Celebrating Holy Days
Passover and Easter are both springtime religious holidays that celebrate liberation, renewal, and hope. Passover marks the Jewish people’s freedom from slavery in Egypt, while Easter celebrates Jesus’ resurrection in Christianity. Both holidays emphasize themes of...
When the Waiting Room Becomes the Hardest Part of Healthcare
Most of us are used to waiting for things — in line at the grocery store, at a red light, or for the coffee to finish brewing. How much waiting each of us can tolerate is deeply individual. But waiting in a healthcare setting is a different kind of waiting. It carries...
Tips for Being Your Own Best Advocate – Be An Active Member of YOUR Team
Using patient portals is a critical part of care coordination and helping the patient be an active member of their team. So why are they so difficult to use as compared to other industries? Think about other systems you have learned how to use over the past few...
Who Is Responsible for the Care Coordination of YOUR Health and Healthcare? YOU.
In theory, your primary care physician (PCP) is the quarterback of your care. Managed care was designed so that every person had a PCP who knew them, followed them over time, and helped manage their health. In return, the managed care company paid the PCP a...
Part Two: Discharge Planning: A Deeper Dive with Advanced Considerations to Improve Outcomes for our Patients
Last week, in Part One, I talked about the Discharge Planning Process. In Part Two, I wanted to continue the discussion and expand on how effective discharge planning can improve outcomes regardless of your setting Areas covered in part one: Emphasize early...
The Discharge Planning Process: Part 1
Discharge Planning is one of the most important functions that case managers and Board Certified Patient/Health Advocates perform. Depending on where you meet your patient, an inpatient hospital or rehabilitation facility, an outpatient rehabilitation facility, a...
Creating a Value-Enabling Culture in Healthcare: The Role of Professional Case Managers and Patient Advocates
If you asked a family member or friend what they expect when they enter the healthcare system—from a healthy person seeking preventive care, someone newly diagnosed with a terminal illness, to an individual facing a catastrophic injury—you would likely hear a similar...
When Life Feels Out of Control: How Nurse Case Managers Restore Stability
One thing I realized as I progressed through my treatment for a central nervous system lymphoma in 2014 was the loss of control I had over my life. I no longer felt in control of my life as it revolved around lab tests, doctors' appointments, and chemo treatments. I...
I was hacked……
Last week, I got an email from a friend inviting me to a party. I clicked the link, but the invite didn't open. I did it a few more times and then had the sinking feeling….this is a fake email. I sent my friend an email asking if he'd sent out an invite to a party,...
Ways Curiosity Can Strengthen A Nurse Case Manager Career
I recently moderated a webinar for new nurses who wanted to pivot their careers into workers' compensation case management. We were discussing the competencies that nurse case managers need to bring to their jobs. One of the panelists said something that caught my...
Ways Case Managers Can Spread Kindness
I heard a story on NPR over the weekend about kindness. The reporter shared an experience that changed his life. One day, he was in the men's room at an airport, and a fellow traveler was washing his hands. When the traveler left, he said to the attendant standing in...
Do We Take HIPAA Too Far? Balancing the Intent of the Law
Recently, I received a call from a company that arranges specialist appointments for my husband and me with our primary care doctor. When I answered the phone, the caller identified herself and asked to speak to my husband. I said he was not home, but that I was his...
