The impact of case management in preventive services

The success of case management in increasing the use of community-based services among a variety of chronically ill and medically fragile populations and in decreasing the frequency and length of stay of hospitalization is well documented. Less well established is its impact in preventive services and cost effectiveness, and the effect on health outcomes. The author discusses evidence of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of case management in preventive services and other healthcare contexts. Finally, the author asks an important question, that is, what differentiates the context in which case management is effective from others? The author suggests that nurse case managers are the crucial determinant of successful case management.