Bringing Case Management to the Bedside – Small Changes, Big Impact

Think case management is just for specialized roles? Think again. Here is how bedside nurses can integrate these practices into everyday care for remarkable results. Bedside nurses, nurse leaders, and healthcare administrators are looking for practical ways to incorporate case management into daily nursing practice to improve patient care and outcomes.

Case management is often seen as an abstract concept that is best left to specialists or administrators. However, bedside nurses are crucial in ensuring effective, coordinated patient care. By integrating case management into everyday practice, nurses can significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and foster a more efficient and supportive care environment (Cabral?et al., 2021). This article provides practical tips on how bedside nurses can make case management part of their daily routines—starting with small changes that significantly impact them.

Case management is not about adding new tasks to your busy schedule; it is about working smarter, not harder.

By incorporating case management principles into daily practice, bedside nurses can streamline care, save time, and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time (Vedel & Hudon, 2020).

Challenge the idea that case management is an extra responsibility only specific roles can fulfill. Instead, emphasize that integrating case management into nursing practice is about being proactive, thinking ahead, and leveraging available resources to improve patient care (Dorvil, 2018).

Example: Picture a nurse working with a patient with diabetes who is being discharged. Instead of just sending the patient home with discharge instructions, the nurse can take a case management approach: confirm that the patient understands how to use their medication, schedule a follow-up appointment with a dietitian, and provide contact information for a local diabetes support group (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021).

New Ways of Thinking: Case management is not just about paperwork and planning; it is about anticipating patient needs, ensuring continuity of care, and empowering patients to manage their health. By taking small steps, nurses can make a big difference in patient outcomes and satisfaction (Putra & Sandhi, 2021).

Key Ideas:

? Integrating case management means taking proactive steps to coordinate care.

? This approach helps reduce the likelihood of readmissions, empowers patients, and creates a more manageable workload for nurses (Cabral et al., 2021).

? Even without a formal title of “Case Manager,” bedside nurses can incorporate elements of care coordination into their practice (Vedel & Hudon, 2020).

Example for Nurse Leaders: Nurse leaders can facilitate training sessions for bedside nurses on practical case management strategies, such as creating discharge plans that address not just medical needs but also social determinants of health, like access to transportation or home support (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021).

Example for Bedside Nurses: Bedside nurses can create a “discharge readiness checklist” for patients to ensure they understand their care plan, have the necessary medications, and know how to manage their condition at home (Dorvil, 2018).

If There Is No Case Manager Available: In settings without a dedicated case manager, nurses can still take steps to ensure continuity of care. By collaborating with available resources such as social workers or community services, nurses can help patients transition smoothly from hospital to home. For example, a nurse could arrange a follow-up call one week after discharge to assess whether the patient needs additional support, helping to prevent complications and readmissions (Vedel & Hudon, 2020).

Assessment and Improvement Opportunity: Encourage nurse leaders to evaluate how well their teams incorporate case management principles into daily practice. Provide a checklist or survey to assess how often nurses proactively plan for patient needs beyond discharge (Cabral et al., 2021).

Methodology: Steps:

1. Create Care Checklists: Develop simple checklists that include medication reconciliation, follow-up appointments, and patient education (Dorvil, 2018).
2. Engage Multidisciplinary Teams: Coordinate with physical therapists, social workers, and other team members to ensure all aspects of patient care are covered (Putra & Sandhi, 2021).
3. Use Technology: Utilize tools like electronic health records (EHRs) to track patient progress and ensure nothing falls through the cracks (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021).

Common Objections and How to Overcome Them:

? "I do not have time for case management." Highlighting that integrating case management does not mean adding more to your workload is about being proactive so that issues do not snowball into more significant problems later (Vedel & Hudon, 2020).

? "We do not have the resources for this." Explain that case management does not always require extra resources—it is about making the best use of what you already have, like working closely with social workers or community health services (Cabral et al., 2021).

Specific Action: Ask bedside nurses to identify one weekly patient who could benefit from a proactive case management approach. Track changes in patient outcomes, satisfaction, and nurse workload to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts (Putra & Sandhi, 2021).

Big Picture: Imagine a healthcare system where patients feel empowered, nurses feel supported, and care is truly coordinated. By bringing case management to the bedside, we can transform patient care and create a more efficient, satisfying work environment for nurses (Vedel & Hudon, 2020). Let us start making small changes that lead to significant impacts today.

Conclusion: Case management does not have to be a daunting task—it can be woven into daily nursing practice in simple yet impactful ways. By adopting these practices, nurses can improve patient outcomes, reduce readmissions, and create a more organized and fulfilling workday. Let us embrace these changes and elevate our practice to new heights (Cabral et al., 2021).

If you would like access to supplemental documents such as the Case Management Checklist for Nurses, TJC and CMS Standards about Case Management, and Mastering Nursing Care Plans to Meet TJC and CMS Standards, feel free to email me at [email protected] to receive your copy.

References

Cabral, L. M., da Silva, C. H., & Bernardes, A. (2021). Evaluating case management models in healthcare: Implications for nurse satisfaction and patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(5), 1201-1210. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13290

Dorvil, B. (2018). The secrets to successful nurse bedside shift report implementation and sustainability. Nursing Management, 49(6), 20-25. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000533770.12758.44

Edgman-Levitan, S., & Schoenbaum, S. C. (2021). Patient-centered care: Achieving higher quality by designing care through the patient's eyes. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 10(21). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-021-00459-9

Putra, A. D. M., & Sandhi, A. (2021). Implementation of nursing case management to improve community access to care: A scoping review. Belitung Nursing Journal, 7(3), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1449

Vedel, I., & Hudon, C. (2020). Understanding barriers to and facilitators of case management in primary care: A systematic review and thematic synthesis. Annals of Family Medicine, 18(4), 355-363. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2555