Clinical management: a special case*

This paper briefly discusses the development of some of the principles of case management as they have been applied in the community. As a clinical management system we argue that the key elements of case management could and should be applied within institutional settings. We draw as an example Ashworth Special Hospital recently criticized for its lack of co-ordinated care by a Public Inquiry Committee. The resulting discussion focuses upon a rehabilitation framework which could be used to implement case management within such a setting; the implementation of such a framework and the benefits that would be gained.