[Case managers experience improved trajectories for cancer patients after implementation of the case manager...

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Case managers are crucial for optimizing patient care trajectories.
• The role of case managers in cancer care is expanding.
• Effective handover of patient responsibility is vital for safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the organization and impact of the case manager function in cancer care.
• To assess the influence of case management on patient safety during care transitions.
• To identify variations in case manager roles and responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted among case managers in cancer care.
• The study focused on the organization, competence, and tasks of case managers.
• Data collection aimed to understand the impact on patient safety and care pathways.

Main Results:

• Significant variation exists in the organization, competence, and tasks of cancer care case managers.
• Case manager responsibility is often limited to the departmental level.
• Case managers perceive their role as optimizing cancer patient pathways and enhancing safety.

Conclusions:

• The case manager function is believed to improve cancer patient pathways and safety.
• Persistent barriers hinder the full potential of case management in cancer care.
• Standardization and clear delineation of responsibilities may further enhance patient safety and care coordination.