BY JENNIFER GAZDA, LCSW, CMC, CDP
The field of case management is considered to be a helping profession. A helping profession is any field of practice that provides support and services for human beings. While other professions are working with products or various services, our “product” is people, and what we do or do not do can potentially have a great impact on the life of another individual.
BY DR. COLLEEN MORLEY, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM
As I pen my final President’s Message for CMSA Today as immediate past president of CMSA, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride in the collective accomplishments of our case management community. Reflecting on this important period in my life, it’s clear that our profession continues to evolve, driven by compassion, resilience and an unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes.
What better way to advance your practice and elevate your profession than by joining us for the 2025 CMSA 35th Anniversary Annual Conference & Expo, taking place June 24-27 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas!
BY DEBRA COOPER, SUNFLOWER HEALTH PLAN
A community health worker (CHW) is someone who works directly with the community to support their health and well-being. Because they are part of the community and deeply connected to it, people trust them. This trust helps CHWs bridge the gap between the community and health or social services, making it easier for people to access care and ensuring the services are delivered in a way that respects their culture and needs.
BY JOYACE G. USSIN, MSN, RN, BSBM, CCM
The new year has begun, and with it myriad new resolutions, constitutions and subscriptions with promises to do better, live well and excel! Every year we set goals, make plans and craft visions to perform better than the year before, whether it is in relationships, financially, in our careers or even physically. This year, I have decided to begin simple! I crafted two small goals that could be completed in less than one month’s time, but the effects would benefit far after completion, or should I say, inauguration.
BY RON BILLANO ORDONA, DNP, FNP-BC, GS-C, WCC
In an article I wrote for Nursing Clinics of America, I highlighted the critical role of effective care transitions for chronic wound patients, emphasizing the need for robust communication between acute, skilled nursing and community-based care settings. By focusing on nurse and nurse practitioner (NP)-led community-based initiatives and strategies that reduce hospital readmissions, I am advocating for comprehensive discharge planning and sustained follow-up care.
BY SUSAN Y. SWART, EDD, MS, RN, CAE
The Illinois Nurses Foundation is spearheading a transformative initiative to address the critical healthcare disparities that pervade rural areas in Illinois. By launching the Rural Workforce Development Nurse Scholarship and preparing to introduce a separate retention program in early 2025, the foundation aims to create a robust and sustainable rural healthcare workforce.
BY PEGGY A. ROSSI, BSN, MPA
As someone who has done or taught discharge planning for many years, one key component that holds true for me today is that when discharge planning assessments are performed, especially on those very complex cases, they must be very comprehensive.
BY NANCY SKINNER, RN, CCM, CMGT-BC, ACM-RN, CMCN, FCM
Regardless of governmental data and descriptions, it is my belief that the term rural cannot be quantified by a single descriptor, zip code, town or area. Instead, it is important to realize that for our patients a rural residence represents a symphony of challenges and barriers that might impact their ability to achieve the highest level of health and function through and across the healthcare continuum.
BY GARY WOLFE, RN, CCM, FCM
Have you ever given any thought to the idea that where you live may have a direct impact on your health outcomes? Probably not, because I don’t think many people think about their health and where they are living until they have significant health concerns or are retiring. People choose where they live based on a variety of issues: family, employment, economic factors, opportunities, education, etc. This article will examine the impact living in a rural area has on your health outcomes and some of the influencing factors.