Case Management
The case management department at Palms West Hospital is made up of nurses and a physician advisor playing a major role in the coordination of care and discharge planning for all our patients. We work with our patients’ physicians, nurses and technicians to ensure that they receive the highest quality care delivered in an efficient and comfortable manner.
When a patient arrives at Palms West Hospital, the admitting nurse immediately begins working with the physician to obtain medical orders and assign the patient to a unit and bed that is best suited to their specific needs. Once this is complete, the admitting nurse begins working with the insurance company to provide them with the clinical information they need to authorize inpatient treatment.
After the patient is comfortably settled in their bed, one of our nurse case managers will begin reviewing the chart to gather clinical information about their medical condition so that a treatment plan can be developed and care coordination can begin. This is also the time that discharge planning begins. This is done so that the patient and their family members will have an clear expectation of duration of stay as well as to ensure that all the post discharge care needs can be arranged and ready prior to discharge. Services such as post acute rehab, home health and infusion, durable medical equipment and long term care are arranged with the input of the patient, doctors and family members to ensure that they meet all the clinical and social needs of the patient.
Social services are also an integral part of the planning and care of all of our patients. Our social worker ensures that all the special needs of our patients are identified so that the necessary planning can begin. Some of the services provided by the social worker include: psychosocial assessment and counseling, medical crisis counseling, end of life issues, grief counseling, as well as information and referral to community resources and education.
The entire case management team is here to assist you, your patient care team and family during your hospitalization as well as help you with any post discharge issues you may have.