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Caseloads matters

Caseloads matters

Several studies highlighted the importance of caseload size.

In case management, the stakes aren’t just high — they’re personal. When a single case manager is expected to support 30, 40, even 50 clients, it’s not a workload — it’s a warning sign. No one wins. Clients slip through the cracks. Staff burn out. And the very system meant to support people ends up failing them.

It’s not a test of endurance — it’s a structural flaw.

The Research Is Clear

Studies consistently show that caseloads under 20 lead to stronger, more sustainable outcomes:

  • Clients receive more personalized and consistent support
  • Case managers can build real relationships, not just manage paperwork
  • Progress becomes intentional and measurable — not just reactive

What We Do Differently

That’s why Piphus Case Management keeps every case manager’s caseload under 20. It’s not just a policy — it’s a promise. Because we believe that real support requires time, trust, and presence.

When a case manager has the space to know each client well, they can:

  • Respond more quickly
  • Provide deeper, more meaningful assistance
  • Help people move forward — not just stay afloat

This Isn’t Optional — It’s Critical

In high-need environments where every hour matters and every crisis can shift a life, smaller caseloads aren’t a luxury — they’re essential.

The question isn’t whether smaller caseloads are more effective. We know they are.
The real question is: Are we ready to build a system that truly works — for everyone?

At Piphus, we already are.

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References

  1. Issakidis, C., Sanderson, K., Teesson, M., Johnston, S., & Buhrich, N. (1999). Intensive case management in Australia: a randomized controlled trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.

  2. Hamernik, E., & Pakenham, K. (1999). Assertive Community Treatment for Persons with Severe Mental Disorders: A Controlled Treatment Outcome Study. Behaviour Change.

  3. Lim, C. T., Caan, M., Kim, C. H., Chow, C., Leff, H. S., et al. (2021). Care Management for Serious Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychiatric Services.

  4. Dieterich, M., Irving, C. B., Bergman, H., Khokhar, M. A., Park, B., et al. (2017). Intensive case management for severe mental illness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

  5. Slimmer, L. (2008). Review: effectiveness of intensive case management for severe mental illness depends on baseline hospital use and organisation. Evidence-Based Nursing.

  6. Swartz, M., Swanson, J., Wagner, H., Burns, B. J., Hiday, V., et al. (1999). Can involuntary outpatient commitment reduce hospital recidivism?: Findings from a randomized trial with severely mentally ill individuals. American Journal of Psychiatry.

  7. Franklin, J. L., Solovitz, B., Mason, M., Clemons, J. R., & Miller, G. (1987). An evaluation of case management. American Journal of Public Health.

  8. Marshall, M., Burns, T., Catty, J., Dash, M., Roberts, C., et al. (2007). Use of intensive case management to reduce time in hospital in people with severe mental illness: systematic review and meta-regression.

  9. Essock, S., Frisman, L., & Kontos, N. J. (1998). Cost-effectiveness of assertive community treatment teams. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

  10. Hornstra, R., Bruce-Wolfe, V., Sagduyu, K., & Riffle, D. W. (1993). The effect of intensive case management on hospitalization of patients with schizophrenia. Hospital & Community Psychiatry.