Premature Baby? How Case Managers help parents with preemies

Imagine trying to think of anything beyond the present moment if you have a premature baby lying in an incubator attached to tubes and monitors fighting for his or her life.  Fortunately, with a case manager by your side, your load should be a little easier to bear; and taking care of your preemie once you are home will seem less daunting.

During the hospital stay

Ideally, a case manager is assigned very shortly after the birth of a premature baby.  Because most preemies will be in the hospital for an extended amount of time, a case manager will visit with the parents on a weekly basis to see how they are coping.  The case manager will also be in close contact with the hospital for clinical updates on how the baby is doing, any complications, what’s being done about any unexpected problems, and how close they are getting to discharging the infant.  A case manager can also interact with families to help them understand what they can normally expect when their baby is in the hospital and even give them guidance on what kind of questions they should be asking.  Helping parents understand what is going on with their premature baby can provide a huge relief during a stressful situation.  Working closely with the parents enables the case manager to make huge strides toward establishing a relationship with them.

Home Visits

An important next step is a home visit by the case manager to assist the parents in readying their home for their new arrival (when included in the plan coverage). The case manager will work with the hospital to find out what the family will need when the preemie is discharged.  It is then the CM’s job to help the family make an educated decision on what suppliers to use for any needed equipment and/or what resources are available to the family, such as First Steps.

All of this assistance is at the heart of case management; but just as importantly, the goal in the end is to educate the family enough so they no longer need to rely on a case manager to care for their premature baby.  In the end, a case manager wants and encourages the new family to reach a point of confidence and self-sufficiency so she can move on to the next family in need.