By Jenny Quigley-Stickney, RN, BSN, MSN, MHA, MA, CCM, ACM-RN, CMAC, CPHM, FCM
The conversations may have ended, but the learning continues.
Each year, the CMSA Annual Conference brings together case management professionals from across the country to share innovative ideas, practical solutions, and emerging trends shaping the future of healthcare. While the in-person event has concluded, many of the conference's most impactful educational sessions remain available through the CMSA Digital Conference Experience.
With access to conference recordings and exclusive digital content, participants can earn more than 60 continuing education credits through July 31 while learning from experts who are addressing some of the profession's most pressing challenges.
Not sure where to start? We've highlighted 10 sessions that generated significant interest among attendees and tackled topics that matter most to case managers today.
1. AI in Case Management: Ethics, Applications, and Opportunities
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare, and case managers are uniquely positioned to help ensure these technologies are used responsibly and effectively. This session explores practical applications of AI in case management, from reducing administrative burden to supporting decision-making and enhancing patient safety.
Attendees gain a foundational understanding of how AI works, ethical considerations surrounding its use, and strategies for incorporating AI tools while maintaining the human connection that remains central to case management practice.
Why watch: AI is no longer a future trend—it's a current reality. Understanding its opportunities and limitations is quickly becoming an essential professional competency.
2. Check Your Lens: Recognizing and Reducing Implicit Bias in Case Management
Even well-intentioned professionals can be influenced by unconscious assumptions. This thought-provoking session examines how implicit bias can affect decision-making, care planning, and client outcomes.
Participants explore real-world examples of bias in healthcare settings and learn evidence-based strategies to foster greater self-awareness, cultural humility, and equitable care practices.
Why watch: Delivering person-centered care begins with understanding the factors that may unintentionally influence our decisions and interactions.
3. Optimizing Collaboration Between Managed Care and Acute Care Case Management
Effective care transitions require strong partnerships across the continuum of care. This session examines how managed care and acute care case managers can work together more effectively to improve communication, reduce fragmentation, and support better patient outcomes.
Attendees learn practical strategies for implementing warm handoffs, shared care plans, and standardized communication processes that enhance continuity of care.
Why watch: Collaboration across settings remains one of the most important—and most challenging—aspects of successful case management.
4. REACH: Reducing Readmissions by Addressing Social Determinants of Health Post-Discharge
Hospital readmissions are often driven by factors that extend far beyond clinical care. This session highlights Orlando Health's REACH program, an innovative model that uses outpatient social workers to address social determinants of health during the critical post-discharge period.
Participants learn how targeted interventions related to housing, transportation, food insecurity, and access to care have helped reduce readmissions and improve outcomes over the program's 15-year history.
Why watch: This session offers a proven, real-world model that organizations can adapt to strengthen care transitions and address social needs.
5. Navigating Barriers in Catastrophic Care: Ethics in Action
Case managers frequently encounter complex situations where ethical principles and social realities intersect. Through interactive case examples, this session explores how professionals can ethically navigate barriers such as housing instability, transportation challenges, and limited access to community resources.
Attendees learn practical approaches for applying principles of advocacy, dignity, objectivity, and integrity when supporting individuals with catastrophic injuries and complex needs.
Why watch: Ethics are not theoretical—they guide everyday decisions that directly impact client outcomes.
6. Resilience in Practice: Professional Strength from Personal Struggles
Healthcare professionals spend their careers supporting others, yet often face personal challenges of their own. This powerful and personal presentation explores the intersection of lived experience, professional identity, and resilience through the lens of managing antidepressant withdrawal during a critical career period.
Participants gain insights into self-advocacy, mental health awareness, and strategies for building resilience while fostering supportive workplace cultures.
Why watch: Professional growth and personal well-being are deeply connected. This session offers a refreshing and authentic perspective on both.
7. Research & Evidence-Based Practice: An Essential Pillar of Case Management
As healthcare grows increasingly complex, evidence-based practice remains fundamental to delivering effective, client-centered care. This session explores how research and science strengthen case management practice and improve outcomes across the continuum of care.
Attendees learn how evidence-based approaches support quality improvement, reduce readmissions, enhance chronic disease management, and demonstrate the value of case management services.
Why watch: Strong evidence supports strong advocacy, stronger outcomes, and stronger professional credibility.
8. Less Drama, More CARE: Inclusive Talk for Teams & Clients
Communication has the power to strengthen relationships—or create unnecessary barriers. This engaging and interactive session introduces the CARE framework (Culture, Access, Respect, and Equity) as a practical approach to fostering more inclusive and effective communication.
Participants explore strategies for reducing workplace tension, improving collaboration, and building trust with both colleagues and clients.
Why watch: Every case manager communicates hundreds of times each week. Small improvements can have a significant impact on team dynamics and client experiences.
9. "I've Had Every Disease Known to Man": Dealing with Munchausen's Disease
Factitious disorders present unique challenges for healthcare professionals across all care settings. This practical session examines the different forms of Munchausen's syndrome, common warning signs, and effective approaches for assessment, documentation, communication, and care coordination.
Using real-world examples, attendees gain tools for recognizing and responding to these often-complex situations.
Why watch: Few topics generate as much curiosity—and require as much careful clinical judgment—as factitious disorders.
10. Case Managers Empowering Diabetes Care Across Settings
Diabetes continues to be one of the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions affecting patients across the healthcare continuum. This session explores evidence-based strategies for improving diabetes management through coordinated, patient-centered care.
Topics include emerging care models, continuous glucose monitoring technology, medication management, health equity, and approaches to reducing readmissions while improving long-term outcomes.
Why watch: Effective diabetes management requires collaboration, education, and coordination—areas where case managers play a vital role.
Continue the Learning
These 10 sessions represent only a portion of the valuable education available through the CMSA Digital Conference Experience. From emerging technologies and ethical practice to care coordination and professional resilience, the conference content offers practical insights that can be applied immediately in case management practice.
Participants can access conference recordings and exclusive digital content while earning more than 60 continuing education credits through July 31.
Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, explore new ideas, or complete CE requirements, there's still time to take advantage of the learning opportunities available through CMSA's Digital Conference Experience.
Bio: Jenny has been active with CMSA/CMSNE for over 25 years serving currently as CMSA President 2026-2028 and prior to this role, served as CMSA Treasurer, Board of Director for CMSA from 2021-2023. Worked as CMSA National she served as the President of CMSNE & Chair for both CMSA and CMSNE Public Policy Committees. Jenny is active in the CMSNE New England states serving as co-chair for Public Policy promoting the advancement of the Nurse Licensure Compact, and Telehealth legislation for health care professionals. She has a passion for public policy and believes that legislation helps advance the field of professional case management. Jenny expanded her role, working on the National Board to becoming a member of CMSA Editorial Board 2021-current, CMSA Strategic planning committee for organizational development, Chair CMSA Finance Committee 2023-2026 and CMSA Sponsorship Committee 2022-current. Jenny has been employed at all levels of the transitions of care, working with traumatic brain Injury, stroke and spinal cord for over 25 years in acute rehabilitation hospitals, hospital at home program and Outpatient Program Director for traumatic brain injury. She recently has shifted her work in professional case management back to her first love, acute care, focusing on vascular and trauma care in ICU and step-down unit for Cape Cod Healthcare.