Archives for October 2019

Five Criteria That Are the Cornerstones of an Effective Leadership Model in Healthcare

Great leadership skills are instrumental in the success of any organization, and case management leadership in a hospital setting is no exception. If you are serving in this integral role, you know it requires a unique skill set.

Though leadership is a universally valued trait, not all people or organizations define it the same way. In a paper published in the Journal of Healthcare Leadership, a research team at Duke University identified five criteria as cornerstones of an effective leadership model in healthcare: emotional intelligence, critical thinking, teamwork, integrity, and selfless service.

Emotional Intelligence Is the Keystone Skill in Healthcare Leadership

The Duke team recognized emotional intelligence as a core competency that held the other factors together. In fact, the authors argued, without emotional intelligence the entire model would crumble.

This term refers to the ability to identify and manage emotions. Emotional intelligence requires three skills: awareness, management, and the ability to utilize emotions and apply them to problem solving.

Emotional intelligence is sometimes called emotional quotient or EQ. In healthcare case management, it enables a care manager to be smart about personal feelings and the feelings of others, and therefore enhances his or her ability to lead others, manage behavior, and engage team members and patients in a plan of care.

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Multimorbidity Is Now Regarded as the Norm for an Aging Population

Case management is a vital strategy for hospitals and health plans seeking to obtain the best possible outcomes for people with multiple comorbidities, research shows.

This state, called “multimorbidity,” means a patient is suffering from at least two chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines multimorbidity as “the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, where each must be a non-communicable disease, a mental health disorder, or an infectious disease of long duration.”

In a systematic review of 27 studies that examined five models of care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote care management, case management and disease management are the most promising models for those suffering multimorbidity.

The study also found that multimorbidity is now regarded as the norm for an aging population, and that focusing on a subgroup with multiple conditions may be the basis for improving healthcare outcomes.

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