Case Management Advisor 2003-09-01

Patient-centered focus improves case management outcomes

When the case managers at HealthPartners work with patients who are at risk for clinical complications, they focus on helping their clients meet personal goals, not those of the health care organization.

Readiness to change key to meeting CM goals

Nurses in HealthPartners' outpatient case management program go through extensive training to help them assess a patient's readiness to change.

Face-to-face CM is key to HIV-AIDS program

When a member of Worcester, MA-based Fallon Community Health Plan is newly diagnosed with HIV-AIDS, the first person he or she is likely to see is Rita Wesolowski, RN, BSN, ACRN, the HIV-AIDS on-site care manager.

Pharmacy QI initiative ties in with DM

As an adjunct to its disease management programs, ConnectiCare, a regional HMO based in Farmington, CT, has launched a pharmacy quality improvement program to promote the use of medications that are nationally acceptable treatment standards and to identify and prevent potential drug safety adverse events.

Program zeros in on critical times for noncompliance

There are two critical times when patients newly diagnosed with depression are likely to stop taking their medicine the early weeks of treatment and after three months when they start to feel better, says Laura Schneider, LSCW, CEAP, manager of assistance programs and the Taking Charge of Depression Program for PacifiCare Behavioral Health.

DM program started with focus groups

Before Health Plan Alliance started HeartSmart Sisters, a cardiovascular disease management program, the health plan held focus groups to determine what interventions would be most effective with its targeted group, African-American women.

Termination of services: Reaching the end of your rope

Most of us have been there dealing with the patient who refuses to comply with our treatment plan, who is uncooperative and generally unpleasant.

Reports From the Field: CDC recommends smallpox vaccine for monkeypox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance advising states that hospital workers and others caring for patients infected with the monkeypox virus and close contacts of people or animals confirmed to have the virus should receive a smallpox vaccination to protect against the possibility of contracting the illness.

Reports From the Field: OSHA proposing revised respiratory standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published two proposed rules in the Federal Register to enhance worker protections from respiratory hazards on the job.

Reports From the Field: CMS- 3.3% rise in home health payment rates for FY 2004

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 3.3% increase in Medicare payment rates to home health agencies for fiscal year 2004.

Reports From the Field: No quick end to nursing shortage, new report says

Although health care organizations are using innovative strategies to recruit and retain nurses and federal, state, and local government agencies are providing financial support to help alleviate shortages, the national nursing shortage will continue to be one of the greatest challenges to the health care industry for many years, according to a report issued by Fitch Ratings, an international credit rating agency based in New York City.

Case Management Advisor – September 1, 2003

September 1, 2003