The measurement of a case manager's workload burden.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this activity was to develop an appropriate scale to accurately assess the level of clinical load carried by each case manager at the Royal Brisbane Hospital Integrated Mental Health Service.


METHODS
A survey of, and consultation with, case managers over a period of 15 months was used to gather data and modify the monitoring tool for future use in the service.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the data gathered revealed the level of case managers' work load burden and the depth of need required by clients. Professionally the Clinical Load Monitoring scores have been used in the allocation of additional cases for case management and in the supervision by discipline seniors. Service management has used the Clinical Load Monitoring Scale by dividing individual caseloads into low, medium and heavy service users - with low service users being further investigated for discharge from the service. Heavy service users were assessed for entry into more intensive treatment areas.
Meldrum
L
L
Division of Mental Health Services, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland. Lenore.Meldrum@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Yellowlees
P
P
D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D019090:Case Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*