Which process involves identifying and evaluating the needs of a patient?

The process that specifically involves identifying and evaluating the needs of a patient is the needs assessment. This critical step in case management is designed to gather comprehensive information about the patient's health, circumstances, and any barriers they may face in accessing appropriate care or resources. During the needs assessment, various factors such as medical history, social supports, psychological aspects, and environmental influences are considered.

Conducting a thorough needs assessment helps the case manager understand the unique situation of each patient, enabling the development of personalized care plans that address their specific challenges and goals. This process ensures that the patient's voice is heard and their preferences are taken into account, leading to more effective and coordinated care.

While treatment planning, referral processes, and outcome measurement are important components of the overall care management approach, they operate on a different level. Treatment planning focuses on outlining specific interventions based on identified needs, referral processes involve directing patients to appropriate services or specialists, and outcome measurement assesses the effectiveness of the interventions. Therefore, while they are all integral to comprehensive patient care, they do not specifically concentrate on the initial identification and evaluation of a patient's needs as directly as the needs assessment does.