New Role for Case Managers Opens Up With Payment Reform.

Somebody has to coordinate the post-discharge are now that hospitals are beginning to bear risk for what happens to patients after discharge, but inpatient case managers are already swamped and don't have the time to do the job well, experts say. Hospitals need to develop a new role of translational case manager, RN navigator, or some other title and hire a separate person to handle discharges and follow-up for complex patients. The job requires someone with experience in the inpatient setting and knowledge of community resources and how to refer patients to them. The key to success under payment reform is communication within the hospital and between all levels so everyone who touches the patient has complete information.