The majority of existing texts address hospital case management as a ‘nursing practice.’  And while it is true that most hospital case managers are, in fact, nurses, few of them are responsible for clinical care.  This text addresses the role of the hospital case manager from a business perspective rather than a nursing perspective. It speaks to the relationship the case manager has with the executive team, managed care contracting office, decision support specialists, medical records staff, as well as the medical staff and clinical providers and reveals the value of engaging all of them as allies in pursuit of global objectives on behalf of every patient.

In my years of experience as a hospital-based nurse administrator responsible for Case Management services, I have never found a resource as relevant, concise, and straightforward as this one. Stefani and Marianne speak to the issues and challenges associated with planning, re-designing, and sustaining a hospital-based Case Management program as no one else has. Without a doubt, this book will be an invaluable reference for program planners and administrators for years to come. I am grateful to J&B for selecting this book for publication and am very pleased to recommend it to others.

—Paula Radell, RN, MSN
Director of Quality Management
Chesapeake General Hospital