The Commission affirms lifelong learning as foundation for the future case management workforce

Posted on 10/08/2018 - 3:24 PM

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Oct. 9, 2018—As the U.S. population ages and becomes more diverse, there’s a parallel need for a diverse and expanded case management workforce. The Commission for Case Manager Certification® confirmed its commitment to workforce development this week, announcing a free tool employers can use to assess case manager readiness for certification.

Case managers connect millions of patients to the clinical and community resources they need. More than 45,000 case managers hold the Certified Case Manager® (CCM®), the largest, oldest case manager credential. The CCM is the only interdisciplinary, cross practice setting case manager certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

The Commission provides a range of resources to help case managers validate knowledge and skills through certification. The new Workforce Development Assessment is a free, 35-question quiz that offers insight into readiness for those considering certification. It’s part of the Commission’s effort to align with employers, government entities and non-profit membership organizations to train, validate knowledge and build a capable workforce.

“Case managers work in diverse settings across the health care spectrum, but their common focus is to help clients advance to their optimal level of health and well-being,” says MaryBeth Kurland, CAE, the Commission’s chief executive officer. “The Commission supports the profession through certification and resources case managers need to stay current in a rapidlychanging health care landscape.”

This year, agencies and employers from California to Florida worked with the Commission to bring the two-day Certification 360™ case management training course to classrooms across the country. While the Commission tailors large-scale opportunities for Partners in Excellence (likeminded organizations that share a commitment to advance case manager workforce development and certification), it also offers tools individuals and organizations can use for professional development every day:

  1. The Workforce Development Toolkit is a range of professional development resources. Content on topics such as care coordination, care transitions, social determinants of health and ethical principles in case management is offered online, face-to-face and in self-study formats.
  2. Exam study materials, including Practice Exams;
  3. Tips about organizing study groups and exam eligibility; and
  4. Brief videos aimed to inspire case managers: Get Certified, Stay Certified and Develop Others.

Just as case managers guide clients, they also support one another. Board-certified case managers frequently act as mentors to develop others. “We believe these formal and informal relationships are often the first rung on the case manager career ladder,” Kurland says.

The Commission extended the CCM application period through Oct. 15 to allow more case managers to take the exam. The CCM is endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers and promoted by the Case Management Society of America. The CCM is approved for reimbursement under the Post-911 GI Bill and recognized for hospital Magnet status.

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification
The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 45,000 professional case managers and over 2,600 disability management specialists. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM® credential. The Commission also oversees the process of disability management specialist certification with its CDMS® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with the Commission on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

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