By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM

I love this quote – and I love what I do! This quote has been attributed to Confucius. Confucius also wrote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. How true is that statement? Steve Jobs put it this way, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” It is true. If you love what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like work. I am so proud to be a case manager! I feel like I have found my passion and purpose. Being a case manager allows me to use my critical thinking skills to assess the client’s condition and plan accordingly. It offers unique opportunities to positively impact someone’s future by advocating on their behalf, coordinating services, ensuring that clients receive the health services they need, and providing vital health-related education.

I am equally proud to be a member of CMSA! My profession, case management, and the professional organization that I am associated with, CMSA,  have afforded me opportunities that I would have never experienced! CMSA has helped me grow professionally in so many ways. I have met case managers from all over the country and the world! I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with my favorite nurse theorist, Dr. Jean Watson. It was an experience that I will never forget! CMSA has provided educational offerings that are world-class - opportunities to publish and present presentations abound!

As you celebrate Case Management Week, be sure to take advantage of all the activities CMSA has planned! Starting on Wednesday, October 5, Mary McLaughlin Davis, DNP will be presenting a webinar on collaboration between case managers and physician advisors. 1 CE for RN, CCM and SW will be awarded.

Everyone likes treasure hunts, right? CMSA is having a CM Week Treasure Hunt on Sunday, October 8. Participants will be able to connect with their community and earn a chance to WIN and ENGAGE on CMSA socials!

Join CMSA President, Dr. Colleen Morley, on Monday evening, October 9, for “Case Managers and Cocktails.” It will be a celebration of YOU, the practice of case management AND CMSA’s birthday!

Did someone say prizes? Lynn Muller will present “Straight Talk Tuesday - Who is the Client? The Ethics of Documentation” on Tuesday, October 10. Attendees can earn 1 CE RN, SW, AND CCM ETHICS. Be sure to stay until the end of the presentation when a PRIZE will be awarded! You must be present to win!

More prizes! Join the Town Hall presentation “Wisdom Wednesday: Know Your Value” featuring two distinguished case management leaders, Dr. Colleen Morley, CMSA President; and Bonnie Geld, President and CEO of The Center for Case Management. The true value of case managers will be explored, and a prize will be awarded at the end of this event. You must be present to win! This presentation is scheduled for October 11.

On “Thoughtful Thursday” October 12, Immediate Past-President Melanie Prince will present a 1 CE RN, SW, and CCM presentation“DEI Cubed ...Three Sides of the Equation”. She will be discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Another prize will be awarded at the end of the presentation. You must be present to win!

Rebecca Perez will be presenting “Mindfulness and Contemplative Neuroscience” for 0.5 CE CCM credit. This presentation can be accessed anytime throughout the day on Friday, October 13! Participants completing the session on Friday, October 13 will be entered into a prize drawing! The winner will be announced at the Saturday CM and Coffee Networking Event. 

A virtual LIVE networking session, “Case Managers and Coffee” will be held on Saturday, October 14. A prize will be awarded at the end of this event to those participating. You must be present to win! In addition, prize winners from the ReFRESH FRIDAY mini-webinar, and the winner of the Case Management Week Scavenger Hunt will be announced. These two prize winners do not need to be present to win.

Wait! There’s more! On Friday, October 19, Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick will be presenting a 1-hour CE, SW, AND CCM ETHICS webinar, “Case Management Ethics 2024: Where Should Your Ethical Compass Point.” Another great way to celebrate Case Management Week!

Another bonus webinar is scheduled for October 26, “Assessing How IT Infrastructure Has Impacted CM Practices Over the Last Decade”  for 1 CE RN and CCM. Panelists include Garry Carneal, JD, MA; Jeff Frater, BSN, RN, CCM; Mary Beth Newman, MSN, RN, CMGT-BC, CCM, FCM; Rebecca Perez, MSN, RN, CCM, FCM; and Pat Stricker, MEd, RN.

Wow! There is a lot going on!

In addition, several CMSA Chapters are hosting CE events throughout the month of October! 

As we celebrate Case Management Week, let’s remember CMSA’s Strategic Vision: “Case managers are recognized experts and vital participants in the care coordination team who empower people to understand and access quality, efficient health care.” What a powerful statement! WE are part of a dynamic profession and first-class professional organization. WE are the key to assisting clients in navigating complex situations. WE meet “head-on” the challenging needs of our clients. WE assist in connecting fragmented resources to link clients and their service delivery systems. WE are proactive in identifying potential issues and proactively addressing those issues. WE collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address challenges to meet client’s needs. WE make a difference!

This week is about celebrating US and what we do!

Congratulations, Case Managers!

Happy Case Management Week.

Enjoy yourself!

Celebrate a job well done.

YOU have earned it!

Learn more on how to demonstrate your value at our Case Management Week Town Hall "Know Your Value." Join us for our daily #CMWeek2023 events for CEs, networking, prizes and so much more! For the full schedule and registration links, go to https://cmsapmg.wpenginepowered.com/about/national-cm-week/

Bio: Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM is a transplant case manager with a wide variety of experiences including educator, administrator, team leader, and Director of Case Management. Janet holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Marshall University. She has published many articles in CMSA Today and the Professional Case Management Journal and served as a reviewer for the Core Curriculum for Case Management Third Edition. She currently serves as Chair of the CMSA Today Editorial Board and Secretary of the CMSA Foundation board. Janet was the recipient of the CMSA National Award of Service Excellence and Southern Ohio Valley CMSA Case Management Leadership award and was recently inducted as a Case Management Fellow from CMSA. Janet has been active in CMSA at the national and local levels. She is currently President-Elect of CMSA National, Chairperson of the Editorial Board of CMSA Today, Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, and Vice-President of the CMSA Foundation.