Injecting a Dose of Excitement

Fresh out of nursing school I worked in a busy Internal Medicine physician group. I had thought it would be my dream job, but after several months went by, for me it actually became a daily dull-drum of scheduling tests, refilling prescriptions, and tearing table paper. I remember getting excited when a patient needed a joint injection so I could prep and assist with a procedure! I know that sounds creepy to some. It's a nurse thing; some don't understand.

Nowadays as a Case Manager, it's still a thrill when an injured worker needs a joint injection, or a trigger point injection in clinic; Because I know this is something that will likely give that patient quick relief from their pain, and at the very least be diagnostic to clarify the pain generator. These injections typically consist of a lidocaine, an anesthetic to numb the area, and a steroid, which acts to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This is a wonderful thing.

One of the tools we keep in our back pocket is a specialist that can administer injections. Utilizing our nursing assessment skills we know when to pull out this tool, offering our injured workers a swift pathway to recovery and return to work, and our carrier customers benefit by reduced medical expenses and TTD payments. And THAT's altogether something to get excited about!

Comments

At the Heart of Case Management

I have done presentations on The Benefits of Case Management to carriers, peers, and other health care professionals. Sometimes it sounds dry and philosophical to list benefits: access to care, best practice recovery, lowered cost expenditures. But who is the one that benefits? In our practice, is it the injured worker? the employer? the insurance carrier? From the Case Management Society of America, "It is the philosophy of case management that when health care is appropriately and efficiently provided, all parties benefit." Allow me to demonstrate for you the heart of case management from two of our case managers this week. One of our CM Team has a patient that was "swimming" amidst a work injury and numerous mis-diagnoses and was fearful this CM's job was to just "write him off." Our RN worked to find a physician that would clarify his diagnoses, even collaborating between his group health carrier and Work Comp carrier. At the conclusion of a...

Case Management GPS

W The next time I purchase a new vehicle there are several features I have on my wish list. For as much as we case managers travel, Navigation is high on the priority scale to make life easier. Under the pressure of arriving at a physician appointment on time, it's never a good feeling to take a wrong turn or get lost. There are times our role as a case manager is much like a navigator. Deana Scott, RN had that experience just yesterday while attending a physician visit. After three years of treatment for a work injury, the physician had nothing further to offer, and there appeared to be issues of malingering and symptom magnification. There was a point at which the physician actually had a look in his eye of being lost as far as how to bring the treatment course to an end. Confusion centered around the injured worker's return to work goals. It's at times like this, a Case Manager is able to maintain focus and much like a navigato...

One Hit Wonder

She's already done it twice this week - shut down a file with one Physician visit. But this just goes to show how effective an onsite RN Case Manager can be! She once got MMI and RTW on three files, on the first MD visit, all in one day. We call her our One Hit Wonder. You know, like artists that got a number one hit with one song that was amazing. Steve Martin's King Tut still is an all time favorite one hit wonder! Click Here to Play King Tut Video How does she do it? Well, honestly most of the time it boils down to communication. Communication with the injured worker. Communication with the employer. Communication with the physician. Nothing brings everyone together on the same page quite like onsite (field) case management. Gathering pertinent information in a thorough intake assessment, and coming to the physician visit prepared with that info...

Cheryl's Blogspot

Search This Blog