Last week, as I was scanning several online newspapers and wire services in preparation for this week’s edition of Across My Desk, I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal that made me sit back and smile.

This gratifying article by Jilian Mincer is titled Aid from Unlikely Sources. When a serious medical illness or crisis occurs, the article explained, insurance companies are able to provide specially trained professionals to assist patients in navigating the complicated healthcare system. The author recognized the benefits of case management services for patients with complex and costly conditions such as cancer, trauma or organ transplants.

The article depicted how case managers are the glue that holds the health system together; how they strive to avoid duplication and work to prevent patients from falling through the cracks. Due to their clinical expertise, case management professionals are able to identify barriers to adherence of care, work with patients to understand these barriers, and collaborate with a healthcare team to break these barriers down — ultimately improving quality of care and reducing healthcare costs.

It was exciting to see this information in print, more so in a newspaper with the stature of the Wall Street Journal. WSJ is widely read by politicians, business professionals and others who value the information the paper communicates. It is known to identify trends that impact the economy and present creative solutions that leaders can implement to address those challenges.

This is the type of publicity case management can use to raise the visibility of its practice. I was also glad to see how the article showed the tie between the hospital and the payer, and the collaboration that occurs to ensure a safe transition of care for patients with complicated conditions. It also showed that consumers can access case management by going to their insurance company’s customer service department, the insurer’s website, or their employer’s human resources department to learn how they can gain access to a case manager when they have questions or concerns about their care.

I hope case managers use this article as a way to communicate the role they play in today’s healthcare system to consumers, employers, business leaders and politicians on a local, state and national level. If you did not see the article in the Wall Street Journal on August 24, 2008, you can read it here.

Please make sure you pass it on to your colleagues and leadership within your organization as it is an important story for our practice.

Have a good week!

Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com