Commission for Case Manager Certification calls for workforce preparation, development, readiness

Posted on 09/29/2017 - 3:41 PM

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Oct. 2, 2017— In today’s complex health care landscape, the case manager's role as client-centered guide and hub for the health care team is more significant than ever. To raise awareness of the need for a well-prepared case manager workforce, today the Commission for Case Manager Certification released the 2017-2018 compendium, Preparation, Development and Readiness: A Call to Action. The Commission releases its workforce development compendium in anticipation of National Case Management week, Oct. 8-14, to spotlight the urgent demand for prepared, capable case managers.

For those with chronic illness or a serious health issue, case managers are the navigators and connectors. Case managers coordinate care between settings, bring clarity to confusing terminology and processes, and connect clients to the resources--physical, emotional and financial—that are needed to achieve better health.

“No matter what advances health care research and technology achieve, clients and organizations need the knowledge, expertise and ethical commitment the case manager brings to the team,” said MaryBeth Kurland, CAE, the Commission’s chief executive officer. “The Commission’s strategic focus is to clear barriers so case managers in the field today can access the resources they need to professionally advance, stay ahead of changes and trends, and demonstrate their readiness to adapt and lead in this rapidly evolving sector.”

In honor of National Case Management Week, the Commission also announced it is extending the current application period through Oct. 15 for those who wish to take the Certified Case Manager® credential (CCM®) exam. More than 42,000 CCMs currently hold the CCM, the largest and oldest certification for case managers. Applications to take the robust CCM exam are accepted only during three windows over the course of each year.

“Employers and the public recognize the CCM credential as the mark of professional excellence in case management, because it requires experience, education and passing a research-based exam,” Kurland said. The CCM is the only interdisciplinary, cross practice setting case manager certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

The Commission’s focus on workforce development includes collaboration with Partners in Excellence, likeminded organizations that share a commitment to advance case manager workforce development and certification. The CCM is endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers and promoted by the Case Management Society of America, which sponsors National Case Management Week. The CCM is also approved for reimbursement under the Post-911 GI Bill and recognized for hospital Magnet status.

“The Commission remains an independent credentialing body,” Kurland said. “Our purpose is to promote professional case management excellence through certification and educational programs that support it.”
To learn about workforce development, see https://ccmcertification.org/about-ccmc/ccmc/2017-compendium. For more about professional development and the CMLearning Network Resource Center, call (856) 380-6836 or visit http://www.ccmcertification.org.

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 42,000 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.