The more quickly a family can get help and information from a case manager about a loved one's injury and the processes for recovery, the less frustration and confusion there will be.
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So when a brain injury happens, all bets are off. So the person might come in through ER
and then either go straight to the acute unit or maybe they go to ICU first
and then sub-acute, post-acute--you know--all these different levels of services
and various places can sometimes be very frustrating and overwhelming to the family
who has no idea what to expect and no idea how the person gets from
one place to the other. Well, it's the case manager's role to
make sense of that for the family and help facilitate the process so that
it's more streamlined and they're well-educated as to what needs to happen next.
A lot of times the case manager is going to be involved--you know--many, many months
and possibly years into the injury. And they'll always be there to help coordinate.
A case manager's primary role is to basically facilitate the person's movement
from one stage of treatment to the next.
It's my opinion that immediately after the injury, a family should start looking online
and calling every organization they know and requesting information, because education
of this injury is going to save them months and months of frustration and heartache--
getting the facts up front and becoming very clear about the expectations.
It's okay to hope for the best, but also be prepared for some really big challenges ahead.
And education is the one thing that is going to best equip that family to deal with the injury.
Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King, BrainLine.
Michael Paul Mason is the founding editor of This Land, a monthly magazine based in Tulsa. Mason's first book, Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath is an exploration into the harsh realities endured by people with brain injury survivors.
The contents of Brainline (the “Web Site”), such as text, graphics, images, information obtained from the Web Site’s licensors and/or consultants, and other material contained on the Web Site (collectively, the “Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for medical, legal, or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. The Web Site does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Web Site. Reliance on any information provided by the Web Site or by employees, volunteers or contractors or others associated with the Web Site and/or other visitors to the Web Site is solely at your own risk.
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