Case Management Advisor – December 1, 2006
December 1, 2006
View Issues
-
Heart failure patients present challenges for case managers
Patients with heart failure may be among the most challenging for case managers who are coordinating their care. Patients with heart failure must take multiple medications, eat a low-salt diet to keep their condition under control, and monitor their condition constantly. -
Calls after discharge cut readmissions, LOS
A telephonic case management program for heart failure patients who have been discharged from New Hanover Regional Medical Center has resulted in a 77% decrease in readmissions ... -
Program cuts CHF members' hospitalizations
Members with congestive heart failure experienced fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits and better medication compliance after they began participating in a comprehensive care management program offered by Health Alliance Plan (HAP). -
Solving home health financial challenges
When asked about financial issues that affect their agencies, many home health managers might talk about billing, rejected claims, or collection of past-due bills. -
New HIV testing guidelines meet with praise, criticism
Major revisions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for HIV screening are either a boon to the task of identifying the 250,000 Americans who carry the virus but don't know it or a blow to patient autonomy and privacy. -
ICU uses 'bundles' to make huge improvements
The ICU at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Desoto, MS, has reduced its rate of ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs) from 7.6% to 0.73%, has had only three in the last 24 months... -
Initiatives aim to enhance patient communications
A report offering guidelines to help health care organizations ensure effective, patient-centered communications with patients of diverse backgrounds has been released by the American Medical Association (AMA) Ethical Force Program. -
News Briefs
An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-funded study indicates that patients with heart failure whose care was directed by nurse managers could perform everyday activities better and had fewer hospitalizations than patients who self-managed their care.