BY ERIN K. CUNNINGHAM, BSN, RN, CCM
Select Medical operates over 105 critical illness recovery hospitals (long-term acute care hospitals) as well as over 30 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. The care coordination department developed a clinical advancement program for directors of case management and case managers in order to encourage professional growth, reward professional growth, and increase employee satisfaction. This program was rolled out and offered to all case managers across all hospitals in both divisions.
The program was developed through discussions regarding employee retention and engagement. The Professional Development Ladder Program is a self-initiated program. Although supervisors and mentors will provide guidance and advice, it is ultimately the responsibility of the applicant to meet deadlines and reach goals. The purpose of the program is to support case managers in their professional growth and career. Ladder applicants must be full-time employees, complete 90-day orientation, and have no disciplinary actions on file.
The clinical advancement program includes licensure requirements, engagement in professional organizations, CEU completion, presentation, education, mentorship, committee membership and leadership. The clinical advancement ladder has four levels. Applicants must start to apply at level one and then work their way up the ladder. They can apply to advance to a higher level every six months. Applicants must reapply for the program at least once per year. Each applicant receives a stipend twice yearly based upon their ladder level.
Level one applicants must submit their state-required CEUs, an updated resume, and a letter of recommendation from a supervisor or peer. Level one applicants must be past their 90-day orientation.
Level two applicants must be employed with the company for one year. Applicants must complete all requirements of level one, in addition to a letter of recommendation from both a supervisor and a peer, complete an online management education course, participate in one hospital committee and complete two presentations, projects or travel assignments.
Level three requires at least three years of employment with Select Medical. All level two requirements are required in addition to two total online management courses, become a member of a professional organization, and monthly meeting with a mentor.
Level four applicants must be employed with the company for five years, all level three requirements, along with three online management courses, three presentations, projects, or travel assignments, and become a mentor to another CM.
During the program’s inaugural year, applicants were able to directly advance to the level that best corresponds to their qualifications. This option was only available for the first year of the Professional Development Ladder roll out. After that time has expired, all applicants will have to start at Level one and work their way up to each level. The first application cycle received 74 total applications, with 69 applicants being approved for the program. Of the 69 approved applicants, 16% were at level one, 41% at level two, 10% at level three, and 33% at level four. The second applications cycle received 103 total applicants. There were 101 approved applications, with 6 applicants that re-applied to advance to a higher ladder level. Of the 101 approved applications, 56% were level one, 32% level two, 6% level three, and 6% level four.
During the second year of the program, during the third application cycle, there were 117 total applicants, with 115 applications approved. Of the 115 applicants, 56% were level one, 36% level two, 3% level 3, and 5% level four. This was the first application cycle that applicants from the first cycle would be required to reapply.
The Professional Development Ladder has a committee who were a part of developing the advancement program. The committee is comprised of regional directors of case management from both inpatient rehabilitation and critical illness recovery divisions. The committee reviews each application to ensure that all requirements are met for each applicant. They also field questions from the case managers. A dedicated company email address was created so that applicants can ask questions about their application directly to the committee. The committee also meets quarterly to review the integrity of the program.
After the inaugural year, the committee took feedback from the case managers in order to improve the application process. Applicants felt that the application itself was confusing. The committee converted the application from an Excel document with multiple tabs, to a fillable PDF application. Applicants also felt that the requirements were not clear. Three education calls were conducted, and the levels of the ladder and requirements were reviewed.
One goal of the clinical advancement program is to encourage education and growth with the case managers. One of the ways that the company is encouraging this growth is to help reimburse expenses for obtaining the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC). Case managers can be reimbursed for their CCMC study book. The company will also reimburse for CCM exam costs when an employee passes the exam. Two regional directors of case management offer monthly exam prep calls for case managers that are studying for the exam. All case managers are encouraged to pursue the CCMC credential regardless of their clinical advancement ladder participation.
The development of the clinical advancement program at Select Medical has been a journey to provide case managers and directors of case management with the confidence to grow their careers. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of the company to promote an advancement program. The program will continue to grow, and new case managers as well as tenured case managers will be able to continue to grow within the profession.
References
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Erin Cunningham, BSN, RN, CCM, living in Fort Wayne, Indiana since 2006 with my husband Richard and Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Rosemary. Our daughter, son-in-law and first grandbaby lives Edgerton, Ohio. Cheyenne is my heart, and I am beyond proud of her accomplishments. I am overjoyed to be a grandmother, Gran E, and watch my daughter and son-in-law mature into parenthood. I have worked at Select Medical since 2006 from bedside RN to case manager, and currently am a regional director of case management. I love the services we provide to our patients to let hope thrive. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of a patient’s healthcare experience. I served as a board member for Fort Wayne chapter in 2010, 2018, Chapter President 2021 and am currently chapter past president. Throughout the years of membership with Fort Wayne Chapter, I have offered my support and talents to the Education Committee. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, counted cross-stitch, live music/concerts, and movies.
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