Last week, the Case Management Society of America held its annual conference in Providence Rhode Island. Four important papers were released that all case managers can use and share with patients and families, physicians, health systems, payers, and case managers from...
I was talking to my cousin, who recently had complicated spinal surgery for an advanced case of Scoliosis. He has had this condition for years but never found a doctor who could help, and now he is having trouble walking due to advances in the condition. Before the...
Welcome to the 2024 Professional Reading List. I create this list each year at this time to share books and e-letters that help me keep my finger on the pulse of the healthcare industry. I hope you will check out these resources to learn about each publication and...
When you fly, you have heard the flight attendants during the pre-departure announcement say: “If we lose cabin pressure, a mask will fall from above. Put your mask on first, then assist your child or companion who might need help. They do this because you can only...
The American Nurses Association celebrates National Nurses Week 2024, May 6 – May 12, and throughout May. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every...
I recently came across an interesting post on LinkedIn. The post announced that this was “Stress Less Week.” I had never heard of this week, so I dug deeper and found that ‘Stress Less Week’ is a biannual event hosted by Active Minds at colleges and...
One of the most important things nurse case managers can do when working with patients and their families is to help them set realistic expectations of the healthcare system. Before people enter the healthcare system, they think it is organized and coordinated and...
Caregivers face emotional and physical demands that strain even the strongest person. In her new book, Caregiver a Role We Least Expected—Tips and Tidbits to Help in Your Role, Peggy Rossi, a friend and colleague from LinkedIn, shares information to help caregivers...
Storytelling is one way to educate. Stories allow us to see things in a new light and help us understand how we relate to the situation. Storytelling can help someone see things differently and develop ways to handle a challenge. In this post, I share some of the...
Last week, I shared a story titled When the System Works It Works Well. A comment from a reader made me rethink this story and see a different perspective that I had not considered. I wanted to share it with you as it was an important realization that we must remember...
Many good outcomes happen in healthcare. In this post, I want to share an example that shows when the system works, it works well. I had such a case a few years ago where I was asked to work with a man who hurt his back while working as a pipefitter in Jacksonville,...
Over the weekend, I watched several college basketball games. I like college basketball as it is all about heart and soul. As I watched, I recalled how I got interested in the sport. I remember back to March of 1986 when I did a few home care cases for extra money....
What is a ChatBot? Take a few minutes to read this article to learn more. Chatbots, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools are becoming part of everyday life. Here is an example of a recent run-in I had! I was trying to upgrade my Vimeo account and had a...
To be an active healthcare team member, you must start with being organized. Here are some ways to get started: Be aware of who’s who. In your doctor’s office, ask to meet the office manager. When you meet them, ask for their business card. Let them know when things...
Hope for the Best and Be Prepared For The Worst is a quote by Maya Angelou that we must remember when entering the healthcare system. Recently, I met a woman who had an elective knee replacement. The Orthopedic Surgeon is part of a bundled payment program, which means...
In my last post, I talked about talking to your healthcare team. In this week’s post, I wanted to discuss building trust with your health insurance company. The first thing I suggest when you have a question for your insurance company is to look at your member...
I cannot stress enough the importance of talking to the healthcare team. Doing this can be intimidating as you know you are not at the same level as the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare team members. When I was a patient being treated for a Brain...
Case Managers are in place to assist people (patients and caregivers), coordinate care, and work with your team to help you obtain resources to meet your needs. They are in a place to advocate for YOU, the injured worker, the employer, and all healthcare team members....
