ABSTRACT
Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 27 Integration of Care Management, Financial Management, and Information Sharing ................. 28 Th e Role of the Nurse Case Manager......................................................................................... 30 Life Care Planning Organizations .............................................................................................. 32 Life Care Plan Survey Research ..................................................................................................33 Providing Life Care Plan Support Services ................................................................................. 34 Providing Legal Support Services ................................................................................................35 Trust Case Management ............................................................................................................ 36 Related Certifi cations and Organizations ................................................................................... 37
Legal Nurse Certifi cation .................................................................................................. 37 Life Care Plan Certifi cation .............................................................................................. 37 Life Care Plan Organizations ............................................................................................ 38 Case Management Organizations ..................................................................................... 38
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 38 Acknowledgment ...................................................................................................................... 38 References ................................................................................................................................. 38
Introduction Th e components of the nursing process, a framework for providing care, include assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identifi cation, planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure
a systematic approach for delivering care. Th ese core competencies when applied to the practice of case management involve a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individual’s health needs, using communications and available resources to promote quality, cost-eff ective outcomes (CMSA, 1995). Because of their clinical assessment skills, multidisciplinary communication background, and experience in anticipating and coordinating needed treatment, nurses have remained an invaluable resource to the fi eld of case management. Case management for individuals with catastrophic injury or chronic illness involves a diagnosis with complex medical and psychosocial issues. Life care planning was developed to facilitate the practice of complex health care and catastrophic injury case management by providing a consistent methodology for analyzing the complex needs dictated by the onset of the disability (Weed & Riddick, 1992). Today eff ective case management and life care planning both rely on the principles of the nursing process to create an integrated continuum with measurable outcomes. Successful lifetime management of the patient with complex medical needs involves ongoing reassessment of clinical, fi nancial, psychosocial, and personal and family/caregiver goals.
