The evidence base for case management practice

Little is known about the role performance of case managers, who come from a variety of professional disciplines. The purpose of this secondary analysis is to identify and compare case management (CM) activities and knowledge elements by professions and by work settings. In an online field survey conducted by the Commission for Case Manager Certification in 2004, 4,419 case managers rated the frequency and importance of 103 activities (8 domains) and 64 knowledge statements (6 domains). Nursing and social work showed a relatively similar pattern as to their role activities and knowledge factors for CM practice. Similar patterns were seen in work settings: between hospitals and rehabilitation facilities; health insurance companies and managed care organizations; and CM companies, workers' compensation agencies, and third-party administrators. These results indicate that there is evidence for how to develop CM programs consistent with both organizational characteristics and strengths of the nursing profession.