ANSWERS TO CMSA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. Who is CMSA?      

 

CMSA is the nation’s only not for profit professional membership organization focusing solely on supporting case managers and advancing case management by:

 

Providing education, research and practical assistance to case managers, ·

 

Serving as the “voice of case management” to the industry, to legislators, to regulators & to consumers·

 

Embracing healthcare membership organizations, credentialing bodies and payer and provider organizations to jointly craft the future of American healthcare and case management

 

2. CMSA Leads the Industry…

 

The case management field is rapidly transforming itself. With the increasing importance of e-health, aging America, and managed care concerns, the search for win-win solutions is critical. Case management, care coordination & care management is now the focus of outcomes focused Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstration projects (ongoing). With positive outcomes from those studies, CM will be positioned at the heart of positive solutions for American healthcare.

 

1. CMSA has a representative on the CMS Demonstration Project review team.

 

2. CMSA is directly involved with key e-health technology leaders.

 

3. CMSA continues to support work on the leading edge of national CM outcomes.

 

4. CMSA works closely with key industry influencers and leaders such as Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Defense HCFA, URAC, ANA, AMA, BCBSA, WBGH, HIAA, AHA, ONS, AOTA, IARP, multiple certifying organizations and many others … to make a difference.

 

3. Who are Case Managers?

 

Case managers are primarily nurses, social workers and other allied health professionals functioning in an increasingly intense and demanding environment.

 

  4. How do I develop, or advance a career in Case Management?

 

 First, join CMSA! For more information, visit http://www.cmsa.org/.

 

Information like…· What case management is and should be in every practice setting?

 

How to perform my case management job with care and expertise?

 

What outcomes should I expect?

 

Where should I go for education to facilitate a successful practice?

 

All this and more is exactly what CMSA strives to deliver through on-line resources, local and national conferences, and multiple publications. CMSA members choose their preferred delivery method; but CMSA is there to provide resources and remove roadblocks. Advance your career:

 

1. Learn more about the healthcare system in which you are employed.

 

2. Learn exactly how you can impact the outcomes of care for patients and families.

 

3. Learn how you can perform with excellence in entry-level jobs.

 

4. Learn how you can perform in supervisory or upper level management positions.

 

5. Acquire certification in your area of expertise or practice setting.

 

6. Engage in continued learning opportunities related to industry trends, outcomes, benchmarks, and new breakthroughs in e-health solutions.

 

7. Evaluate the system within which you work to see if it offers/supports growth opportunities.

 

8. Check out other job opportunities for best fit.  Whether you are just beginning a case management career or can boast decades of experience, CMSA provides a variety of entry points for all case managers to develop and enhance professional skills and knowledge:

 

 

 Develop essential network connections at over 70 local chapters and attend local educational programs, many offering CEUs.· Access FREE online continuing education and CEUs.·

 

Participate in any of the Special Interest Group online discussions 24 hours a day.

 

Receive Free publications and continuing education units in print and online.

 

 

Check out the online job postings.

 

Case Managers operate at four primary levels:

 

1. Case Managers - with client/family management responsibilities

 

2. Case Management Mangers - with outcomes management and personnel management responsibilities

 

3. Consultants for CM systems

 

4. Teachers of Case Management - Academic or Continuing Education.  The particular area of practice, i.e. hospital or managed care or disability management, determines the particular clinical, technological, business management skills required for each level.

 

 

 

5. What does certification mean and explain what new case managers just entering the field need to support a certification goal?

 

Certification is a means of validating to the public that a professional has achieved a given level of experience, education and expertise. Relevant certification in general is professionally and financially beneficial to case managers at each level of practice. CMSA supports a number of certifications and access to the respective certification bodies. For a list of the various certifications, please contact mailto:cmsa@cmsa.org.                     

 

CMSA also supports certification through continuing education opportunities necessary to maintain certification status. Note: certification does not guarantee appropriate knowledge or success of any particular individual.

 

6. Does accreditation matter?

 

Although accreditation is the system used to validate case management systems, it is equally important. Accreditation ensures the system is established in a manner to promote the appropriate functioning of individuals working within it. A Case Manager may be certified and may be an excellent knowledge based practitioner, but if the system is not appropriately structured, he/she cannot deliver favorable patient based outcomes.