Medical case managers in orthopedics provide invaluable assistance to individuals and their families in today’s increasingly complicated healthcare system. In an effort to ensure that patient care is coordinated in the most efficient and quality manner possible, many patients undergoing orthopedic surgery are assigned a case manager to keep them informed of their care plan, and to educate them regarding their condition and the processes involved with their treatment and recovery.
The efforts of case managers result in decreased hospitalization times following orthopedic surgery and decreased readmission's after discharge. This saves patients, hospitals and insurers money. Case management not only helps patients and their families through the surgical experience, but also through the difficult and lengthy recovery process as well. It helps to minimize stress, maximize recovery, and helps patients achieve a better quality of life overall.
Case management in orthopedic surgery is very important to both patient and provider. Depending on the type of orthopedic surgery involved, the procedure itself can be extensive and recovery can be long, involving multiple follow-up visits and extensive physical therapy. Medical case managers provide education to the patient regarding the processes involved with their surgery and recovery, help the patient through the discharge process, and coordinate efforts between all caregivers involved in the spectrum of care from pre-surgery through rehabilitation.
Patient education prior to orthopedic surgery helps to address questions early and identify future needs for things such as social services, home care, and rehabilitation. During the discharge process, case managers schedule the services that the patient will need once they leave the hospital, including physical therapy, social services, home care, and follow-up appointments. Following discharge, the case manager maintains frequent contact with the patient to: assess their overall status; emphasize early intervention for complications and pain management; and stress the importance of, encourage patients to attend, and assess compliance for attending follow-up appointments and physical therapy sessions.
A hallmark of case management, and one of the keys to its success, is the ongoing communication between patient and case manager. This constant loop of information, feedback, action, and response allows patient problems to be identified early and triaged appropriately, minimizing their impact on the recovery process, financial resources, and the healthcare system as a whole. Open and sustained communication also allows the case manager to determine if the patient’s recovery is progressing as it should be. By improving the coordination and efficiency of a patient’s surgical and rehabilitation experience, medical case managers facilitate high-level patient care in a cost-effective manner.
The efforts of case managers result in decreased hospitalization times following orthopedic surgery and decreased readmission's after discharge. This saves patients, hospitals and insurers money. Case management not only helps patients and their families through the surgical experience, but also through the difficult and lengthy recovery process as well. It helps to minimize stress, maximize recovery, and helps patients achieve a better quality of life overall.
Case management in orthopedic surgery is very important to both patient and provider. Depending on the type of orthopedic surgery involved, the procedure itself can be extensive and recovery can be long, involving multiple follow-up visits and extensive physical therapy. Medical case managers provide education to the patient regarding the processes involved with their surgery and recovery, help the patient through the discharge process, and coordinate efforts between all caregivers involved in the spectrum of care from pre-surgery through rehabilitation.
Patient education prior to orthopedic surgery helps to address questions early and identify future needs for things such as social services, home care, and rehabilitation. During the discharge process, case managers schedule the services that the patient will need once they leave the hospital, including physical therapy, social services, home care, and follow-up appointments. Following discharge, the case manager maintains frequent contact with the patient to: assess their overall status; emphasize early intervention for complications and pain management; and stress the importance of, encourage patients to attend, and assess compliance for attending follow-up appointments and physical therapy sessions.
A hallmark of case management, and one of the keys to its success, is the ongoing communication between patient and case manager. This constant loop of information, feedback, action, and response allows patient problems to be identified early and triaged appropriately, minimizing their impact on the recovery process, financial resources, and the healthcare system as a whole. Open and sustained communication also allows the case manager to determine if the patient’s recovery is progressing as it should be. By improving the coordination and efficiency of a patient’s surgical and rehabilitation experience, medical case managers facilitate high-level patient care in a cost-effective manner.
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