Difference Between Case Manager & Patient Care Facilitator

Case managers and patient care facilitators both play important roles on treatment teams in health care settings. While there are many similarities between these roles, they are distinct careers that involve different training and expertise.

Function

• Case managers generally function to assist patients and their families by connecting them with needed services, helping them navigate social service systems, advocating on their behalf and collaborating with treatment teams. In contrast, patient care facilitators are trained nurses whose focus is on providing direct care to a patient and coordinating care by communicating with doctors and treatment teams.

Features

• Case managers are generally social workers or professionals trained in social services. They can work in a variety of settings, not limited to health care. By contrast, patient care facilitators are solely nurses who offer clinical and interpersonal expertise in service of increasing care continuity, smoothing the patient's experience.

Benefits

• Although they offer different services, there are some similar benefits to having a case manager or a patient care facilitator. Both can offer advocacy, helping to make the patient's voice heard. They also both provide types of support counseling for patients and their families and help to coordinate care.