Hospital Case Management

Case management is a collaborative process that includes the assessment, planning and coordination of options and services to meet a patient’s medical care needs. Effective case management utilizes available resources to achieve high-quality and cost-effective outcomes.

Discharge planning is one function of case management. In the hospital setting, case managers assist patients and families in developing a discharge plan, including coordination of community based medical services and, when necessary, admission to a post-acute care facility, such as an acute rehabilitation unit or hospital, or skilled-nursing facility.