Roles in case management

[claire sauve]

Roles are one of the objects that are required in a case management system.  Roles are similar to relationships in that they link contact to contact.  However, as well as linking contact to contact, they are also attached to a context, the case (or the case type.)

Each case has at least the following two roles: client and case manager (we recognize that the term “manager” is problematic for some folks, but think that this is probably the best term here.)
The most general case will also have one or more other “interested parties” (looking for the proper term here.  We had originally been using the word “participant”, but realize that CiviEVENT already uses “participant”.  Some others also use “observer” but that does not seem to be active enough)

What really end ups happening is that many of the “interested parties” will have more specific roles.  For example, “addiction counselor”, “social worker” etc.

Certain case types will have specific, required predetermined roles associated with them.  (e.g   ). But even case types with specific predetermined roles will have contacts, relationships that fall outside of the specified roles (e.g. family members, co-workers…)  who will fit into the “interested parties” category.

[petednz]

Hi there - by all means tell me to butt out or stop banging on about 'my issue' - but I am still looking at how the concept of a new Contact Type which is a Role(or Office) can help others (so I can better see if it is worth pushing on with or not). You can see my explanation here http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRM/New+contact+type+for+Position+or+Office.

Key thing I would ask is whether, in your case, the information that may  'belong' to a 'case manager' may need to be attached to the 'role' rather than to the person in the 'role'. Eg, your 'case manager' for a 'patient?' changes, but the information that may exist may need to remain attached to the 'role' so that it moves on to the new person who is in that role.

And might the 'case manager' role ever need to 'exist' when there is no Individual Contact to link it to?

If this does sound relevant then I would be interested in discussing and understanding better how my suggestion may or may help your case. Cheers

[claire sauve]

The discussion is definitely welcome!  If you haven't seen it yet, have a read of Andrew's response in the Automated Population of Case Milestones thread, here: http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,3453.msg15807.html#msg15807

It might even fit better in this thread about Roles, but applies to both.
Cheers.