title: Acute stroke patients comparing outcomes with and without case management.
abstract: Stroke represents a major human and economic challenge to society. The literature suggests that interdisciplinary clinical pathways maximize stroke patient outcomes, whether care is delivered in a designated stroke unit or in a general medical service. In this article, the authors describe the case management model implemented at Columbus Regional Hospital, a 325-bed rural referral hospital in southeastern Indiana. A retrospective chart review compared 23 patients with non-hemorrhagic strokes using two different models of care delivery: unit-based nursing case management and standard nursing care. Differences in outcomes are reported in relation to interdisciplinary utilization, timeliness of referrals, patient education, discharge dispositions, home safety assessments, next-site-of-care communications, length of hospital stay, and patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis 46202-5107, USA. cbaker1@iupui.edu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitterding
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hajewski
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D019090:Case Management / Q000592:standards*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009737:Nursing Records; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies