Case management organizational models & administrative methods.

Case management is one of the more popular buzzwords in the health care marketplace today. It is also commonly misunderstood. Virtually all providers have some experience with case management activities, either as direct providers of service, or as health care providers who interact with other agencies that practice case management on behalf of clients. This article will define some of the leading organizational models of case management programs and explain the implications of their alternative practice philosophies. This discussion is followed by an outline of the essential core elements of any case management program. Agencies can compare their own case management methods to widely recognized standards that characterize successful strategies used by different organizations throughout the United States.