By Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM

Fall always reminds me of back-to-school time. A fresh start, new ideas and topics to conquer. I miss school. (LOL)

I wanted to focus this blog on another of CMSA’s fabulous education tools for professional case managers.

CMAG…Case Management Adherence Guide. I was first introduced to CMAGs in 2010 when Connie Sunderhaus presented the CMAG for COPD at my local chapter meeting. I had a ton of questions that night and Connie answered them all with her stellar, comprehensive presentation. I carried that guide with me to every employer and used it as part of the foundation for my DNP project aimed at reducing readmissions in CHF and COPD populations.

The CMSA CMAG dates back to 2004 when then-President Sherry Aliotta identified a need for education around medication adherence (still a barrier today) and partnered with Pfizer to develop education and guidelines to achieve optimal outcomes. As Susan Rogers noted in her foreword to the 2020 CMAG update, “the CMAG’s evidence-based assessment tools provide case management professionals with evidence-based assessment and intervention tools to improve patient medication and treatment adherence” (Case Management Society of America, 2020). Just looking at the table of contents and the tools gathered in one place for a “one-stop shop” thrills me that I don’t have to do endless web searches for what I need to do my job on a daily basis.

A key part of my platform is the promotion of evidence-based practices in case management. The Case Management Adherence Guide is just that. Medication adherence, COPD, and now the new CMAG for C.difficile in partnership with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, released at the 2022 CMSA National Conference, demonstrate that CMSA continues to be a leader in the development and promotion of evidence-based best practices.

I look forward to the ongoing development of additional CMAGs and your suggestions are welcome! Suggestions can be sent to cmsa@cmsa.org.

The CMAGs are key tools in your case management toolbox, “designed to help case management professionals achieve measurable outcomes with their interventions, rendering them more efficient, effective and valuable to employers, clients and treatment teams” (Cognella, 2021). Telling our stories is a multi-faceted approach. The CMAGs will help you to demonstrate your value to your organization and shine a light on the excellent work professional case managers do, providing a roadmap to a little place I like to call “Excellence”.

Get your FREE copy of the new C.diff CMAG at https://cmsapmg.wpenginepowered.com/cmag-cdiff-2/

Bio: Dr. Colleen Morley DNP RN CCM CMAC CMCN ACM-RN FCM is the Associate Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Care Continuum for University of Illinois Health System and the current President of the Case Management Society of America National Board of Directors.  She has held positions in acute care as Director of Case Management at several acute care facilities and managed care entities in Illinois, overseeing Utilization Review, Case Management and Social Services for over 14 years; piloting quality improvement initiatives focused on readmission reduction, care coordination through better communication and population health management.

Her current passion is in the area of improving health literacy. She is the recipient of the CMSA Foundation Practice Improvement Award (2020) and ANA Illinois Practice Improvement Award (2020) for her work in this area. Dr. Morley also received the AAMCN Managed Care Nurse Leader of the Year in 2010 and the CMSA Fellow of Case Management designation in 2022. Her 1st book, “A Practical Guide to Acute Care Case Management”, published by Blue Bayou Press was released in February 2022.

Dr. Morley has over 20 years of nursing experience. Her clinical specialties include Med/Surg, Oncology and Pediatric Nursing.  She received her ADN at South Suburban College in South Holland, IL; BSN at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL, MSN from Norwich University in Northfield, VT and her DNP at Chamberlain College of Nursing.