Integrated Care Management Essay

Integrated Care Management

Care Management at UAMS is not a unified, integrated model. Care managers at UAMS are found throughout the Organization and provide not only telephonic client support but are located in clinics and inpatient settings. Education, experience, expectations and roles vary from location to location. Supervision is done at the local level primarily by leaders without care management experience or an in depth understanding of the standards of practice.

Regardless of the setting, care managers are health care professionals, social work or registered nurses, who incorporate the theory and practice applications of care management into clinical practice. It is a care delivery model focused on coordinating and managing the

Some are imbedded in the service line, others provide expertise for all. Education is as varied as the location. Care managers must be educated and be able to apply the theory and concepts of Care management regardless of the setting of the practice or the job description defined by an employer. Education programs are designed to be comprehensive for this purpose.

Recognition of the value of care management programs within UAMS continues to grow. Redesigning the organizational structure to promote greater integration across various care settings and expand roles to strengthen transitions of care, partner with community resources and organizations to optimize resources to achieve population management.

Centralizing care management oversight under one leader with responsibility for both inpatient and outpatient programs. The Organization’s strategic initiatives can then be expeditiously executed throughout the singular department. New information, processes, standards, education and training can be effectively shared across teams and sites. Cross training can be provided to ensure there is minimal interruption to