University of Phoenix
Case Management
BSHS 402
Andrea Winston
May 02, 2007
Special Populations paper
The job of a case manager is as unique as the population that they serve. Case management is "a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual 's health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes." (Case Management Society of America [CMSA], 2007)Case managers are advocates for those who can not help themselves and assist in referrals to those who need additional services for treatment. One of the populations that a case manager may serve would be high risk mothers who have possible deficits in education, psychosocial, nutritional, have little to no transportation and or were low income women who found themselves pregnant. There is higher infant mortality and morbidity to those who do not have the means or ways of affording to take care of an infant. . In Michigan there are several programs or Maternal Support Services which also lead into Infant Support Services for after the infant is born. The role of the case manger would be to provide assistance to the mother during pregnancy and up to one year after birth.
Pregnant women who have little or no access to healthcare or prenatal care has always been a concern of mine. I do work in a hospital where many babies are born under weight, premature, with illnesses, addictions, or even a developmental disability. Many of times the reasons for these infants being born like this is because the mother was not educated and had little or no access to prenatal care. If someone would had educated and guided this woman would the outcomes been the same? Recently I gave birth to my first child and I thought to myself, what if I had not of have prenatal care? Would my son been healthy? I even think about the support I was given thought my pregnancy. What if I did not
References: Case Management Society of America (2007). . Retrieved May 2, 2007, from http://www.cmsa.org/ Fink ACSW, B., Biery , L., & Summerfield PhD, W. (2007). Maternal and Infant Health Program. Retrieved May 2, 2007, from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MATERNAL-INFANT_HEALTH_PROGRAM_Final_125181_7.pdf Oakland Family Services (2007). Oakland Family Services- Berkley and Walled Lake Michigan . Retrieved May 2, 2007, from http://www.mhweb.org/oakland/oakfam1.htm Planned Parenthood (2007). Planning...for a better future. Retrieved May 2, 2007 , from http://www.ppsm.org/