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Weathering the Winter Storms…Healthcare

Wherever you’re reading this from, chances are you have experienced an unusual winter. Much of the nation has already seen record cold and snowfalls. Other regions saw unprecedented rain, wind, floods, mudslides, tornadoes, etc. But the winter storms aside, we all should be bracing for much more brutal conditions ahead relating to our nation’s healthcare. And, guess what? Case management may well be at the very eye of a perfect storm.

Here’s what we can forecast right now.  Obama’s healthcare reform legislation is stalled somewhere between the two parties and the two bodies of the legislature. Healthcare costs are continuing to rise. Healthcare quality is continuing to decline. There are higher incidences of many diseases and healthcare conditions from diabetes and hypertension to obesity, and a growing, aging population suffering from various age-related conditions. Case management can help in all of these areas, but only if it is practiced properly and applied correctly.

Case managers, case management departments with healthcare providers and plans, as well as consumers, would all be wise to take refuge from the healthcare storm, not by hiding under an extra blanket, but by pulling up their bootstraps and getting involved in the healthcare debate. Case managers should be advocating for case management. They should be supporting the Case Management Society of America’s position to have the Case Management Model Act inserted into various state and federal legislation. In turn, this will help case management become recognized as a key component for improvements in quality of patient care and outcomes, disease management and related cost containment.

Case management department heads should be advocating for their voices to be heard in executive meetings discussing healthcare utilization and patient care improvement proposals. Consumers should be demanding higher standards of patient care, discharge planning and transition of care coordination from their healthcare providers.  Only then can we expect to weather the storm.

What are your ideas? How can we as case managers make a difference? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Catherine Mullahy
Posts: 2

Weathering Winter Storms
Reply #2 on : Mon February 28, 2011, 10:04:04

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Hi Leah...good for you and your case manager colleagues! You are absolutely right that we will all need to pull together now and in the future. I'm hoping that your facility recognized your value and contributions...and if not, that you will help to shine a spotlight on just how case management made a difference during this crisis, and of course in the many other ways that you make a difference. Continue the good work...making a difference, one patient at a time!!

As for the winter storms, I'm certain that this Spring will be a most welcome one...thankfully, just a few more weeks away!!

Leah Brown
Posts: 2

Weathering the Storm
Reply #1 on : Tue February 22, 2011, 11:48:41

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How very true! We just went through an ice storm here in Atlanta. Not used to having such weather, it was a disaster! Nothing moved! Patients had to be kept in the hospital because we could not get them transported home! Families had to be put up in empty rooms, which we soon ran out of fast! We had to admit/place in beds patients that we would not have normally kept. Case Management was present and in the thick of all of it. We slept in the hospital for a week, working on notifying families and preparing for the first sign of clearing roads. We worked round the clock, taking turns meeting the patient's (and staff's) needs. We saw this only as a practice run for the "real storm" that healthcare is facing in the next few years. I totally agree with the support of the Case Management Model Act and the need to support it all. Thanks, Cathy for keeping us in the loop!