Social Work in Health Care · 2001 · 12 citations · 18 references
Health ProfessionsHealth Services AdministrationSocial WorkCase ManagementHospital AdministrationManaged CareDischarge PlanningHealth Care Expenditure AnalysisHealth Care UtilizationHealth Systems ManagementHealthcare BudgetingHospital Resource UtilizationBudget CutbacksDiagnosis-related Group ReimbursementDischarge Care PlanningDischarge Planning SystemsInpatient Prospective Payment SystemMedical Utilization ReviewPatient Discharge PlanningSpending Cutbacks
The introductions of managed care with its emphasis on cost containment has led a Department of Social Work Services at a large urban teaching center to better document and justify its roles. A concrete result was the saving of social work positions during budget cutbacks and downsizing. There is also information in these data to help clarify the differential roles of social workers and utilization review nurses in the hospital case management/discharge planning processes. The system came about because of concerns around cost containment, the need for more systematic discharge planning and the advent of the Prospective Payment System and Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG's) as a means of reimbursement to hospitals.
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