The process of case management (CM) is an essential component of quality healthcare.
The Case Management Society of America defines case management as follows: Case
management is a collaborative process which assesses, plans, implements, coordinates,
monitors and evaluates options and services to meet an individuals health needs through
communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes. (Case
Management Society of America, 1995, p.8) Case management is an intervention strategy
used by health care providers and systems to advocate for clients, coordinate healthcare
delivery, and facilitate outcomes of both cost and quality. (Huber, 2006). Zander best
describes the process of case management as the nursing process applied at a systems level
(Zander, 2002, p.58).
The CM process, which is often referred to as clinical resource management is addressed
in the CMSA Standards of Practice for Case Management (2002). This provides a
guideline for case management and consists of assessment, planning, facilitation, and
advocacy; all of which are core functions of the clinical case manager.
This case management plan is focused towards frail, elderly clients who have suffered a
stroke and will be returning home upon release from their hospitalization, having care
provided to them primarily by a family member.
You often hear the word acute when physicians refer to a stroke, this implies that the
stroke is a short-term condition when in actuality; the implications of a stroke are long
term and become chronic (Young, 2001). When a stroke is treated as just an acute
condition, the clinical outcomes are not as great as if an evidence based model similar to
