The effectiveness of inpatient case management. Fact or fiction?

Production processes and service delivery in acute care hospitals can be fragmented. Inpatient case management has the potential to improve both processes and outcomes of hospital care. The author reports on 18 research studies that used inpatient case management as the treatment variable. These outcome studies, using case management, did not provide the evidence needed to address deficiencies in inpatient settings. However, these studies do provide clear direction for nurse administrators and nurse researchers to take concerning the next steps needed to address this critical issue.