By Colleen Morley-Grabowski, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM
Understanding the Difference Between Professional Organizations and Credentialing Agencies
In my travels over the past many years, I have often heard the following discussion from prospective members: "I don't have my CCM, so I can't join CMSA." Considering that I have been a member of CMSA since 2007 and did not obtain my CCM until 2017, this is an incorrect assumption and one that I have been breaking down, one conversation at a time.
It's essential to understand the distinction between professional organizations and credentialing agencies. These entities play vital but distinct roles in supporting professionals in their careers. I offer this blog to help break down the roles and functions of professional organizations (CMSA) and credentialing agencies (CCMC) and how they complement each other to ensure the success of the experienced case management community.
Professional Organizations: The Role of CMSA
Professional organizations, such as CMSA, are member-based entities designed to support the interests and development of professionals within a specific field. CMSA, founded in 1990, is the largest and oldest case management professional association in the United States. It boasts a membership that spans an inclusive range of disciplines of healthcare professionals working in the case management space across all practice settings.
One of CMSA's primary missions is to provide its members with ongoing education and professional development opportunities. This includes webinars, conferences, workshops, and the dissemination of best practices. The annual CMSA conference is a highlight, offering attendees numerous sessions and networking opportunities.
Professional organizations like CMSA foster a sense of community among members. Through local chapters, online forums, and special interest groups, members can connect, share experiences, and collaborate on projects. This networking is invaluable for career growth and professional support.
CMSA provides many resources, including publications like the CMSA Today magazine and various practice guidelines and toolkits. These resources help members stay informed about the latest trends, research, and best practices in case management.
CMSA also plays a crucial role in advocating for the interests of case managers at both the state and national levels. This involves lobbying for legislation that impacts case management practice, ensuring that the voice of case managers is heard in policy discussions.
The heart of CMSA is the nationwide network of local chapters. These CMSA Chapters provide additional excellent opportunities for education, advocacy, and networking at a regional level. The chapters are experts at addressing the nuances of their areas, helping case managers meet specific educational needs/requirements for state licensure, addressing local legislation efforts, and providing networking for local resource access.
Credentialing Agencies: The Role of CCMC
Credentialing agencies, on the other hand, are focused on certifying and validating the qualifications of professionals. The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) is a prime example of such an agency. Established in 1992, CCMC is responsible for certifying case managers, ensuring they meet the professional standards required to practice effectively.
CCMC offers the Certified Case Manager (CCM) credential, recognized as the gold standard in case management certification. To earn this credential, candidates must meet specific educational and professional experience requirements and pass a rigorous exam. This certification signifies that a case manager has the knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively perform their duties.
CCMC upholds a strict code of ethics and professional conduct for certified case managers. This CCMC Code of Professional Conduct guides the ethical practice of case management, ensuring that certificants adhere to high standards of integrity and professionalism in their work.
Credentialing agencies like CCMC set and maintain high standards for the profession by regularly reviewing and updating the certification criteria to reflect the evolving landscape of healthcare and case management. This ensures that certified professionals are up-to-date with current best practices and industry standards. CCMC requires certificants to earn continuing education credits and undergo recertification every five years. They provide review and approval of proposed continued education offerings to meet the standards of the credential. This process encourages lifelong learning and professional growth and focuses on excellence.
Comparing CMSA and CCMC: Complementary Roles
While CMSA and CCMC serve different primary functions, their roles are complementary and contribute to advancing the case management profession.
Membership vs. Certification
CMSA operates as a membership organization, providing benefits and resources to its members. Membership in CMSA offers access to a community, educational resources, and advocacy efforts. In contrast, CCMC is not a membership organization but a credentialing body. It provides certification that validates the professional qualifications of case managers.
Advocacy and Education vs. Credentialing and Standards
CMSA focuses heavily on advocacy, education, and community building. It seeks to advance the practice of case management through professional development and by influencing policy. CCMC, however, focuses on the certification process, maintaining standards, and ensuring ethical practice within the profession.
Lifelong Learning and Professional Growth
Both organizations emphasize the importance of continuing education and professional growth. CMSA offers numerous educational opportunities to its members, while CCMC requires ongoing education for recertification. This shared emphasis ensures that case managers remain competent and informed throughout their careers.
Understanding the distinction between professional organizations and credentialing agencies is crucial for case managers and other healthcare professionals. Together, these organizations play a vital role in the professional development and recognition of case managers, contributing to the overall quality and effectiveness of case management practice.
Don't shortchange yourself or your professional practice if you are not a CCM (yet); the wealth of knowledge, expertise, and opportunities available as a member of CMSA is available to all in the case management community, regardless of discipline, certification, practice setting or any other differentiator.
Pull up a chair to the CMSA table! You are welcome!!
The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) facilitates the growth and development of professional case managers across the full healthcare continuum, promoting high-quality, ethical practice benefitting patients, clients and their families. Learn about how a CMSA Membership can benefit you by clicking here: https://cmsa.org/membership/individual-membership/
Bio: Dr. Colleen Morley-Grabowski, 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 Immediate Past-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.