Hospitalization can be a stressful time for patients and their families, and planning for care after discharge can also create anxiety.

Blue Ridge HealthCare's case management team, composed of Registered Nurse Case Managers and experienced Social Workers, work closely with physicians using a multidisciplinary approach to make our patients' stay and transition out of the hospital as pleasant, smooth and successful as possible. The case management team coordinates team meetings bi-weekly on every unit for individual patients and includes department representatives from Rehabilitation, Pharmacy, Dietary, Chaplain services, and Nursing to discuss and ensure patient quality of care, appropriate continuum of care and safe patient discharge. Families and patients are often involved as well as the patient’s physician, home health, or Hospice.

Case Management and Social Services at Blue Ridge Healthcare include:

Support During Hospitalization
Patients and families can turn to professionally trained medical social workers for counsel regarding non-medical issues associated with patients' illnesses, including advance directives. Social workers work closely with the hospital chaplains to assist patients and families in establishing living wills, transferring health care power of attorney, and taking care of other health care legal documents. Staff notaries public may also be available to assist with these legal documents. Patients, their families and visitors may seek direct pastoral care from hospital chaplains, a trained, experienced and ordained professional and a member of our care- giving team.

Preparing for Discharge
When patients are ready to leave the hospital the case management staff coordinate discharge planning. Serving as liaison with insurance companies, the RN case managers assist the social workers in arranging any outpatient services, rehabilitation services, home health or medical equipment needed after discharge.  Social workers help patients locate community resources, coordinate nursing home and assisted living facility placements, and works closely with Hospice, Behavioral Health, and Chaplain services for financial assistance.

General Contact
For more information on Blue Ridge HealthCare's case management and social services, please call (828) 580-5404 or (828) 874-2251.