Case Mgmt patient caseload

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Our Census is very high and as Case Managers we are having to each have from 30-35 patients. We feel it is impossible to safely plan for discharging each patient. Many patient's charts go unopened due to our high census. 
Our Director and VP have told us that if we "don't touch a case, we are not responsible for that patient.”  We have asked that this be put in writing along with exactly what "don't touch" means and they refuse. 
Do any of you have prior experience with this and what was your outcome?  Ty❤️

Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

If this is discharge planning only, it's not case management no matter what they call you, because it doesn't meet the criterion of influencing the entire continuum of the hospital course of care. This is necessary to be certified in case management (CCM); discharge planning alone doesn't cut it. If you meet the criteria for CCM, take the exam; this will make you much more marketable elsewhere.  

Your hospital's state licensure requires that all pts have a documented plans for safe discharge. Who's doing that as part of the continuum of care, if not you? The staff nurses? Social work? Family?

This is not safe. If you can't get that directive in writing, speak confidentially to the hospital risk manager (there had better be one) and your union, if you have one, and ask for some backup. And start looking for better work. 

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