Communication: an outcome of case management

Case management is a healthcare delivery model emphasizing coordination and networking of patient care services across multidisciplinary providers and various care settings. This requires effective communication to overcome traditional barriers to information exchange. This study investigates communication as an outcome of case management. The classic communication model of sender-message-channel-receiver is used as a conceptual framework. Using a closed medical record review, the amount and type of referral information exchanged between a hospital using a case management model to coordinate care and a home health agency accepting the case-managed patient is described. In addition, the influence of selected organizational and medical condition factors on communication is explored.