Help with CCM capstone ideas

[neri1981]

Hi everyone,

I am a relatively new telephonic case manager for worker's comp and I'm 3 months into the position so I'm still learning a ton. I'm working towards my BSN and it's that wonderful capstone project time. The project assignment is to identify a measurable, patient outcomes-centered, quality improvement practice problem in our practice setting and to propose an evidence-based plan to address the problem. Being so new to this field, it is hard to identify a lot of possible topics and it is hard to do a literature search with no focus and nothing to help narrow the search. My initial thought is that the patients/injured workers/claimants need more timely care and waiting for adjuster authorization can at times delay much needed treatment. I was wondering if any of the more experienced worker's comp case managers out there could help provide some topic ideas? I'm not looking for help writing this paper, just some ideas on what you feel are possible patient-centered quality improvement practice problems that you've identified in your time on the job. Just looking for some help with a research direction! I'd appreciate any ideas! Thanks!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

What is wrong with the topic you have chosen? I like it because it is relevant. Also, as one who performs research for PI projects, it is highly possible that no matter what topic you choose, there may not be a lot of EBP research on the topic. With that said, you can still complete a project without a lot of established research.

By the way, I am not currently a worker's comp CM, but work with them as a manager and have another position as a CM. Thus, I have an idea. Another approach that is relevant within your place of work would be to work with someone at your employment who can run the numbers on a particular type of claim and current length of stay on modified duty or being out of work and find EBP techniques to improve the amount of time for a claimant to return-to-work. Good luck!