Case management for injured workers. A descriptive study using a record review.

A record review was used to examine case management services provided to 36 workers who sustained a catastrophic or medically complex injury, and who were referred to a case management program. The aims of this phase of the evaluation were to identify and describe: Workers' demographics and personal attributes, The structures and processes that affected the course of these cases, and The role of the nurse case manager (NCM). A data collection instrument was developed to collect quantitative and qualitative information. Structural factors that emerged as most consequential included the quality and quantity of the injured worker's social support and the employment situation, including the availability of a job post-injury, employer support, and worker motivation. Process variables identified included the interactions of service providers including communication, and collaboration. The NCM was described as a monitor, coordinator, supporter, and advocate for the worker. Additionally, the NCM served as a consultant to other service providers and played a key role in the implementation of cost containment strategies.     

A novel antenatal record to help midwives.

An antenatal questionnaire and graph for plotting weight and fundal height gives immediate warning of women at risk in pregnancy in a simple and visually striking way. It saves midwives' time, improves their clinical awareness and gives them more confidence in referring patients.     

A record sheet for pressure sore risk assessment.

Pressure sore risk assessment should be used to inform practice. Differences exist in methods of using risk assessment scales. Nurses need a way of recording risk factors quickly and easily in a format which indicates what action should be taken.     

The problem-oriented medical record in a surgical practice.

I have found the POMR to be a valuable tool in both the office and hospital practice of general surgery.     

A computer-based record system for a hospital transfusion service

An on-line, real-time system for recording transfusion service activities was added to an existing LABCOM general laboratory computing system. The new programs monitor the blood inventory, crossmatches performed, units issued and final disposition of all units of blood. The computer prints the final patient record of units crossmatched and transfused, generates the patient bill, and tallies the workload. The system has reduced the manual clerical operations from 12 to 14 man- hours per day to eight or less. Acceptance by the medical technologists has been excellent.