State-of-the-art education for case management in long-term care

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The need for specialized graduate-level training in case management and long-term care was identified.
• Existing programs lacked a comprehensive, lifespan approach to client populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a novel master's degree program in case management/long-term care.
• To identify core competencies for professional case managers.
• To outline the program's structure, teaching methodologies, and preliminary evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Program development involved defining essential professional competencies.
• Curriculum design focused on a broad view of long-term care, encompassing all age groups.
• Qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods were employed.

Main Results:

• The program successfully integrated a lifespan perspective into graduate nursing education.
• Key areas of professional competence in case management were identified and addressed.
• Preliminary evaluation indicated positive reception and effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The San Francisco State University program serves as a model for graduate nursing education in case management.
• The program's approach can inform the development of similar educational initiatives and continuing education courses nationwide.
• This pioneering program addresses a critical need for advanced training in comprehensive long-term care management.