The processes of case management: a review of the evaluation of a pilot study for elderly people in Hong Kong.

AIM: This paper is based on research into case management that aimed to evaluate the processes of the introduction of case management for elderly people into the community nursing services in Hong Kong. BACKGROUND: The Hospital Authority in Hong Kong introduced a pilot Case Management scheme into the Community Nursing Services. A research project was therefore developed to evaluate this case management model. METHOD: The processes were measured through information gained from group interviews, daily diaries and weekly activity sheets. FINDINGS: The roles and work practices of the Care Coordinators and Case Managers are described and the benefits of case management to patients, carers and nurses are highlighted. Difficulties are also discussed and good practices are identified. CONCLUSION: Staff in the hospital and community need time to get used to the model of case management and to the accompanying documentation. The role of the case manager needs to be clearly dilineated.