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 spent what seemed like hours waiting for ‘things to happen.’ What was most unsettling was relying on strangers to make critical decisions about my life.
As a workers’ compensation nurse case manager, I am sure you have seen scenarios like this in your practice. When someone is ill or injured, they become very self-centered. Those around them can see changes in their temperament in their words, actions, and wonder who this person is.
In this post, I wanted to share some tips that nurse case managers can use to help the injured worker, as well as the family, better cope with what seems like an out-of-control situation.
- Establish trust: let your patient and the family know you are in place to help them navigate the complex healthcare system.
- Encourage them to call you when something happens so you can help identify gaps, delays, and work with the team to streamline the process.
- Educate the injured worker and their family about the process and what to expect at every step.
- Empower them to ask questions, to express their thoughts and their fears with their treatment team, with their treating doctor, any specialists, and the therapist they will be working with to get them back to their baseline or cope with a permanent change in their status.
- If you are a field case manager, plan to meet the injured worker from time to time to see how things are going. Being on-site allows you to see how people are coping and what stressors they are feeling. If you are a telephonic case manager, set up reminders to call weekly or more often as the situation warrants.
- Try to talk to the injured worker and the family so you are hearing from all parties as to how things are going. Talking to family members is important for identifying their challenges, helping them cope, and understanding how illness or injury affects them.
Listening to your patients and their families is so important because it helps you support them and allows them to regain some control over their lives. Being proactive in your assessments allows you to identify issues before they escalate.
Thank you for reading this week’s column. If you have questions or would like to suggest a topic you would like me to expand on, feel free to email me at allewellyn48@gmail.com
Have a good week!
