The importance of the case management approach: perceptions of multidisciplinary team members

This article attempts to determine the importance of the case management approach as perceived by health professionals working in multidisciplinary teams. The case management approach is reported to streamline care and contain cost. The literature calls for continuing education in a multidisciplinary forum for all health professions; however, data on perceived or actual educational needs is scant. One hundred forty-one health practitioners working in clinical teams rated four case management components on 100 mm scales: assessing patient needs; educating caregivers; community agency liaison; and, cost monitoring. Statistical significance of differences was determined by Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon rank sum testing. All scores were high, and of all variables tested, varied only by profession (p < .01). Administrators and nurses had relatively higher scores than physicians and physiotherapists. Patient needs were valued above education, education above liaison, and liaison above cost monitoring (p < .01, < .01, < .01, respectively). Continuing education providers should note that health professionals value case management and may be receptive to education. Further study is required to design educational modules for multidisciplinary use, test impact on knowledge and skills, and determine if transdisciplinary case management education can improve quality of care while containing costs.