Case Management

RN Case Managers consider a broad range of influences when working with patients and families. Age, residence, culture, faith practice, social and behavioral factors, sexual orientation, gender identity, financial and medical conditions and access to community support and resources are all factors that influence patients’ ability to recover from illness and return to their communities. The case managers collaborate with patients, families and the entire health care team to achieve the best possible clinical outcomes and a discharge plan that’s designed to address patients’ needs as far into the future as possible.

What Do Case Managers Do?

Case Management at Cooley Dickinson Health CareOur Emergency Department Case Managers help patients and families in crisis find their way to the right level of care and often are able to find the “wraparound” services that allow patients to return directly and safely to their communities.

Our Medical-Surgical and ED Case Managers and our Complex Case Manager are compassionate, creative and determined detectives who coordinate the efforts of the entire care team in and out of the hospital. Case managers work closely with our Social Workers to advocate and plan for our community’s most vulnerable members. Social workers and case managers work together to navigate the legal and justice systems, regulatory agencies and multiple advocacy groups while addressing family dynamics, challenging living environments and patients’ shifting needs and priorities. All of these efforts are undertaken to maximize patient safety and to meet patient goals.

Our Utilization Review Specialists are RNs who follow each patient’s clinical course during their time with us. They provide timely clinical reviews to Medicare and other insurers which facilitate payment. They are expert communicators and strong patient advocates even though they might never meet their patients.

Our Chaplains provide support for patients and families at the most critical times in their lives through listening, presence and spiritual counseling.

Our Administrative Assistants help us stay focused and effective; they touch everything we do in some way and make our work possible, including scheduling SHINE appointments.

 

How Far Do We Reach?

We are all active contributors to hospital, health care network and community teams, including: