Magnifying Glass
Back to Workers' Compensation Daily Headlines

Setting Realistic Expectations in Healthcare

01 May, 2025 Anne Llewellyn

                               
Case Management Focus

One key role nurse case managers play is assisting injured workers, their families and other support system individuals set realistic expectations as they enter and navigate the complex healthcare system.  

Our healthcare system is complex, fragmented, and sometimes seems uncaring. No other service industry presents as many challenges. As a result, case managers must educate injured workers and their families as to how the system works, and unfortunately, how it does not work. Helping clients understand how they can work within the complex system and become their own best advocate is a vital case management function.  

As we know, additional issues arise when working with injured workers on a claim. Having a nurse case manager on the file to look at the bigger picture supports problem-solving solutions, saving time and lowering stress for all concerned. The combination of education and advocacy improves outcomes for the injured worker and supports the entire healthcare team.   

Including injured workers and their families in discussions with the healthcare team ensures they have a voice in decision making. The opportunity to be an integral part of the team goes a long way toward setting realistic expectations.  

One way I approach the issue of education and advocacy is by treating my clients as I want to be treated. Doing so brings a touch of humanity back to a healthcare system that often seems cold and uncaring.  

Thank you for reading this post. Please let me know if you have a comment on this post or an idea for future posts. You can reach me via email at allewellyn48@gmail.com.  

  • AI california case management case management focus claims compensability compliance courts covid do you know the rule emotions exclusive remedy florida FMLA glossary check Healthcare health care hr homeroom insurance iowa leadership leadership link medical NCCI new jersey new york ohio osha pennsylvania roadmap Safety state info technology texas violence WDYT west virginia what do you think women's history women's history month workcompcollege workers' comp 101 workers' recovery Workplace Safety Workplace Violence

    • Read Also

    Could Burned Oil Workers Bypass Louisiana’s Workers’ Comp Exclusive Remedy Rule?

    What Do You Think? Establishing intentional tort for a work-related injury is a bit like finding oil in the backyard. It’s really unlikely. A case involving two oil refinery workers who were tragically burned on […]
    What Benefits are Available in Massachusetts?

    Glossary Check If you're getting up to speed on workers' compensation in the Bay State, and you're wondering what terms like "temporary total" and "temporary partial" mean, a good place to turn is Simply Research. […]
    Restaurant Employee Attacked by Upset Customers

    Safety at Work Memphis, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Police in Memphis are looking for two women they say assaulted a restaurant employee. According to the Memphis Police Department, officers responded to an assault call at the […]

    About The Author

    • Anne Llewellyn

      Anne Llewellyn is a registered nurse with over forty years of experience in critical care, risk management, case management, patient advocacy, healthcare publications and training and development. Anne has been a leader in the area of Patient Advocacy since 2010. She was a Founding member of the Patient Advocate Certification Board and is currently serving on the National Association of Health Care Advocacy. Anne writes a weekly Blog, Nurse Advocate to share stories and events that will educate and empower people be better prepared when they enter the healthcare system.

    More by This Author

    What are You Reading for Your Own Professional Development and Relaxation?  

    Case Management Focus For the past several years, I have written two lists; the Professional Reading List and the Summer Reading list. I do this by reaching out to readers and asking for your suggestions.   […]
    10 Ways to Get Stress Under Control

    Case Management Focus Nurse Case Managers are under a lot of stress for a variety of reasons. Here are two that affect all case managers no matter where their clients live: keeping up with ever […]
    Where are You on Your Career Ladder?

    Case Management Focus Nursing is a career that requires planning and adjustment as you progress. In this post, I hope to stimulate you to think about where you are on your career ladder.  Whether you are […]

    Read More

    Could Burned Oil Workers Bypass Louisiana’s Workers’ Comp Exclusive Remedy Rule?

    What Do You Think? Establishing intentional tort for a work-related injury is a bit like finding oil in the backyard. It’s really unlikely. A case involving two oil refinery workers who were tragically burned on […]
    What Benefits are Available in Massachusetts?

    Glossary Check If you're getting up to speed on workers' compensation in the Bay State, and you're wondering what terms like "temporary total" and "temporary partial" mean, a good place to turn is Simply Research. […]
    Restaurant Employee Attacked by Upset Customers

    Safety at Work Memphis, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Police in Memphis are looking for two women they say assaulted a restaurant employee. According to the Memphis Police Department, officers responded to an assault call at the […]
    Roofer’s Fall without Harness doesn’t Trigger Idaho’s ‘Unprovoked Physical Aggression’ Rule

    Case File When a roofer fell off a roof without fall protection of any kind, how much did the builder know about it? Not much, and that made all the difference in the case. Simply […]
    Mexican Sailing Ship Rams Brooklyn Bridge, Killing 2, Injures More than a Dozen

    Safety at Work Brooklyn, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Mexican Navy ship, called the Cuauhtemoc, rammed into the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night, killing two crew members and leaving others dangling high above the deck waiting for […]
    Can 75-Year-Old Meatpacker get Total Disability Reclassification?

    What Do You Think? In New York, an employee receiving permanent partial disability benefits may seek reclassification so that she can continue receiving benefits based on permanent total disability. When determining whether or how to […]