Case Management as a Practice
I thought it would be useful to address what case management as a practice is prior to discussing case management applications and the theory and application of the BSEHM.
The following is the definition of case management as a practice by the National Association of Social Workers.
The practice of case management varies greatly across social work settings and is even more diverse as applied by other professionals. Despite this diversity, several elements distinguish social workcase management from other forms of case management.
Social work case management is a method of providing services whereby a professional social worker assesses the needs of the client and the client’s family, when appropriate, and arranges, coordinates, monitors., evaluates, and advocates for a package of multiple services to meet the specific client’s complex needs. A professional social worker is the primary provider of social workcase management. Distinct from other forms of case management, social work case management addresses both the individual client’s biopsychosocial status as well as the state of the social system in whichcase management operates. Social work case management is both micro and macro in nature: intervention occurs at both the client and system levels. It requires the social worker to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship with the client, which may include linking the client with systems that provide him or her with needed services, resources, and opportunities. Services provided under the rubric of social workcase management practice may be located in a single agency or may be spread across numerous agencies or organizations. [1]
The nursing profession puts it this way:[2]
The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses supports the following definition of case management: the process of planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring the services and resources needed to respond to an individual’s health care needs.
The Case Management Association of America puts it this way
The philosophy of case management is that all individuals, particularly those suffering from catastrophic and/or high-risk or costly injuries or illness, should be evaluated for case management services. The key philosophical components of case management address care that is holistic and client-centered, with mutual goals, allowing stewardship of resources for the client and the healthcare system. Through these efforts, case management focuses simultaneously on achieving health and maintaining wellness. When healthcare is appropriately and efficiently provided, all parties benefit. The provision of case management, working collaboratively with the physician and the healthcare team in these complex situations, will serve to identify care options which are acceptable to the client and family, thus increasing adherence to the treatment plan and successful outcomes.”
“Case management in these instances will also reduce the fragmentation of care which is too often experienced by clients who obtain healthcare services from multiple providers. Taken collectively, services offered by a professional case manager will enhance quality of life while reducing the total healthcare costs. Thus, effective case management can directly and positively affect the social, ethical, and financial health of the country and its population.”[3]
So case management practice then is really a method of providing care in a holistic manner., i.e, taking into account more than the presenting issue and working with a variety of support services to address wider and contributing issues. Case management practice then is a model for incorporating the BSEHM into a person’s care.
[1]http://www.naswdc.org/practice/standards/sw_case_mgmt.asp#def
[2]http://www.rehabnurse.org/profresources/casemgr.html
[3]The Case Management Society of America, The Standards of Practice for Case Management, revised 2002, published by CMSA, 8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 230, Little Rock, AR 72227.
The following is the definition of case management as a practice by the National Association of Social Workers.
The practice of case management varies greatly across social work settings and is even more diverse as applied by other professionals. Despite this diversity, several elements distinguish social workcase management from other forms of case management.
Social work case management is a method of providing services whereby a professional social worker assesses the needs of the client and the client’s family, when appropriate, and arranges, coordinates, monitors., evaluates, and advocates for a package of multiple services to meet the specific client’s complex needs. A professional social worker is the primary provider of social workcase management. Distinct from other forms of case management, social work case management addresses both the individual client’s biopsychosocial status as well as the state of the social system in whichcase management operates. Social work case management is both micro and macro in nature: intervention occurs at both the client and system levels. It requires the social worker to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship with the client, which may include linking the client with systems that provide him or her with needed services, resources, and opportunities. Services provided under the rubric of social workcase management practice may be located in a single agency or may be spread across numerous agencies or organizations. [1]
The nursing profession puts it this way:[2]
The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses supports the following definition of case management: the process of planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring the services and resources needed to respond to an individual’s health care needs.
The Case Management Association of America puts it this way
The philosophy of case management is that all individuals, particularly those suffering from catastrophic and/or high-risk or costly injuries or illness, should be evaluated for case management services. The key philosophical components of case management address care that is holistic and client-centered, with mutual goals, allowing stewardship of resources for the client and the healthcare system. Through these efforts, case management focuses simultaneously on achieving health and maintaining wellness. When healthcare is appropriately and efficiently provided, all parties benefit. The provision of case management, working collaboratively with the physician and the healthcare team in these complex situations, will serve to identify care options which are acceptable to the client and family, thus increasing adherence to the treatment plan and successful outcomes.”
“Case management in these instances will also reduce the fragmentation of care which is too often experienced by clients who obtain healthcare services from multiple providers. Taken collectively, services offered by a professional case manager will enhance quality of life while reducing the total healthcare costs. Thus, effective case management can directly and positively affect the social, ethical, and financial health of the country and its population.”[3]
So case management practice then is really a method of providing care in a holistic manner., i.e, taking into account more than the presenting issue and working with a variety of support services to address wider and contributing issues. Case management practice then is a model for incorporating the BSEHM into a person’s care.
[1]http://www.naswdc.org/practice/standards/sw_case_mgmt.asp#def
[2]http://www.rehabnurse.org/profresources/casemgr.html
[3]The Case Management Society of America, The Standards of Practice for Case Management, revised 2002, published by CMSA, 8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 230, Little Rock, AR 72227.
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