Meet Lee Anne Clark, RN, CCM, Field Case Manager
Lee Anne works closely with claims examiners, claimants, medical providers, and employers to coordinate care in line with best practice, to facilitate return to work and recovery from work related injury. She has over 25 years of nursing experience including a decade of workers’ compensation case management experience. She is passionate about patient education and developing therapeutic relationships with her patients.
Lee Anne serves as a new employee mentor and is proud to provide education to fellow colleagues on how field case management services impact occupational injury claim management.
Challenge
*Devon sustained a devastating open fracture to his lower right extremity following a workplace injury. Initial surgery required external fixation, and what began as a complex orthopedic recovery soon became even more serious when he developed osteomyelitis.
As the infection persisted despite aggressive treatment, concerns about long-term limb viability emerged. At one point, amputation was being discussed as a possible outcome. For Devon, this meant facing the potential loss of not only his limb, but his independence, mobility, and quality of life. The case quickly evolved into a medically fragile and emotionally overwhelming situation requiring close oversight and decisive coordination.
Solution
Lee Anne stepped in with proactive nurse case management leadership to help guide Devon and the treating team through a rapidly escalating clinical course. By leveraging strong, collaborative relationships with the claim’s examiner, Lee Anne secured immediate authorization for recommended surgical and specialty interventions. This prevented delays during a critical treatment window and ensured the care plan could move forward without interruption.
She maintained consistent communication among orthopedics, infectious disease, hyperbaric medicine specialists, and the broader care team to align treatment goals and facilitate timely clinical decisions. When infectious disease recommended partial hardware removal to better control the infection, coordination occurred swiftly.
In addition to surgical and specialty oversight, Lee Anne coordinated home wound care services, VNA support, physical therapy, vascular surgery consultation, and wound care specialist follow-up — ensuring continuity of care across settings and minimizing gaps in treatment. This comprehensive oversight helped stabilize a case that required close monitoring at every phase. Devon completed approximately 50 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions as part of a focused limb-salvage effort.
Treating surgeons — including nationally recognized specialists — commented on the notable efficiency with which care was authorized and implemented. The seamless coordination among providers, coupled with timely approvals, allowed treatment plans to move forward without interruption. Early intervention and uninterrupted execution of the care strategy proved pivotal in altering what had been an increasingly concerning clinical trajectory.
Throughout the process, Lee Anne remained a steady advocate, ensuring Devon understood his treatment plan, felt supported, and remained engaged during an emotionally taxing recovery.
Result
Ultimately, Limb salvage was achieved. Devon preserved function in his lower extremity and avoided the life-altering physical and emotional consequences associated with limb loss. Remarkably, he reached maximum medical improvement exactly one year from the date of injury — an outcome that reflected coordinated, uninterrupted execution of care in a case that had once been trending toward amputation.
What began as a high-risk, limb-threatening injury became a story of alignment, persistence, and recovery. This case reflects the powerful impact of engaged nurse case management — where clinical expertise, timely action, and compassionate advocacy come together to influence both human outcomes and long-term claim resolution.
*Name changed for privacy purposes