In The Tipping Point1, Malcolm Gladwell describes a phenomenon in which a niche market or fad undergoes transformation into mainstream acceptability, resulting in widespread social change. He concludes that a “tipping point” occurs when a series of small events results in a critical mass of acceptance that produces sudden major changes.
Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug in the United States. Each year, 17 million adults experience a serious problem with alcohol, but only 3 million get help.1 Risky or problem drinking can jeopardize the health and safety of not only those who drink but also their families, coworkers, and communities. Because of their collaborative approach to helping clients achieve wellness and independence, case managers are in a prime position to identify and address clients' alcohol problems.
The rise in prescription drug costs in workers' compensation cases has become alarming. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the prescription drug share of total medical costs by accident year increased from 6.5% in 1997 to 9.6% in 2001. Today, 10 cents of every dollar spent on medical care for workers' comp is spent on prescription drugs.
Why the increase? The reasons vary; however, whatever the reason, it is critical to determine whether a prescribed drug is treating a work-related injury or another ailment unrelated to the injury. Knowing what questions to ask and where to go for additional information can help keep prescription medication costs under control.
Previously thought of as the elderly, the older population is most frequently defined as those age 60 and older; in short, “we older persons” are the baby boomers—although many of us do not want to consider ourselves older. We members of the boomer population, born between 1946 and 1964, generally consider ourselves vital, active, proactive, productive, and thriving. We often think the category “older”—those who are 65 years and older—is reserved for our parents, a misperception that misses a significant percentage of persons entering their older years. We do not stop to think that by 2010, baby boomers will increase the population of older adults to 40 million and begin to depend on Medicare. Twenty years later, in 2030, the 65-and-over population will hit 70 million; we “older persons” will be 1 out of every 5 Americans.
You're a case manager. Your boss is talking return on investment (ROI). Your patients don't want to be numbers on a spreadsheet. What does it take to be a hero to both the boss and the patient? Case managers frequently try to argue that great gains in quality of life for the patient are so valuable that management ought to ease up on case managers when talking about budget and returns. An experienced quality professional might respond, “Good luck.”
Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug in the United States. Each year, 17 million adults experience a serious problem with alcohol, but only 3 million get help. Risky or problem drinking can jeopardize the health and safety of not only those who drink but also their families, coworkers, and communities. Because of their collaborative approach to helping clients achieve wellness and independence, case managers are in a prime position to identify and address clients' alcohol problems.
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