Case Managers???

i think the RN in the field needs to be the case manager, the office can back up for resources but the best info is from the nurse seeing the patient..doesn't really answer your question does it

hi cookie,

thanks for the reply. I'm new to home health and I'm having a hard time adjusting. I've worked mostly in hospitals and the problem I'm finding is when you call a physician regarding the patient or for an order I'm generally left communicating with a Medical assistant or office manager. In the hospital we don't accept orders from medical assistants or office managers. The physicians generally don't have a nurse in their office. It's just very frustrating.... and if you happen to luck out and speak to a physician it's generally hours after you left the home and your driving down the interstate. If there was a case manager for the patient than maybe I could communicate to her/him what I'm wanting for the pt. and she could communicate this to the MD. I just think this would be easier instead of me receiving a return call while I'm driving down the highway or in someone elses home.

cynthia

I'm in NY, so I guess I can't help either. But the company I work for utilizes both in-office and field case managers as resource persons. The RNs do not perform the case managing side of things. However there are other major companies that do have their RNs do EVERYTHING!!!

Thanks Lady T.

cynthia

if your communication can wait until you get back to the office try faxing the info to the MD (if you don't need and immediate ans), i have done this and it works quite well with the MD responding on the fax also saves the time of having to write the order.

Thanks Cookie.....I'm new to homehealth so any advice is greatly appreciated. I'll try more faxing.

Cynthia

I have worked with both scenarios. I like being the field nurse and the case manager. That way, I know everything going on with the patient and in some cases, the family. I just don't think that someone in the office, who has never seen the patient, can get a good handle on what they need. I also use faxes. I think that it's alot easier than trying to take an order while driving. I almost had an accident once doing that. So I started the fax thing. They will still call me occasionally, but at least there's an option. Pam

Thank you Pam for the response.

Cynthia

You are quite welcome! hope it helped. Pam

hi case mangers,

Just wanted to know what is the difference between case managemnet that is practiced in the hospital and a long term facility/skilled Nursing facility?

dee

hi case mangers,

Just wanted to know what is the difference between case managemnet that is practiced in the hospital and a long term facility/skilled Nursing facility?

dee

Dunno, but you might find the answer in the general forum. Case management in home health is different.

OP, if there is a VNA chapter in your area, check them out. Their case managers do spend time in the field but they also have field nurses who have daily assignments and report to a case manager. This is one of the reasons I didn't go with VNA, but went to a smaller, privately owned agency. I didn't like the idea of not knowing everything about my pts.