Developing and launching the CMSA Strategic Plan—EPIC—has resulted in a clear pathway to serve case managers and our CMSA members better. This EPIC plan (Education, Public relations/policy, Increased membership and Collaboration), sets the stage for increased member value, expanded educational offerings and professional development opportunities, and improved visibility for case managers within the healthcare community, with the public and with legislators on Capitol Hill.
Offering access to professional development and networking, practical resources and tools and opportunities to influence public policy on issues vital to case managers practicing across the entire care continuum and at every level of practice—CMSA’s work is never done. New programs and services are added or enhanced each year, and 2024 was another year of value-add for case managers of all disciplines and in all settings.
Here are some ways that CMSA membership offers EPIC value:
EDUCATION
Education is the cornerstone of CMSA membership. Get a competitive edge with educational webinars, informative newsletters, advanced training and professional publications on the latest trends and innovations.
CMSA members have free access to 150+ CEs (RN, SW, CCM and CCM ethics, CDMS and CDMS Ethics, CMC and CLNCP) through CMSA’s online Educational Resource Library. In 2024, over 40 new courses were added, further helping to assist in improving your patient engagement, elevating your practice, staying on top of current trends and more.
Through two in-person CMSA CM Boot Camp sessions, CMSA built the skills and experience of case managers. CM Boot Camp is an intensive, interactive and engaging program aimed at case managers with less than five years’ experience, new to a particular setting or interested in professional development.
With over 75 total CEs offered at the 2024 CMSA Annual Conference & Expo in Providence, Rhode Island, CMSA offered an unparalleled variety of educational sessions covering trends and innovations in case management.
CMSA is now the exclusive provider for case managers, nurses and social workers of Bruce Berger’s comMIT training, a comprehensive motivational interviewing course.
Released in August 2024, the newly revised Standards of Professional Case Management Practice online course reinforces best practices as outlined in the Standards of Practice for Case Management (revised 2022) and unifies the practice by providing a common understanding and application of the role, process and expectations of case managers.
CMSA’s annual conference is the place to reconnect with old friends, make new connections and exchange both current and emerging best practices. The 2024 CMSA Annual Conference & Expo was an absolute success, featuring popular expanded Networking Roundtable sessions and countless opportunities to engage with colleagues old and new.
20+ educational webinars, which are always free to CMSA members, offered timely trends and topics throughout the year.
Integrated Case Management training courses are offered annually to equip case managers with advanced strategies to engage clients, stratify risk, and develop comprehensive care plans to achieve improved health and well-being.
CMSA introduced a new training opportunity—the Virtual Cost of Poverty Experience (VCOPE). This training is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of how social determinants of health impact healthcare delivery and outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of learning from communities most affected by health inequities and encourages community discussions that can lead to meaningful change and innovative thinking.
PUBLIC RELATIONS/PUBLIC POLICY
CMSA advocates for case management by ensuring both legislators and the public recognize the importance of case management in improving health outcomes.
Webinars were offered on CMSA’s three key legislative priorities—Telehealth, Mental Health and Workforce Development—keeping members informed about the issues affecting their work on Capitol Hill and empowering them to get involved and make a difference.
CMSA’s Virtual Hill Visits program allowed members to meet with legislators and their staff to educate them on the importance of case management and how they can support the profession.
CMSA members were kept informed with the enhanced monthly CMSA Policy Newsletter.
The newly formed CMSA Public Information Committee created new Impact of Case Management Fact Sheets. These resources are designed to help healthcare professionals, clients, families and caregivers better understand how case managers guide individuals toward improved health outcomes.
CMSA released a position paper, “Promoting Successful Outcomes in Making Care Primary: The Role and Value of Case Management,” that emphasizes the importance of case management and professional case managers in improving care coordination and patient outcomes within primary care settings.
CMSA released a Position Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) outlining the commitment to amplifying the crucial importance of DEIB for the membership, the case management workforce and the clients and families served.
In October, CMSA released an addendum to the Standards of Practice for Case Management: Standard Q: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and Health Equity.
INCREASED MEMBERSHIP
As the oldest organization dedicated to advancing professional case managers across the healthcare continuum, CMSA exists because of its members. We are committed to continually increasing the value of membership while growing our community. Together, we are stronger in advocating for the case management profession and providing enhanced support for high-quality, ethical practice that benefits clients, their families and support systems.
CMSA strengthened the federation of CMSA Chapters through a reinvigorated partnership with a focus on delivering value to the local, state and regional levels.
New and valuable tools and resources were added monthly to the Chapter Leader Resource Center to support CMSA Chapter leadership.
We appreciate the hundreds of CMSA member volunteers who make everything at CMSA possible through the work of our boards, committees, task groups and Chapter leadership. CMSA is Case Management!
Our favorite time of the year happened in October. While we celebrate case managers all year long, we relished the special recognition during National Case Management Week, October 13-19, 2024, with education, networking events, prizes and more!
CMSA proudly welcomed the Case Management Fellows (FCM) Class of 2024, the highest designation recognizing industry leaders who are passionate about the professional practice of case management. These fellows actively shape future trends, address key issues and serve both the public and the profession by advancing practice standards through excellence.
COLLABORATION
Expand your knowledge with your network on the local, national and even international level. It is not just who you know, it is who others know and what they know.
CMSA strengthened collaborations with affiliated organizations, including AANLCP, ACPA, ALCA, CMI, URAC, NQF, NADSA, NMEDA, NOBC, NTOCC and SSWLHC. We also welcomed new partners AABB, ADAA, and Rural Minds this year, and additional collaborations are under way to expand awareness of case management and add more value to membership.
In collaboration with the Case Management Institute (CMI), the 2024 Salary and Trends Survey was conducted to provide benchmarking and best practices information for case managers and their employers.
New CMSA Special Interest Groups (SIGS) for our members working in the Military/Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense, in rural settings and our case management friends across the globe have been created to offer a centralized place to network, learn and educate in specialized areas.
Membership in CMSA ADDS UP! CMSA members can save over $1,500 a year through member discounts, free CE access, digital downloads, and more!
Take full advantage of all that membership has to offer by visiting www.cmsa.org. or join today at: https://cmsa.org/membership/individual-membership/!
