Canadian Forces seek out civilian nurses for Case Managers

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• The Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) faced challenges in providing continuous care for ill and injured military members.
• The military sought innovative solutions, drawing from civilian healthcare models to address these continuity of care issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel case management program developed by CFHS.
• To outline the program's design, operational principles, and core activities.
• To evaluate the program's impact on military member care and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a structured case management program within CFHS.
• Hiring of baccalaureate-prepared civilian nurses as Case Managers.
• Focus on core case management activities tailored to the military environment.

Main Results:

• The program integrates civilian nursing expertise into military healthcare.
• Preliminary results indicate positive member satisfaction with the case management approach.
• Case managers, specifically nurses, are demonstrating a positive impact on soldiers' health outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The CFHS case management program represents a successful adaptation of civilian strategies for military healthcare.
• Civilian-educated nurses are effectively contributing to the care of ill and injured military personnel.
• The program shows promise in improving the continuity and quality of care for soldiers.