title: Examining End-of-Life Case Management: Systematic Review.
abstract: Case management was initiated in the 1970s to reduce care discontinuity. A literature review focused on end-of-life (EOL) case management identified 17 research articles, with content analysis revealing two themes: (a) seeking to determine or establish the value of EOL case management and (b) identifying ways to improve EOL case management. The evidence, although limited, suggests that EOL case management is helpful to dying individuals and their families. Research is needed to more clearly illustrate its usefulness or outcomes and the extent of need for it and actual availability. Among other benefits, EOL case management may help reduce hospital utilization, a major concern with the high cost of hospital-based care and the increased desire for home-based EOL care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1.
authors.forename: Roger E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 1C9.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 1C9.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8643-3821
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Woytowich