Hospital Case Management articles from June 2008

Hospital Case Management archives from June 2008

Observation or inpatient? Correct patient status more critical than ever.
June 1, 2008... Observation or inpatient? Correct patient status more critical than ever RAC program makes it even more important to get it right Deciding whether patients should be in observation or inpatient status always has been a challenge for...

Status management cuts observation patients, LOS.(length of stay)
June 1, 2008... Status management cuts observation patients, LOS Case management position created Faced with an increasing number of patients in observation status, Brandon (FL) Regional Hospital began an observation management process that resulted...

CMS proposes additional quality measures.
June 1, 2008... CMS proposes additional quality measures Rule to increase data collection burden on hospitals The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed significant expansion in hospital quality reporting requirements, including...

Critical Path Network: Busy ED keeps promise of 'door to doc' in 31 minutes.
June 1, 2008... Critical Path Network Busy ED keeps promise of 'door to doc' in 31 minutes Streamlined processes involve thinking outside the box Gilbert (AZ) Hospital has one of the busiest emergency departments in the area and an average ED...

Critical Path Network: Collaboration reduces LOS, improves outcomes.
June 1, 2008... Critical Path Network Collaboration reduces LOS, improves outcomes CMs have close relationship with receiving facilities Strategies that include developing close relationships with post-acute providers; meetings to explore options...

Ambulatory Care Quarterly: You can't assume headaches are benign.
June 1, 2008... You can't assume headaches are benign An elderly woman tells ED triage nurses she's had an excruciating, unrelenting headache for the past two days. She has a steady gait. She is alert and oriented without numbness, weakness, imbalance,...

If patients say this, suspect life-threatening headache.
June 1, 2008... If patients say this, suspect life-threatening headache Don't undertriage patients If you assume that patients complaining of headache are nontherapeutic medication seekers or chronic complainers, you risk undertriaging these patients,...

CNE objectives/questions.
June 1, 2008... CNE objectives After reading each issue of Hospital Case Management, the nurse will be able to do the following: *identify particular clinical, administrative, or regulatory issues related to the profession of case management; ...