Assignment task:
Kindly write 3 paragraphs in response to this write up. Give a constructive feedback, ask questions if there is a need, also commend the writer, and give additional point. Support your response with 3 references
One major national healthcare issue is the ongoing shortage of nurses. While it is often discussed in relation to bedside nursing, the shortage also has a direct impact on utilization management and case management departments. Across the United States, health systems continue to face high turnover rates, retirement of experienced nurses, and challenges in recruiting new staff .
In my work setting, this has resulted in higher caseloads for UM nurses, delays in concurrent reviews, and pressure to meet productivity and denial prevention benchmarks. These challenges can lead to burnout and lower job satisfaction among UM staff, which also affects revenue cycle performance and patient flow.
Social determinants of health also influence the staffing shortage. Access to and quality of education play a role because nursing programs have limited capacity, and many focus primarily on preparing students for acute care. This leaves fewer nurses exposed to nontraditional areas such as utilization review and case management (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2022). Economic stability also contributes, as organizations must provide competitive wages and retention incentives to maintain an adequate nursing workforce.
In response to this stressor, my health system has expanded remote work opportunities for UM nurses to support retention and attract staff from a wider geographic area. Workflows have been updated by using standardized electronic templates and auto-routing tools in Epic to make reviews more efficient. Cross-training has also been introduced, so nurses to float between inpatient units and outpatient authorizations as needed. These strategies reflect how my workplace is addressing the shortage; however, long-term solutions will still require systemic changes, such as increasing nursing school capacity and creating greater exposure to case management roles. Need Assignment Help?