Care management the right balance of care and management?

In 1990, nursing leadership at St. Peter's Medical Center, realizing a need to be creative in order to meet the cost and quality demands of the ever-changing health care system, developed a case management system model called Care Management. The qualifications for the role and the orientation of the Care Managers is describes changes in the program. Innovative programs integrated into the model include patient pathways, workers' compensation care management, and ambulatory care management. Outcomes described include length stay and cost reductions. Future direction of the program in the continuum of care is reviewed.