Case Management Advisor articles from January 2002

Case Management Advisor archives from January 2002

New year heralds increased need for case managers in health care: look for emphasis on communication, disease management, technology.
January 1, 2002... The new year is likely to bring more changes in the health care environment, and some of the changes could affect the way case managers do their job. The good news is that case managers will be needed more than ever as the health care system...

What does the future hold for case managers? Experts make their predictions.
January 1, 2002... Case Management Advisor asked a panel of experts for their predictions of how the health care system will change in the next few years and what case managers need to do to stay in step. Here are some of their predictions: * Job...

Get on the tech bandwagon or be left behind: it's not just HIPAA, it's good business.(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
January 1, 2002... If you're a typical case manager, you likely spend more than 50% of your time pushing paper, 10% of your time faxing documents, 10% of your time on the telephone, and only 2% to 3% of your day with patients, says David Kibbe, MD, MBA. "It...

Seven ways to prepare for the future.
January 1, 2002... 1. Become more data-savvy. Learn to manipulate the data you have to identify patients who are likely to need complex care, suggests Liza Greenberg, RN, MPH, vice president of research and quality of URAC. 2. Familiarize yourself with...

Reform needed to save flagging health system: communication, accountability are the keys.
January 1, 2002... The health care system as we know it could experience significant difficulties over the next few months, says Brian Klepper, PhD, president of Healthcare Performance Inc. in Jacksonville, FL. He cites rising health care premiums and a flagging...

Seven principles to change the health care system.
January 1, 2002... During a discussion of the current health care crisis, a group of senior managers representing a cross-section of the health care profession in Florida developed seven principals to change our health care system. The group, assembled by Brian...

UR, proactive steps keep hospital days to a minimum: discharge planning starts upon admission.
January 1, 2002... By keeping close tabs on utilization and planning ahead, case managers at Harbor Medical Associates are keeping their days in the hospital for their Medicare Risk population to between 900 and 1,000 days per thousand members per month. ...

Physician practice CMs manage through continuum: team approach is key to success.(case managers)
January 1, 2002... When Hilja Bilodeau, RN, CCM, set up the case management department for Harbor Medical Associates five years ago, the Southeast Massachusetts-based physician practice was the first in its area to have internal case managers. "Physician...

Mediation could be key to return-to-work issues: work-related stress might be delaying recovery.
January 1, 2002... If you ask a patient who is out of work because of an illness or injury what caused his condition, he may just blame it on his boss or co-workers. This is a clue that work-related stress and the psychological issues it can cause may affect...

Comprehensive diabetes treatment could save lives: guidelines now lower for diabetics.
January 1, 2002... A partnership of government agencies and other organizations has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the mortality rates of people with diabetes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Diabetes...

CE questions.(continuing medical education)
January 1, 2002... 1. According to Brian Klepper, PhD, president of Healthcare Performance Inc. in Jacksonville, FL, what percentage of American hospitals are "already running in the red"? A. 10% B. 25% C. 40% D. 65% 2. Case managers at Harbor Medical...

Researchers look at generic vs. name-brand drugs. (Reports From the Field[TM]).
January 1, 2002... Insurers, employers, and providers should have a better understanding of prescription drugs before they decide whether a generic or a name brand is better, a group of University of Michigan researchers have concluded. Many physicians prescribe...

Free tool detects inappropriate hospital admissions. (Reports From the Field[TM]).(Prevention Quality Indicators)
January 1, 2002... prevention Quality Indicators, a free tool developed by the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), can be used to detect inappropriate hospital admissions for diabetes and 15 other illnesses that can be treated effectively...

Web site provides information on IPF. (Reports From the Field[TM].(Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis)(www.coalitionforpf.org)
January 1, 2002... The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) has launched a comprehensive Web site to educate health care providers, patients, and their families on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a little known but ultimately fatal lung disease. The web...

Calcium compound may prevent fractures. (Reports From the Field[TM]).(AdvaCal)
January 1, 2002... A new calcium compound has been shown to be effective in preventing osteoporosis-related fractures. The calcium compound, known as AdvaCal (calcium oxide/hydroxide), can prevent fractures in postmenopausal women according to research presented...