An alternative model for case management in Flintshire

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Chronic Disease Care
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Anticipated increase in chronic disease prevalence in Wales.
• Need for proactive healthcare interventions to manage rising chronic conditions.
• Development of a localized service to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led case management service for chronic disease patients.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on hospital admissions and length of stay.
• To provide evidence for a scalable chronic disease management model.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a nurse case management program across surgeries in Flintshire, North East Wales.
• Proactive engagement of three nurse case managers with general practices.
• Analysis of patient data for 12 months pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Median reduction of 1 emergency admission per patient.
• Median decrease of 2 days in length of hospital stay.
• Evidence of positive impact on healthcare utilization for chronic disease patients.

Conclusions:

• The nurse-led case management approach shows significant potential in reducing hospital admissions and stays.
• This model offers a viable strategy for managing the predicted rise in chronic diseases in Wales.
• Proactive nursing interventions can improve patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiency.