The term "case management" refers to the coordinated provision of a wide range of interventions to a single patient. Case management has been used with a wide variety of populations, and systems of care using it include mental health, aging, disabilities, primary care, and substance abuse. The coordinated care of an HIV-infected individual who also abuses substances or has mental health problems includes concomitant efforts, by providers in different systems of prevention and treatment, to care for the multiple psychosocial and physical needs of that individual. Studies have suggested that case managers who are cross-trained may improve health care access and delivery of services for clients with multiple diagnoses.

Flexible, open-minded staff are required to provide integrated care effectively. Similarly, the clear and repeated message from Cross-Training is that its success depends on providers' recognizing the need for many individual clients to receive services from more than one system.