Introduction to Case Management

This article discusses the importance of collaboration, integrative case management, advocacy and ethical consideration in case management. It emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary team and patient-centered approach to provide the best care to patients. The article also provides a case study of a 77-year-old patient diagnosed with G.I bleed and indeterminate pulmonary nodules to illustrate the application of these concepts.

INTRODUCTION TO CASE MANAGEMENT
Introduction to case management
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1INTRODUCTION TO CASE MANAGEMENT
Collaboration:
The members of the multidisciplinary team are physician, nurses, physiotherapists,
pharmacist, personal support worker, family members, relatives, and society people.
I will collaborate with the concerning physician, to get update on the current health status
and lab diagnosis. He will be consulted for prescribed medication and action plan to reduce the
p[progress of disease. I will collaborate with nurse to ensure that the HGB levels are regularly
monitored and the patient’s risk of fall is assessed. Further collaboration with the physiotherapist
is necessary to assist patient with mobilization needs and strengthening of the body movements
through exercises to help with activities of daily living (Brown et al., 2016). To help the family
and the patient financially, collaboration with social worker is necessary. The family members
and relatives may be involved to give enhanced emotional support to the client. They will be
provided with the knowledge of medication side effects and need of assisting the patient with on
time medication to prevent nausea and vomiting. Family members will be encouraged to provide
supportive and calm environment (Meguid et al., 2016).
I will update the all team members, about the patient by collecting feedback from the
patient and their family. Using the information, I will discuss directly with the nurses and the
physician to modify the care goals if needed and changes in medication. Further using the social
media app based system I can keep all the members regularly updated about the patient needs
and disease status, side effects of medication and input/output (Rolls et al., 2016).
Further nutritionist may be consulted for the client to have the proper diet. It may include
Iron rich diet to help reduce GI bleeding. Te fluid may be educated to have well balanced diet

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and maintain the fluid recommendations. It will help get relieve from the urinary incontinency
(Heffernan-Swingle et al., 2016).
Integrative case management:
Integrative case management is the process by which different range of health services is
effectively combined and integrated to provide the best and seamless service delivery to patient.
It is also client-centered process or system that fulfills all the unique needs of client with the
support of multi-professional team members (Vourlekis, 2017). Based on the review of the case
study of P.W, a 77 year old patient diagnosed with G.I bleed and indeterminate pulmonary
nodules, it has been found that she needs family support and empathy to effectively cope up with
her family members. Secondly, she is also in need of support from a physiotherapist and a social
workers who can assist her in daily life activities and meeting her financial needs to maintain her
health. As Mrs. P.W has been constantly experiencing health issues like swelling in the hands,
nausea and weakness, the support of a clinician is also important for her to control her
symptoms. Hence, all the above multi-professional groups need to collaborate, coordinate and
come together with shared goals to practice integrative case management service delivery.
The social worker, physician, family members and physiotherapist can engage in
integrated case management service delivery by following the principles of coordination,
collaboration and integration. As all the above members are working to address certain specific
need of Mrs. P.W., they need to come together and share information through appropriate
networks. This will make all members aware about the services or health care support that is
provided to client and this may also enable them to arrange a program that addresses common
client needs (Goodwin et al., 2015). This is an example of proper collaboration process to

3INTRODUCTION TO CASE MANAGEMENT
promote integrative service delivery. Secondly, to engage in proper coordination process while
fulfilling health needs or psychosocial needs of Mrs. P.W, the members with the similar goal or
activities can come together to plan activities around the needs of the client. This form of
partnership can effectively fulfill unmet needs of patient if the services are accurately streamlines
to provide seamless service delivery to patient. Lastly, integration of service can be possible
when all the team members agree to the ultimate goal of promoting health and well-being of
client. During interaction with client, if the family member of physiotherapist discovers the need
for other resources to provide care to patient, then the possibility for new resources or systems
should be considered too. The above mentions factors promote integrated working between
health care and social care services (Cameron et al., 2014).
Another approach that is needed to practice integrative case management service delivery
is to create an open information sharing network so that each types of professionals and the
agencies involved can establish ongoing ties to maintain the continuum of integration. The
effectiveness of integrated case management can also be enhanced by considering the possibility
of duplication of activities and resources and taking systematic approach to minimize waste of
resource (Waibel et al., 2015). Hence, agreed plans and protocol will help to maintain strong
professional relationship between different team members and fulfillment of all patient-centered
goals. As the support of physiotherapist and physician is needed to assist Mrs. P.W in daily
activity and symptom improvement, it is also planned to improve the quality of integrated
service by considering additional resources that would improve the quality of their service, This
involves using common assessment tool for transferability of information. Secondly, in case,
resource is needed for assistance in daily activities and exercise, then the social worker need to

4INTRODUCTION TO CASE MANAGEMENT
be contacted too to get the resources at low cost. Such integrative practice has the potential to
reduce the burden of the client and be prepared to address complex needs of the patient.
Advocacy:
Interview skills are necessary for patient advocacy. Case study person may require
support with mental health. She may be refereed to motivational counseling to deal with stress
caused by disease and financial implications. The need in this area may be identified through
effective interpersonal communication and interview to assess and facilitate the patient with
better understanding with the health care team and provide with educational resources while
teaching. At the time of interview the patient’s right and dignity will be maintained and involves
her opinion in decision-making. Teaching may be focused on medication complications that the
patient should be aware of. To maintain good quality of health after discharge the patient may be
advocated with additional support system that can be accessed though community resources or
programs. During communication appropriate verbal, nonverbal and body movements will be
maintained. To make the client feel safe, her values and preferences will be taken and cultural
factors will be considered during hospital stay I will advocate for third party payer (Saypol et
al., 2015).
Ethical consideration:
While implementing the integrative case management plan for Mrs. P.W, it is also
necessary to fulfill all relevant ethical consideration that can be applied for her. As the patient is
a 77 year old patient, all ethical consideration related to the ageing process and fulfilling the
needs of aged person is necessary. Some of the important ethical consideration that needs to be
fulfilled to provide integrative case management service delivery to patients are informed

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consent requirement, confidentiality factor and patient autonomy factor (Tribe & Morrissey,
2015). The process of informed consent needs to be followed before delivering the service to
Mrs. P.W. She needs to be made aware about types of services that will be provided to her and
the reason for providing such service. After giving this information and possible outcomes of the
program, the service delivery can be started only after she gives consent for such service. This
will also help to fulfill the principle of patient autonomy during care. Secondly, to address the
ethical consideration related to confidentiality, all involved members must be made aware about
the privacy and confidentiality requirement and the need to preserve and protect client
information. All involved members and agencies must also be explained regarding the limits
imposed for disclosure of client information to others (Fagerberg & Engström, 2012).

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