By Carol Hiner, MSN, RN, CCM
Case Managers are good at so many things. They solve the most complex challenges and make the impossible possible. Our patients and colleagues can attest to the challenging situations case managers have faced and develop a plan of action for them. Those who have been case managers for some time have forgotten how many people they have helped through the years. The people who have been positively impacted rarely forget. Those needs include navigating complex healthcare dilemmas or questions, finding unknown resources for a challenging lifestyle or activity of daily living needs, working through vocational rehab or workman’s compensation situations, or forming a workable solution for a patient to discharge from a hospital, post-acute facility, or rehabilitation site, among others.
Case managers are the healthcare specialty professionals that make things happen. They understand regulatory standards, utilization criteria, and widespread community, state, and federal resources. They work directly with a litany of insurance companies and specialty physicians. They are the ultimate patient advocates. This is a group that can have diverse certifications and credentials and come from all walks of life all over the world. I heard them likened to the orchestra conductor early in my career, which is true in many ways. If something seems out of tune or off-key, they can decern that, develop a path of correction, and shepherd the parties involved into a synchronized music score.
In the United States of America, we are on the eve of an important date, Election Day. This day is the pinnacle moment of the example of freedom within this country. Millions of people around the world do not get this opportunity because their country is either a dictatorship or they have such corruption that people’s votes are manipulated, or they are too afraid to exercise their voting privileges. We have had generations before our time and those sacrificing their lives or livelihoods today so that we can have this opportunity on November 5th, 2024.
I have been voting since 1984, the first year I could do so. I was immensely proud to vote then as I am today. Generations of Americans before us have thought or said that their election was “unprecedented.” I will not use those catch phrases to underscore the importance of the election this year. If you have watched the news or read a news publication in the last few years, you know that this election is important. We as a nation need harmony.
Consider that you as a case manager have the most unique ability to assess a global perspective of need for your patients, community, city, state, and country. Healthcare is an important topic during this election. Continuing to advance healthcare and health coverage within our country is a need that as a healthcare provider you will want to consider when deciding your voting selections. We each have a great deal of experiences, skills, education, and needs when making our choices, as do many Americans. What case managers have that is special is the skill to critically deduce and take challenges, barriers, needs, and desires, and synthesize that into a voting decision. The key step is to take the time to vote, not only to utilize your hard-earned freedom to vote but most importantly because you as a case manager are so well equipped to make a strong decision when you vote. Your skills create a vote that is very critically thoughtful. Your patients depend on you to help them navigate a clear and reasonable path to the best outcomes.
On November 5th, 2024, your country needs your help to navigate the path forward for our collective best outcomes and a melodic future.
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Bio: Carol Hiner MSN, RN, CCM is a Healthcare Consultant with her own firm CDH Healthcare Associates. She advises healthcare and supportive organizations on care management, operations, and technical support. She won the CMSA Professional Practice Improvement award in 2023. She has been a nurse for over eighteen years after having been a leader in business and finance. Her work in case management spans over 15 years in home health, hospice, acute, post-acute, outpatient complex and disease case management as both a frontline case manager and leader. She has clinically provided nursing care in Med/Surg, ICU, Behavioral Health, and Wound care. She received her ADN at Westshore Community College in Scottville, Michigan as a second career after the birth of her autistic son which led her into nursing and her MSN at Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been a chair for her local NWONE chapter and is currently on the Public Policy committee of CMSA. She loves animals, sports, nature, gardening, and most importantly spending time with her family including three grandchildren.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CMSA.