The scenario where a local public health nurse helps identify health need priorities and cost-effective services illustrates which tertiary prevention function?

• A. Case finding.
• B. Case management.
• C. Collaboration.
• D. Provision of direct services.

Answer: (B)

Coordinating care and prioritizing resources to meet health needs is case management. When a local public health nurse helps identify health need priorities and selects cost-effective services, the nurse is organizing care across settings, linking individuals to appropriate programs, and ensuring that limited resources are used where they will have the greatest impact. This involves assessing needs, planning, connecting clients with services, and monitoring outcomes to prevent fragmentation and waste, which is the essence of case management. It aligns with tertiary prevention because it focuses on people with existing health issues, aiming to prevent progression, complications, or readmission by ensuring appropriate, efficient services. In contrast, case finding is about identifying individuals with health problems for further evaluation, collaboration means working with others across organizations, and provision of direct services is delivering care personally rather than coordinating across resources.