Clinical hours
A. As a nursing student completing clinical hours at the doctor’s office, identify a disease process (diabetes mellitus) that is common to the population served by the doctor’s office.
B. Determine the case management, disease management, and/or population health approach to this disease (diabetes mellitus). What are the processes in place within the healthcare organization to manage the care of individuals and population groups with diabetes? What are the processes in place to provide population-based care management as it relates to the disease process?
C. Locate a clinical pathway designed to address diabetes at the doctor’s office or available through an internet search. Identify the source of the pathway and attach a copy to the paper.
D. Discuss the application of the selected pathway to the care of an individual client.
Identify potential causes of variances from the pathway and identify corrective measures that could be implemented related to the variances.
Describe potential services (retinal eye exam, neuropathy screening, podiatry appointments, dietician appointments, lab work for hemoglobin A1C monitoring every 3 months, follow-up appointment with endocrinologist, primary care doctor visits for medication therapy) that would be needed after discharge.
How is this information included in the case management process?
What is the potential impact on the cost-effectiveness of the selected pathway?