Case Management Question

[bshaw96]

Do you guys typically see the patients you case manage? I ask because I don't. I'm new to HH, though I did do Hospice. I case manage 50 patients. Which to me feels like a lot bc I only work part time, 3 days a week. The full time nurses only manage about 5 more. What is frustrating is that I am very organized and meticulous. I have about 50/50 between Medicare and Medicaid patients so the visits are doable. I average 6-7 a day. We are supposed to turn in our schedules for the next week by Thursday. Well, I put lots of thought into my schedule, making sure no certs have run out, labs are drawn on time, etc. Well, our manager always emails us our next days visit schedule the day before we are to see them. She tweeks them to her liking. Most of the time, 1/2 my visits are given to one of the PRN nurses or bumped to the weekend and I'm given entirely different patients I've never heard of. The worse part is the PRN nurse is not doing my LPN and HHA supervisories or any of that, so I'm getting dinged bc I'm listed as case manager. Or worse, the PRN nurse comes back and says the patients weren't home or whatever and they get bumped back to me on the next week's schedule, usually with expired certs. Thanks to that, I had 9 visits today, and 10 on Friday. I am not truly case managing my patients. My name is just attached to them. Is this pretty much the case everywhere? A nurse I work with says it has been everywhere she's worked. I understand helping out and we are short a nurse, but I'd truly rather routinely have 10 visits a day than to keep having my schedule changed minute to minute. Is that unrealistic? I've tried talking to the manager but she's new in her position coming from an OASIS position and is frazzled in her own way. Just didn't know if I needed to adjust my expectations of HH?

[ladyboyd]

Seems to me, that as a case manager, you should have more control over your schedule; giving away patients of your choice. why are yours being given away, and then you are expected to see someone else's patients? make no sense to me. I would talk to my manager asap!

I had a manager like that before and she drove me to quit. I went back to the company after she left! No problems like that now.

[vkunurse94]

It has been a couple of months since your question was posted, so I hope you haven't given up on home health altogether. If you are very organized and meticulous, the right home care company would love to have you. You would also probably LOVE your job.

I have worked in home care for 13 yrs. Started as field LPN, went to RN school a few years ago, and am currently the DON at one of our branches. We have hospice as well. I still see patients in the field for SOC's after regular hours when needed, or occasionally weekdays if my RN's schedules are full. I don't HAVE to do that, but do it to help ease their load. That is what teamwork should be all about. Plus, I get the opportunity to put a name with a chart! I miss the field, patients, flexibility, etc.

I have worked for the same company for 10 years. From the horror stories that come from some of our new employees, I have learned that the company you work for makes ALL the difference. I really hate to hear of people who are really excited about starting in home care, then get with a poorly ran organization. They usually quit with a really bad taste for home care and what it SHOULD be like.

For a part-time employee, you are "case managing" WAY too many patients. There is no way that you can do a good, thorough job. And yes, you absolutely should be seeing the people that you case manage. Also, if you are an organized person, This kind of environment would drive you insane....to say the least.

I would encourage you...if it is not too late....to ask around about agencies in your area with a good reputation. You may find a much more enjoyable experience and be able to say you LOVE your job.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!