Hannah looks down the heart transplant unit hallway. She has worked here as a heart transplant case manager for the past five years. In her position, Hannah has the unique opportunity to follow her patients across the care continuum, both before and after the transplant.
Q: Healthcare in rural communities remains an issue. Hospitals in rural areas continue to close at an alarming rate, creating problems for many communities across the U.S. How can these communities respond, and what role can case managers play in this response?
Q: As case managers strive to best support patients recovering from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), what are some of the most important things to keep in mind?
Case managers have had to make many adjustments during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but one of the more challenging aspects has been adapting to new ways of communicating with other members of the care team, according to industry experts.
Q: What role should case managers play in terms of encouraging patients to receive the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine? What are some steps to take in this process?
Hospitalized novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients present unique challenges because their length of stay is often longer and more complex than the typical patient. Their course of illness can also be unpredictable, which makes planning difficult. When a patient is ready to leave the hospital, another set of challenges begins. Even a year into the pandemic, case managers still struggle to find postacute placements and anticipate and identify the needs of these patients.
Q: As of May 1, UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the United States, will be switching from using Milliman Care Guidelines (MCG) to InterQual. How will this affect organizations, and what can they do to smooth the transition?
