Introduction
The case management model is an important care delivery model especially for patients with chronic conditions. In fact, the case management model enables the provision of health care to patients with conditions deemed expensive to treat (Khanassov, Vedel, & Pluye, 2014). The goal is a coordination of care to lower treatment costs and offer continuous care for these patients. Case management models in care delivery can either be hospital-based or community-based (Khanassov, Vedel, & Pluye, 2014). This essay compares a community-based and a hospital-based case management model.
Comparison of Home and Hospital Models
An example of a hospital-based care model is the local nursing home that offers palliative care to patients with cancers. In this case management model, each patient is considered a special case and is provided with the best services and care. According to Khanassov, Vedel, and Pluye (2014), hospital-based case management provides the most available resource for the care of chronically ill patients. In this case, the palliative care center has a nurse responsible for the care of each of the patients. This individual takes care of the patient while considering different aspects of the patient such as the psychological and the physical needs (Davy, Bleasel, Hueiming, Tchan, Ponniah, & Brown, 2015). The community-based model also offers personalized care to patients with these chronic conditions. However, the community-based model attains better results because the patient is managed in their environment (Khanassov, Vedel, & Pluye, 2014).
In the hospital-based care model, patient education is provided by the nurses (Davy et al., 2015). The nurses also coordinate the services with other health providers in the care of these patients. The home-based case management model ensures the provision of health education to patients in a setting that they can identify with (Davy et al., 2015). In addition, this model incorporates the family and puts into consideration the underlying societal factors (Morales-Asencio et al., 2008). While the hospital-based case management incorporates many specialists, the home-based component has only a few of these specialists with only the nurse and the community health workers.
The palliative care unit offers specialized care to patients by basing this care on the needs of the patient (Morales-Asencio et al., 2008). Additionally, the hospital-based case management model provides most of the resources necessary for the management of patients. On the other hand, the home-based care model utilized resources based on the available patient needs (Khanassov, Vedel, & Pluye, 2014). Conversely, this system is as efficient as it limits care to the available resources. An example of the home-based case management model is the one utilized in the care of elderly patients with diabetes. This model is also utilized in the care and follow-up of patients with HIV (Wanaratwichit, Hills, Cruickshank, & Newman, 2015).
The similarity between the two case management models is the goals that each aims to achieve in the management of patients. The palliative care center aims to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic conditions such as cancers and prevent complications. Similarly, hospital-based case management systems aim to improve the condition of patients admitted and provide enough follow-up.
Impact on Nursing Practice
The two models have a direct impact on nursing care. First, both models ensure that patients are given the best care available. Also, case management models prioritize patients based on the available resources. Consequently, there is improved management of patients with chronic conditions whose care is a burden on the health system and society.
References
Davy, C., Bleasel, J., Hueiming, L., Tchan, M., Ponniah, S., & Brown, A. (2015). Effectiveness of chronic care models: opportunities for improving healthcare practice and health outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research,15(1), 1-11.
Khanassov, V., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2014). Case management for dementia in primary health care: a systematic mixed studies review based on the diffusion of innovation model. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 915.
Morales-Asencio, J. M., Gonzalo-Jiménez, E., Martin-Santos, F. J., Morilla-Herrera, J. C., Celdráan-Mañas, M., Carrasco, A. M., &… Toral-López, I. (2008). Effectiveness of a nurse-led case management home care model in Primary Health Care. A quasi-experimental, controlled, multi-centre study. BMC Health Services Research, 81-13.
Wanaratwichit, C., Hills, D., Cruickshank, M., & Newman, B. (2015). A Model of Home-Based Care for People with Disabilities: Better Practice in Rural Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 10(2), 44-51.