Introduction to Case Management
One of the greatest difficulties that people who have been injured in accidents or have chronic health issues face is accessing the most appropriate medical care. An injured or disabled person must deal with a medical world that he or she generally knows little about. As time passes the person may become frustrated by a lack of medical progress or by not knowing what type of treatment to seek. A person may go from one medical provider to another without any clear direction in his or her care. As the person’s life starts to become centered on the injury and the resultant disability, he or she may develop habits that actually interfere with the recovery process.
Coordination and management of medical services becomes very important when there is a catastrophic injury, multiple injuries, or chronic health problems. The medical world has become increasingly complex and specialized and making sure that one is receiving treatment from the most appropriate provider can be a difficult task.
Rocky Mountain Rehab, p.c. (RMR) services are oriented toward individuals with complex medical problems and who may be frustrated by a lack of medical progress or simply don’t know where to turn for medical help.
RMR will work with the individual’s medical providers to facilitate and coordinate rehabilitation therapy. If needed, we can also provide referrals to other medical professionals. When legal issues are involved, we work closely with attorneys to address the medical-legal aspects of personal injuries in order to achieve a desirable outcome.
What is Medical Case Management?
Medical case management can be defined simply as coordination of appropriate health and social services so that an individual can reach the highest possible level of physical and mental functioning. Case management provides clear direction in the pursuit of medical care and thus helps an individual reach his or her rehabilitation goals. The essential purpose of case management is to optimize the quality of life for an injured individual and for his or her family. The role of a case manager is to assess medical needs, plan services to address those needs, coordinate the necessary medical care, and finally to monitor the functional progress of the individual. The ultimate aim of case management services from RMR is to maximize the well-being of an individual whose life has been disrupted and sometimes permanently altered by an accident, injury, or chronic health problem.
Common Barriers to the Healing Process
- Miscommunication
- Lack of understanding of medical terminology by the patient
- Lack of pertinent information being made available to the medical provider in a timely manner
- Failure of the patient to follow medical or rehabilitation recommendations
- Difficulty making contact with medical or rehabilitation providers outside of treatment sessions
- Lack of coordinated care among medical or rehabilitation providers
- Differences of opinion between the patient and the medical or rehabilitation provider
- Feelings of frustration in the patient