in the healthcare continuum. They serve as a support for achieving patient wellness and autonomy through advocacy, communication, education, identification of service resources and service facilitation. Case managers help identify appropriate providers and facilities throughout the continuum of services, while ensuring that available resources are being used in a timely and cost-effective manner to obtain optimum value for both the patient and the reimbursement source.Case managers typically start their careers as healthcare providers, either in nursing or social work. However, other healthcare disciplines are drawn to the field of case management and are welcome additions to the profession.Effective case management begins with a thorough assessment to determine the patient's anticipated needs at discharge, community support, family support, insurance considerations and social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH essentially refers to social and environmental conditions that affect a wide range of health functioning and quality of life.At every level of care, from emergency departments to intensive care units to acute care to post-acute settings and even in physician offices and insurance companies, case IN MY OPINIONThe Best Kept Secret in HealthcareBy Mark Evans, Director of case management, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Toledo
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