Case Management Advisor articles from April 2002

Case Management Advisor archives from April 2002

Care management program cuts costs, improves outcomes; patients report improvements in quality of life.
April 1, 2002... A few years ago, Catherine Beatty, RN, MSN, faced a frustrating problem common to case management -- coordinating care for just a few very sick patients was keeping her case managers tied up for days on end. "These were complex patients...

Complex care program chooses participants; screening identifies patients who will benefit most.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina members who participate in the Franklin Health Complex Care Program, administered by Upper Saddle River, NJ-based Franklin Health, are chosen carefully through a process that identifies patients who will...

Temporary case managers can ease workload; practice fill gaps, helps avoid staff burnout.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Do vacancies due to illness or vacation leave your case management staff with a caseload they simply can't handle? Are patients falling through the cracks because of seasonal fluctuations in your business, a shortage of qualified full-time...

Patient-centered complex care program: if a patient wants it, CMs try to get it.(care managers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... If patients in Franklin Health's Complex Care Management program want something, the care manager will make every effort to see that they get it -- whether it's covered by the insurance plan or not. "This is truly a patient-centered...

Choose your temporary staffing agency carefully; don't consider cost as the only factor.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... There are a lot of variations in the services that temporary staffing agencies offer. That is why you should shop around before finding an agency to fill your case management vacancies, says Brian LeCount, director of marketing for HPO...

Contracting for DM pays off for small insurer; plan saves on cancer treatment, heart attacks.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... When the management at CHA Health realized the need for disease management services for their population, they decided to contract with outside providers rather than establish the programs themselves. CHA Health chose to purchase disease...

UM companies focus on case management; CM fits `high-return' model.(care management)(utilization management)
April 1, 2002... There may be good news on the job market front for case managers, according to a new study by URAC, the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission based in Washington, DC. The survey of companies registered to provide utilization...

URAC standards broaden eligibility for accreditation; independent CM companies may apply.(case management)
April 1, 2002... If you're an independent case management company or a case management department within a large organization, you now will be able seek accreditation under URAC's revised Accreditation Standards for Case Management Organization. URAC, the...

CE questions.
April 1, 2002... 13. What is the typical caseload of case managers in the complex care management program offered by Franklin Health, based in Upper Saddle River, NJ? A. 10 to 15 B. 15 to 20 C. 20 to 25 D. 25 to 30 ...

Public opinion of health care based on many factors; report suggests reasons for changes in concerns.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Satisfaction about the health care system, services, and providers change frequently based on a number of forces, according to a report by Harris Interactive, a marketing research firm based in Rochester, NY. The report suggests that all...

Case Management Advisor 2002 reader survey.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... In an effort to learn more about the professionals who read Case Management Advisor, we are conducting this reader survey. The results will be used to enhance the content and format of CMA. Instructions: Mark the appropriate answers by...

Diabetics not aware of heart disease risk, study says. (Reports from the Field[TM]).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... A survey of people with diabetes showed that 68% are unaware they are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke and also are unaware of ways to reduce their risk for serious complications. Three-fourths of those surveyed reported...

Foot and ankle surgery relieves pain, arthritics say. (Reports from the Field[TM]).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Surgery to treat arthritis in the foot and ankle significantly relieves pain and helps patients increase their physical activity, according to a patient survey from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). About two-thirds...

Glaucoma treatment best for those at greatest risk. (Reports from the field[TM]).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... A new drug, Travatan Opthalmic Solution works well on all groups of patients with glaucoma but provides even greater effect for African-Americans who are hardest hit by the disease, a year-long study has concluded. The study, published in...

Young women at greater risk after bypass surgery. (Reports from the Field[TM]).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Women are at as much as a three times greater risk than men of dying during or shortly after coronary artery bypass surgery, researchers report. The report, in the Feb. 19, 2002, issue of Circulation: the Journal of the American Heart...

Vitamin E reduces hypertension in case of kidney failure. (Reports from the Field[TM]).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... High doses of vitamin E significantly reduced high blood pressure in rats with chronic kidney failure, a University of California at Irvine College of Medicine study has found. The study shows how vitamin E and other antioxidants may...