Is Case Management an Effective Recovery Tool?

The path to recovery can be long and daunting. Many people feel overwhelmed as they begin their journey to a healthier lifestyle. Juggling mental health concerns, economic considerations, and more, all while undergoing a very emotional and often painful process of detox, could be enough to deter many people from seeking recovery. Case management services are designed to help with exactly this problem. A case manager can help you stay organized and connect you to the resources necessary for a successful recovery.

What Is Case Management?

Case management can have a variety of definitions based on the context that it's being described. Within the context of addiction recovery, case management typically refers to a type of social work that connects individuals to the resources necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy, sober lifestyle. This often begins before or during treatment and extends beyond rehabilitation until the services are determined to be no longer necessary. Case management covers a breadth of services ranging from connecting you to a therapist to giving you access to job placement services. Often, case management may look different among individuals because clients' needs during recovery vary depending on a variety of factors such as socio-economic standing, the extent of social support, addiction background, etc. Due to this, you must find a case manager who you feel will be receptive to your needs as an individual.

Case Managers

Workers who provide these services to individuals in recovery are referred to as case managers. The main goal of case managers is to facilitate recovery by connecting their clients to pertinent resources. Case managers ensure that you're receiving the proper healthcare necessary for your recovery as well as connect you to social services that will help you beyond initial recovery. The most important aspect of case managers is that they are dedicated to your specific recovery needs. Some recovery programs may be generalized, but case managers will work with you to ensure you're receiving the care that you specifically need. They will be an active part of the recovery process, frequently monitoring and evaluating your treatment to determine what may or may not be working for you. Additionally, the duties of case managers often extend beyond initial recovery. Case managers can help connect you to job placement services and more. Case managers will also help you with relapse prevention planning to ensure that, if relapse becomes a reality, you have the networks in place to create a new recovery plan to get you back on the path to recovery. In this scenario, the case manager you worked with previously will likely help you implement these plans. Overall, the typical duties of a case manager may include:

• Conducting assessments of clients, both clinical and psychosocial
• Providing management over care teams
• Evaluating the appropriate level of care necessary
• Coordinating client care between multiple healthcare providers
• Monitoring compliance with treatment and/or recovery plans
• Establishing a client’s schedule and monitoring weekly progress
• Educating clients on healthcare benefits
• Coordinating ethical and legal issues related to client care
• Overseeing healthcare costs and insurance coverage
• Connecting clients to opportunities for employment

Is Case Management Effective?

The resources case managers provide may seem too good to be true, so it's important to study the effectiveness of case managers in achieving successful and long-lasting recovery. A meta-analysis that took place over the course of 20 years evaluated 6,000 patients to determine whether or not case management actually correlated with higher satisfaction with the recovery process. At the end of the study, they found case management to be associated with the following:

• Greater improvement in symptoms
• Reduction in duration of hospital stays
• A smaller proportion of hospitalization
• Increased contact with mental health services
• Higher retention rates for mental health services
• Greater improvement in social functioning
• Greater care satisfaction
• Improved family satisfaction with care
• Less family burden of care

As you can see, there are many benefits associated with case management. Many people feel uncomfortable with the thought of a case manager being so intimately involved in what is a very personal process, which is understandable. However, case managers can be a vital tool in achieving a successful recovery and maintaining sobriety. Actively working with your case manager, even beyond initial recovery, could be crucial in connecting you to resources that you otherwise may never have access to. Additionally, any issues you may face after recovery — whether personal, professional, financial, or otherwise — could become more manageable with a trusted professional available to help you. Many people struggle with beginning their recovery process, staying organized and motivated during it, and knowing the right steps to take after rehabilitation. If you feel that a comprehensive and individualized approach to your recovery may help you in your process, utilizing a case management service may be a viable option for you. Case management is a type of social work that connects individuals to the resources necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy, sober lifestyle. Case managers can help connect you to resources before, during, and after your recovery to ensure that you're setting yourself up for lasting recovery. While some people may feel nervous about having someone so intimately connected with their recovery, studies have proven the positive effects case managers can have on recovery outcomes. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we prioritize your individual recovery needs, which can include a case manager. If you would like more information on case management and the services we provide, call our professionals today at (760) 492-6509.