Development of a standardized language for case management among high-risk elderly

Consistency and communication remain key barriers to tracking case management outcomes and developing the best practices. A dictionary of case management problems, goals, interventions, and outcomes was developed to support a prevention-oriented case management program targeted on elderly high-risk patients. Case management featured an annual screening questionnaire, appointment monitoring, disease education, self-management support, and ongoing care coordination. The dictionary resulted in a Standardized Language for Case Management (SLED). This has since been reviewed and modified on the basis of comments and recommendations from 5 leading case management organizations and is aligned with Standards of Practice for Case Management. The article provides a description of the standardized language terms, the rationale underlying the documentation, examples of how this dictionary of definitions can be incorporated into the daily practice of case management, and examples of some of the benefits to the field that can be achieved with the use of a common data-recording system.