Answer to Question 1
Answer: A
Although case managers are often licensed professional nurses with advanced degrees and extensive patient care experience, social workers, nurses without advanced degrees, and other healthcare-related professionals also serve in this role. Case managers typically do not provide direct patient care, but are responsible for a caseload of 10-15 clients for whom they will coordinate care during the clients' hospitalization while also assisting with discharge planning. It is critical to collect and document baseline data for those conditions in the client population selected by the facility for case management.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: D
Case managers coordinate client care to help ensure that a continuum of clinical services is provided. The goal of case management is to improve client outcomes and to help contain costs. Toward this end, case managers not only with help to coordinate care and treatment during hospitalization, but also assist with planning for care following discharge. Their focus includes not only medical care, but issues related to health promotion and disease prevention, the cost of health care received, and planning for the efficient use of resources. Although the involvement of case managers in care typically provides greater peace of mind for clients and family members, this is not the primary goal of this service.