2008 Summary Annual Report

SPECIALIZING IN COMPASSION

WellPoint’s nurse care managers serve as personal advocates to members in times of need. When an illness or injury results in a prolonged intensive-care stay, nurse care managers coordinate with physicians to help design the best care plan. They work with members’ families and providers, offering education, motivation and encouragement. They also help plan for discharge from the acute care setting, coordinating with community services as needed. In addition, they stress disease prevention by using predictive modeling to identify members at high risk and suggest custom health solutions.

When a complex condition results in a prolonged hospitalization, members and their families have a friend in registered nurse Maria Garcia of Columbus, Georgia. As a case management discharge manager, she helps to plan and direct the critical transition from intensive care to an outpatient or home setting.