title: Nursing case management in the NICU: enhanced coordination for discharge planning.
abstract: A primary goal of health care today is finding alternative ways to provide high-quality, cost-effective care. A model of care that addresses these issues is nursing case management. This article describes the development and implementation of nursing case management in a Level III regional center with the primary goal of enhancing coordination for discharge planning. The model involves development of clinical pathways and utilization of nurse practitioners as case managers. Decreased length of stay, charge per case, and readmission rates are demonstrated following implementation of this program.
authors.affiliation: Mission St. Joseph's Health System in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. ForsytTJ@CHKD.com
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Maney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raviotta
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Burts
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Litzenberger
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009657:North Carolina; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge