Effectiveness of outpatient case management for adults.

Evidence-Based Answer Compared with usual care, case management does not reduce mortality in patients with multiple chronic diseases. (Strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence.) Case management improves patient satisfaction with care for congestive heart failure and cancer, and increases patient perception of care coordination. It improves the quality of care for patients with complex illnesses. (SOR: B, based on inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence.) Case management interventions showed mixed results in improving patient quality of life and functional status. For caregivers of patients with dementia, targeted case management programs improve levels of stress, burden, and depression. The effects of case management on health care resource utilization and on costs of care are minimal. (SOR: B, based on inconsistent or limitedquality patient-oriented evidence.)