Little Rock, AR - CMSA Executive Director, Cheri Lattimer, RN, BSN, has joined HSI Executive Director, Blake Andersen, PhD, in announcing a collaboration to offer the HSI Chronic Care Professional (CCP) Certification Program to CMSA members. Now in its third edition, the program has been accredited by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for 48 contact hours and is the first evidence-based, consumer-centered certification program for disease managers.

In 2004, HSI introduced the first professional disease management curriculum in the US following its breakthrough 2003 chronic disease management competency modeling study. To date, hundreds of health professionals have been certified.

According to CMSA President, Susan Rogers, RN, BSN, CCM, "As case management continues to integrate, CMs increasingly find themselves being asked to support chronic care management as a part of their practice.  As the largest international professional association for case managers, CMSA continually seeks to provide the tools our members need, and the opportunity to work with HSI goes a long way in helping us meet that need. This collaboration is an important step in providing care managers with improved tools for helping clients who may be in need of chronic care services."

"HSI's chronic care program is the first comprehensive and integrated program of this type," noted Lattimer. "This is an important educational module for our members serving patients with chronic care needs, and it is a great addition to CMSA's newly developed Educational Resource Library. We think members, as well as, employers will be glad to see we have added this program to our library in the Masters Level Course section."

The program was developed in collaboration with leaders from organizations, including the University of Minnesota Medical School/School of Nursing, the University of Toronto Medical School (UTMS), and the Mayo Clinic. Delivered to organizations in two-day on-site/off-site sessions, the 40-hour program is also offered through an eLearning program designed in partnership with UTMS and Toronto's Centennial College. The Chronic Care Group (a division of HSI) also offers verified CMSA members a 25% discount on the CCP Program. More information is available at CMSA's Educational Resource Library.

Andersen added, "Case managers will continue to be on the front line in chronic care management and service delivery.  CMSA and HSI share a common commitment to reducing the many human and financial impacts of chronic conditions through consumer-centered, evidence-based, and continuous care."