Purpose: To describe how case management can improve the transition between services for returning servicemen injured in war zones
who often have very complex and multiple injuries.
Context: Reviews a project undertaken for the Ministry of Defence in the UK.
Data sources: Case management across secondary and primary care—studies; Literature relating to care of casualties from war zones; Statistical
evidence on casualty numbers and type of injuries.
Case description: This presentation will focus on the care of injured personnel evacuated back to the UK. Case management is to be implemented
to improve the patient care pathway and make the transition between war zone, hospital and primary care fully integrated.
(Preliminary) conclusions/Discussion: Care is often not co-ordinated, systems inadequate and patients returning as operational casualties have particular needs
in terms of health care delivery which can be overlooked, particularly in relation to mental health needs. Case management
provides a structured and co-ordinated pathway between the different services to enable continuity, a smooth transition and
improve patient outcomes. However, implementation of case management will present many challenges in this environment as the
case managers works with the service personnel within an NHS model of health care delivery. Within the NHS alone, integration
is difficult as case managers strive to manage organisational differences between health and social care. When you add on
the complexity of service personnel who have been injured whilst in a war zone, cross boundary working becomes even more difficult
to manage effectively. Case management has the potential to be the one link that brings services together in a fully integrated
way.