Case Management and Service Coordination –Final Assignment

Case Management and Service Coordination –Final Assignment
Scenario: David
Sarah Clark
Pacific Coast University
March 29, 2020
Abstract
Processes in case management are often founded on the principles of continuity of care and equity in accessing services and alliances. Such processes are critical in the provision of optimal support and coordinated health care services through the recovery period. For instance, case management facilitates the identification of barriers to successful recovery and timely identification of such barriers to recovery or return to work among workers can help case managers to prevent employment disruption and chronic disability, which can also reduce unwarranted time loss in the workplace. In this regard, case managers serve an important role in coordinating services for workers and help them to deal with psychosocial and medical issues that may impact successful return to work and recovery.
Keywords: case management, case managers, barriers, return to work, recovery, stakeholders,
Case Management and Service Coordination –Final Assignment
Part 1: Stakeholders
Case managers are responsible for valuing the process of assessments and create a positive outcome for the client. In particular, the assessment must include careful communication for collaboration, ensuring facts are verified, reflect on the situation of the client, stay consistent while reviewing the client’s progress, etc. CITATION Gur12 \l 1033 (Gursansky, Kennedy, & Camilleri, 2012). This case requires the Internal Case Manager (myself) to get in contact with various stakeholders who can provide information that is required during the planning of the workers to return to work. Some of the stakeholders that I am looking to reach out to our workplace sector players (which include benefit coordinators, health and safety coordinators, managers and coworkers), healthcare professionals (David's family doctor, as well as a physical therapist), social services sectors (unemployment service workers), and lastly, David and his family.
Before reaching out to the stakeholders, I must ensure to review the template for employer roles and responsibilities, outlined in the Multisystem Interactions reading. Each of the six steps outlines exactly how the employer can accommodate David and his needs to have a safe return to work. According to the Seven Principles' for Successful Return to Work (RTW), RTW planners must ensure that the plan supports the worker returning without disregarding the coworkers' and supervisors' needs. Along with this, employers and healthcare providers must communicate with one another about workplace demands with worker's consent CITATION Pac07 \l 1033 (Pacific Coast University, 2007). The information gathered from these stakeholders will assist with the coordination of services and communication to support David's rehabilitation and recovery process.
Throughout reaching out to each stakeholder, it must be understood that there will be various viewpoints and opinions from different sides, as everyone has different values and priorities. For example, the physician's primary priority is the health of the worker, whereas the employers' remains to be productivity. This can be challenging considering the differences that exist and more so, the disagreements that are bound to arise. Besides, a worker who experiences challenges in getting their claim approved could potentially be more cautious and less trusting of the process with case management CITATION Pac20 \l 1033 (Pacific Coast University, 2020). David is at the center of this entire escapade and is the primary stakeholder. He is afraid that an early return to the workplace will deter his ability
As stated in the text, the RTW is a program within disability prevention in the workplace that attempts to reduce workers' costs incurred with a transition at work CITATION Lyn20 \l 1033 (Shaw, n.d.). To start, David’s supervisor offered him sedentary modified duties, to which he has declined, making this situation at hand more difficult to go around. RTW can be found as a difficult process justifying the frequent and apparent adverse implications. There are situations where the worker may create an image to others as being non-compliant CITATION Pac20 \l 1033 (Pacific Coast University, 2020). David is hesitant to return to work due to being afraid the plan may aggravate his injured back and in long term, delay his recovery process and his physician recommends that he continues with his physiotherapy treatment, hence, the employer must make it a priority to consider the recommendations and accommodate his needs.
Another barrier involves the fact David has already been off work for three months, and his short-term disability leave may eventually turn into a long-term disability leave if he does not return to work within the next three months. If the employer has already offered David work with modified duties, he has the option to consider it while seeing a physiotherapist or occupational therapist as it may be covered under his benefits. As a CM, I need to ensure that I maintain all professional boundaries such as confidentiality and specifically, information relating to medical history and sensitive personal matters. Ultimately, the situation must be held with patience and professionalism, enhancing exploration and misunderstandings between both stakeholders and the challenges that the worker could be facing CITATION Pac20 \l 1033 (Pacific Coast University, 2020).
Some potential resources and facilitators may assist me with the planning of David's Return to Work plan. One includes the medical note that David's physician submitted which states that he is unable to return to work. Though this can be deemed as helpful, nowhere on the note does it outline any restrictions or indications of when he will be safe to return to work/ how long the recovery will take? To successfully plan out David's Return to Work plan, I must ensure to get in contact with David's physician and ask them to outline any restrictions following his return to work, as well as a timeframe suitable for David's recovery and monitor the progression.
Another helpful aspect is the fact that David is still in receipt of his benefits from the worker’s compensation board in Alberta. Having the worker still covered under benefits will allow me to outline what is and isn’t covered under implying that I can reach out to stakeholders accordingly (as previously mentioned, physiotherapist). This way, Daniel would be relieved of the financial burden meant for his medical expenses needed for a quicker recovery. Once I can determine these, it will allow me the materials I need to work towards his RTW plan.
Carefully planned safe and suitable Return to Work for David would generate a much more positive and sustainable future for both the worker and the employer. The employee will experience many benefits of which include time-efficient accessibility. A benefit for the employer would be limiting any increases in occupational injury insurance premiums. The process can assist in reduction from turnover and/or any lost time by developing the plan sooner, rather than later. Another benefit to the employer is retaining an experienced staff with potential seniority as a result of not having to recruit a new candidate and invest in more training. The employer would be misguided to disregard the level of contribution of this employee to the unity and overall organizational productivity. The employee is a significant intangible because he inspires other employees’ performance.
In the event of uncertainty regarding the employee's importance to the organization, the management ought to conduct an assessment agenda as a comprehensive assessment of the client. Questions that must be considered are: who is the person? What is important to them? What do they want to achieve? How do we achieve their goals? Who are the professionals involved in the situation? CITATION Gur12 \l 1033 (Gursansky, Kennedy, & Camilleri, 2012). These prompts will help direct me to the key issues about David necessary for developing a safe RTW.
Part 2: Roles and Reflections
The ensuing circumstances imply the need for a leader to oversee relevant operations so that David’s absence has minimal impact on the organization. A leader remains the anchor of organizational performance. Effective leadership implies the one at the h...