Preparing health care organizations for successful case management programs.
This article reports the results of a study of four hospital-based providers in varying stages of implementing case management programs. Three of the providers had most of the necessary elements in place to ensure success, such as a mix of reimbursement sources, an effective and integrated information management system, a full range of clinical services, and continuous quality improvement programs. The authors make several suggestions for key activities that must be pursued by any health care organization seeking to implement a case management program in an era of managed care, tightening reimbursement, and consumer demand for quality care. These include the need to (a) organize essential case management functions under a centralized structure; (b) set realistic, quantifiable targets, and (c) design a communications plan for the program.
Bonvissuto
C A
CA
Marketing Department, Chi Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
Kastens
J M
JM
Atwell
S R
SR
D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003142:Communication; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D016730:Program Development; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms