Why A Strong Case Management Team Is The Key To Success In Your Emergency Department

Create A Strong Case Management Team To Handle It

Just like in any other organization, the success of an emergency department depends on teamwork. Building a case management team to help reduce the department’s backlog can seem like a daunting task, but doesn’t have to be. Emergency departments can streamline operations and optimize resource use by implementing just a few key strategies.

A better patient experience

Patients in the current healthcare environment always expect high-quality care from their providers. Having an excellent case manager who understands the needs of patients and understands how those needs vary depending on the level of care will create a higher level of satisfaction. A case manager will be able to coordinate with other medical staff members and ensure that every patient gets timely attention before leaving the emergency department for the next step in treatment.

Reduced length of stay

The average length of stay varies depending on the condition causing the visit, but generally speaking, shorter stays mean happier patients and more revenue for the hospital. A strong case management team will work with physicians to identify which patients need immediate attention and which ones can wait until later in the shift, so everyone gets seen in a timely manner.

Increase capacity

A strong case management team can help increase capacity by reducing wait times for patients waiting to be seen in the emergency department. By using a dedicated team of medical professionals to triage patients and determine the level of urgency, such as low vs high acuity, a department can reduce the number of low acuity patients who should be treated elsewhere. This method can free up beds and staff members so the focus can be on higher acuity cases.

Improved compliance with regulations

Compliance is vital to the safety of patients and staff. Properly managing an emergency department compliance efforts can be challenging, particularly when facing a high patient volume. A strong case management team can help a hospital ensure all appropriate steps are taken to ensure compliance with improved SOPs and case management software that automates many scheduling, billing, patient communication, and insurance tasks.

Reduce inappropriate admissions

A well-trained case manager can identify patients who do not need to be admitted to the hospital and should instead receive outpatient care. Some conditions could be treated in an urgent care center or physician office if the patient had made an appointment sooner. Case management reduces unnecessary costs and ensures that patients receive appropriate treatment before resorting to the emergency department as a primary source of care.

Case management improves emergency department care

A strong case management team working with an emergency department can improve and optimize the services offered. A strong case management team will allow an emergency department to have more insightful conversations about individual patients, help identify trends in the care of patients, and help staff come up with new best practices for treating future patients.