Case management positions are common in the health-care and social-service industries. A nursing case manager usually works in a hospital or medical facility, whereas a social services case manager might work in a prison, a child protection unit, a nursing home, or a mental institution. Case management positions in law firms are also available to track legal cases through the judicial system.
A case manager’s responsibilities vary depending on whether they work in a hospital or another type of inpatient or outpatient medical facility, but they usually revolve around patient care and making the best use of available resources. In this field, case management jobs entail keeping track of patient care while collaborating with a team of doctors and nurses. He or she frequently evaluates the quality of care and looks for ways to improve it. During the hospital stay, the case manager is the overall care coordinator who works with the family and the patient.
Administrative duties working with each department in the facility are common in case management jobs in the medical field. The case manager may be in charge of reports on each department’s effectiveness, staffing levels, and personnel training. He or she might also be in charge of assessing how cases are handled and devising a strategy for improvement.
Case management jobs in hospitals and health care centers typically require a registered nursing degree. The ideal candidate will have several years of experience managing people and providing patient care. This position also necessitates the use of a computer and the ability to write.
Case management positions in social services range from domestic violence facilities to nursing homes. The case manager acts as an advocate for the patient or victim, ensuring that he or she receives fair treatment and that resources are made available. The case manager in a domestic violence shelter, for example, is also in charge of the clients’ safety and security. He or she must be able to act in a crisis and supervise volunteers in these positions.
Case management jobs in law firms or courts keep track of each case from the time it is filed to the time it is resolved. By keeping track of multiple deadlines, the manager may be able to coordinate when specific documents must be filed. Managing the volumes of documents pertaining to each case may also be a part of the job. Software is used in some law firms to manage calendars and cases, particularly in large firms with a large number of active, ongoing cases.