Abstract
Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the type of nurse case managers' (NCMs') practice on patients' quality outcomes in community settings.
Primary Practice Setting(s): Nurse case management (CM) practice with NCMs in community-based settings.
Methodology and Sample: The design of this study was an exploratory, descriptive secondary analysis of 4 types of service by 11 NCMs, delivered to selected Medicare beneficiaries in community settings. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests were calculated.
Results: The majority of CM services were delivered in home care services in the community. Most of the 4 types of services-home, telephone, clinic, and mixed care-positively changed patients' quality measure outcomes-self-care activities of daily life, quality of life, and well-being. However, there were no modes that were statistically significant in patients' quality measure outcomes at the p < .05 level in the 2-year time frame.
Implications for Case Management Practice: It is imperative to know the most effective and efficient types of CM services in community health for evidence-based NCMs practice. The results contribute to understanding how community health nurses may choose to select home care interventions for effectiveness. Thus, NCMs' practice needs to be capitalized on by practicing health administrators for health care management services within the current dynamic health policy environment.