Ten Pearls on Starting an RN Care Management Program in Your Practice.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Care Coordination
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Care management focuses on medically complex patients to reduce hospitalizations and enhance health outcomes.
• Care management and coordination are recognized for their potential to decrease healthcare system costs.
• These strategies are increasingly adopted within the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define key lessons learned from integrating RN-driven care management.
• To share practical insights from a four-year implementation period.

Main Methods:

• Integration of Registered Nurse (RN)-driven care management.
• Longitudinal study over a four-year period within a practice setting.

Main Results:

• Identification of 10 critical lessons learned during the integration process.
• Demonstration of a structured approach to implementing RN-driven care management.

Conclusions:

• RN-driven care management is a valuable component of the PCMH model.
• The lessons learned provide a roadmap for other practices seeking to implement similar programs.
• Successful integration can lead to improved patient outcomes and potential cost savings.