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Assessment of Veterans Affairs Case Management Leadership
Lisa Y Perla1,2,3, Lucille B Beck1,2,3, Neil E Grunberg1,2,3
1Lisa Y. Perla, PhD, MSN, CFNP, is a licensed and certified family nurse practitioner and a certified case manager and rehabilitation registered nurse. Dr. Perla earned her PhD in nursing research and the prestigious VA Jonas Scholars award from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Perla's work encompasses numerous clinical and administrative roles in the areas of emergency medicine, medical and surgical transplantation, intensive care, and rehabilitation medicine. She is a national speaker on the topics of neurological emergencies and leadership. Dr. Perla's current work is in Veterans' Affairs, Central Office in Washington, DC. She is the National Polytrauma Coordinator for Veterans with multiple trauma and brain injury and collaborates across the enterprise with a team of rehabilitation specialists to synchronize their health care. Her research is in the leadership of registered nurse and social work case managers..
Purpose/Objectives:
The critical work of Veterans Affairs (VA) case managers is to assist and advocate for veterans navigating the VA and civilian health care systems, aligning services, developing integrated care plans, and supporting team-based care (Hunt & Burgo-Black, 2011). The article reviews publications regarding VA case management leadership because case managers who function as leaders are likely to better coordinate health care services for veterans.
Primary Practice Setting:
VA case managers adhere to the Commission for Case Managers (CCM) scope of practice through patient advocacy, education, and resource management, while ensuring the care is safe, effective, and equitable. VA case managers are competent in veteran health care benefits, health care resources, military service, and the prevailing military culture. They work in a variety of clinical settings including more than 1,400 facilities throughout the United States.
Findings/Conclusions:
The present literature review indicates that few published articles address leadership among VA case managers. Several publications suggest that VA case managers lead, as well as manage, without indicating the extent to which they function as leaders. The literature reviewed indicates an association between unsuccessful program implementation and a lack of staff adaptability, a lack of necessary resources, a lack of ongoing involvement of senior leaders, and a fear of reprisal.
Implications For Case Management Practice:
Because of the 2018 MISSION Act, the number of veterans seeking services in the community has increased and further complicated the coordination of services for VA case managers. Understanding the leadership elements influencing successful care coordination processes is important for veterans to receive high-quality health care services.
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