Case management (mental health)

Case management is the coordination of community-based services by a professional or team to provide individually-customized mental health care for people experiencing frequent setbacks or persistent challenges to their recovery. Case management seeks to reduce hospitalizations and support individuals' recovery through a holistic approach that considers each person's overall biopsychosocial needs. As a result, care coordination includes traditional mental health services but may also encompass primary healthcare, housing, transportation, employment, social relationships, and community participation.

The case management model developed in the USA in response to the closure of large psychiatric hospitals (known as deinstitutionalisation) and initially following a brokeage model, where professionals arranged for the provisions of services, without the need for direct patient care or contact. Clinical or therapeutic case management then developed as the need for the mental health professional to establish a therapeutic relationship and be actively involved in clinical care was recognised. A more intensive form of case management (assertive community treatment or Intensive Case Management) was also developed for patients with more severe illness who needed a more assertive approach. With the rise in popularity of value-based purchasing in healthcare, case management has begun to undergo a transition.

In April 2014, The Maine Department of Health and Human Services introduced the Behavioral Health Home case management program which follows a value-based purchasing approach. The Behavioral Health Home provides a holistic and integrated approach to psychiatric case management with a goal to promote increased wellness amongst an agency's entire population.

The underlying tasks of case management form a five-step cycle:

Several models of case management emerged to coordinate care for individuals with different needs. These models differ in their approach to care, frequency of contact, and the number of professionals and individuals involved. In addition to the outcome measures typically used to assess the effectiveness of treatment interventions, researchers have developed fidelity measures to assess the implementation of a particular case management model.

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