Delegation: The Views of Case Managers

Care is provided under the direction of case managers within the Home Care Services division of the Calgary Regional Health Authority, Alberta, Canada. More than 90% of the case managers are registered nurses, with the other 10% being made up of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Often, case managers delegate personal care and housekeeping to provider agency staff who have less professional education, whereas other tasks are given to family members, friends, and clients themselves. In light of the need to be cost-effective and yet for care to be delivered by the most appropriate provider, it is time to examine delegation by case managers.