Effectiveness of a case management program.
Legislation of a case management service provided an opportunity to conduct a natural experiment exploring questions about implementation and effectiveness of case management services. A sample of 21 case managed and 21 comparison clients was interviewed using a protocol adapted from the Quality of Life Questionnaire (Fixed Response Alternative version). Results indicate that case managed clients received more services and had fewer unmet service needs. Quality of life was greater for case managed clients, hospital utilization was reduced, and a possible relationship among services, quality of life, and hospital utilization was identified.
Bigelow
D A
DA
Ministry of Health Policy, Planning and Legislating Division, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Young
D J
DJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009922:Oregon; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment