Case Manager Interview Assignment

     On September 3rd, 2010, I interviewed Shentreda Bell at Our House and Milestone Senior Living in reference to the assignment I was given regarding the case manager interview.  In speaking to Shentreda, I learned several details about the company she works for.  I had asked her about the details involved in being a case manager at her facility, how she chooses which clients are going to reside in the facility, who is involved in that placement, and many more questions.
     When asking her to describe the details that are involved  with being a case manager at Our House, Shentreda stated that some of her duties include assessing and monitoring patients, determining eligibility for treatments, making use of clinical pathways in order to determine whether the plan of care being provided meets the patients needs, arranging additional services as needed in order to help patients achieve desired outcomes.  Shentreda conducts research, analyzes data, and coordinates patient care with all members of the patient's health care team providing each patient with individual planning in order to ensure an excellent outcome while also seeking to ensure care and services provided are in accordance with the patient's needs and that they are cost effective.  Shentreda also stated that she helps patients and their families by making sure that all procedures approved by Our House lead to significant results instead of unnecessary procedures without possible merit.
     Each facility may provide different levels of care.  The Our House and Milestone Senior Living facility is known for their state licensing, twenty-four hour awake staff, highly trained and caring staff, a registered nurse consultant, care assistance, individualized care plans, and communication with each resident's primary physician and responsible party.  Shentreda said that the Our House facility takes pride in the level of care that they do provide.  In commenting, she said that the facility is continuously looking for ways to improve the care which they provide to meet with the changing clients demands and/or needs.
     During the interview with Shentreda, I inquired about the level of pay that she received annually.  Shentreda said that she started with around $24,000 annually and is now receiving roughly $56,000 annually.  Shentreda told me that she has been in her position for approximately a little over eight years.  She stated that, given the field that she followed, there is always a growing need for residential case managers.
     Many individuals would like to know who is involved in the placement of the clients within the facility.  I did ask Shentreda this question.  She said that the court system, the family members, the power of attorney, or the private owners of the facility may be involved, depending on the individual situation.
     In the brief interview that I had with Shentreda, I learned many interesting and useful information about her position as a case manager.  The details of her position, the choosing of the clients, and the level of care provided at her facility would be something I would look for when seeking possible employers in the future.