Case Management and Vocational Rehabilitation Standards of Practice

Medical Case Management Standards of Practice and Competencies

Medical case management is defined as the process of assessing, planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluation of the services required to respond to an individual's health care needs to attain the goals of quality and cost effective care. This service may be performed in conjunction with managed care; however, it is differentiated from managed care, which is recognized as an organized process designed to ensure the medical necessity and cost effectiveness of a proposed service. Case management is designated to promote optimal recovery and rehabilitation by professional involvement in the rehabilitation process. Medical case management in the optimum sense is a balance in terms of both quality assurance and medical cost control. The case manager advocates on behalf of the individual to assure quality of care and attainment of appropriate goals, as well as promotes self-advocacy skills to achieve maximum independence.

Vocational/Placement Standards of Practice and Competencies

Vocational rehabilitation services are those vocational services provided directly to a client, the goal of which is to return a client to suitable gainful employment. IARP members recognize the uniqueness of providing vocational rehabilitation services under various federal and state laws and insurance overages. However, there remain broad services standards that should be applied regardless of this uniqueness. These standards of practice and competencies include vocational assessment, plan development, job development and placement, training, and self-employment.