What Does A Case Manager Do?

Case managers are healthcare professionals who help people with a large variety of issues. They assist both individuals and families in coping with complex physical or mental health conditions. Case managers are there to find the most effective treatment possible, so that their clients can live a long and happy life. These people tend to have a lot of responsibilities, which means the answer to the question “What does a case manager do?” is quite complex. Today, we’re going to provide you with a list of all the responsibilities and job duties of a case manager.

Case Manager Main Duties

Reach out to clients assigned by his or her supervisor, assess their most urgent needs, appraise the situation, and listen to their concerns.
Perform an in-depth mental and/or physical health analysis of the client.
Develop a detailed plan of action to meet the client’s needs, set goals, and find the necessary resources to meet those goals.
Offer counseling to patients in either individual or group settings.
Consult with external agencies in order to provide clients with support services and resources.
Keep comprehensive records of clients’ progress throughout the process, including every call, referral, and home visit they make.
Maintain the confidentiality, respect the privacy, and preserve the routine and independence of clients as much as possible.
Stay in touch with clients to ensure the services were beneficial, and that their needs are still met after they’ve been pointed in the right direction for their problems.

Case Managing Skills and Requirements

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a case manager? What kind of skills do you need? Well, first of all, most case managers are professionals who have a background in either social work or nursing. If you want to be a successful case manager, you must possess strong communication skills and be able to come up with different problem management strategies. You should also be organized, detail-oriented, and knowledgeable. Usually, you’re going to need to obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree in order to be a case manager. Some states also require licensing. That’s because case managers play an extremely prominent role in patient care. Moreover, they hold positions where they have to ensure that the unique needs of every client are met.

Being a Case Manager: Additional Information

Keeping in mind the information above, it’s important to underline the fact that the answer to the question “What does a case manager do?” can vary according to several factors. For instance, not all case managers work in the same kind of environment, which means their responsibilities also differ. The two main environments where one can find case managers are the medical environment and the social one. It’s only normal that in these two environments, the duties of a case manager vary.

The first difference is that medical case managers usually work in various health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and rehabilitation centers. On the other hand, social service case managers are employed mostly by public and non-profit organizations. Such organizations can include schools, housing commissions, or homeless shelters. Moreover, not all case managers know every aspect of taking care of someone. Typically, they specialize in a particular area. Some of the most well-known areas are physical health, mental health, aging, disability, child welfare, addiction, and occupational services.

Final Thoughts

As a case manager, you have a lot of responsibilities. We hope we managed to show that in today’s article. Being a case manager is definitely not an easy job. You have a lot of things to consider every time you start working with a new client. Not only will you work closely with the client, but also with his or her family, which is another aspect we must underline.

The interesting thing about case managers is that instead of managing the clients, they help clients manage their own difficult situations. Basically, they’re a constant presence in the client’s life, without pushing him or her to make any decisions that they don’t entirely want to make. Case managers are vital members of the health care system. When a client reaches the optimal quality of life, all additional support systems benefit as well, including the family and the health care providers.

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