CMSA Blog
Stay in the know on the most recent updates and best practices for case management. Gain insight from peers in the field as well as leading experts. From legislative initiatives to real-world applications for the latest practices, the CMSA Blog is the go-to resource for new and seasoned case managers. Find every perspective HERE!
The Latest in Case Management
Beyond the Diagnosis: Supporting a Rural Navy Veteran/ RN / First Responder at the World Trade Center Through Complex Pulmonary Care
By Anna Zimmerly, BSN, RN Case management is never one-size-fits-all. Each member brings a unique story, shaped by their health history, environment, and lived experience. As a Case Manager with the...
Time’s A Tickin’
By Donna Todd., MSN, RN-BC, CCM As a case manager and a nurse, I know that life is short, and I never know what will happen tomorrow. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer when he was 22...
The Case of the Midnight Snore: What Every Case Manager Should Know Before the Lights Go Out
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM It started with a snore. Not the gentle, almost endearing kind that makes you chuckle and nudge your partner. This was the kind that rattles bedroom doors,...
Career Advancement & Advice
How to Find Momentum After a Career Slowdown
By Lily Tamrick Career stalls rarely arrive with a bang. They settle in like fog: quiet, subtle, cumulative. For case managers, whose work centers on guiding others through systems, it's easy to...
On the Value of Belonging to a Professional Organization
By Gary Wolfe, RN, CCM, FCM Occasionally, the questions arise: Why should I belong to a professional organization like CMSA? Where is the value of being a member of CMSA? Even when...
Developing Leaders: Essential Coaching Techniques for Teens and Adults
By Ed Carter Developing leadership skills in adolescents and adults requires a thoughtful approach combining support, guidance, and growth-fostering strategies. Coaching is vital in helping...
Professional Development
The Road to Becoming a Fellow in Case Management (FCM ™)
By Vivian Greenway, PhD, MSA, BSN, RN, PAHM, CCM, FCM Since 2021, CMSA has provided the designation of Fellow to premier leaders within the organization. If you have ever thought of taking on the...
Thinking About Becoming a Case Management Fellow
By Gary Wolfe, RN, CCM, FCM The application process for the Case Management Fellow Program is now open for the Class of 2026. Regardless of where you are in your case management career – just...
Bridging the Generational Divide in Case Management
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM How well do you really know the different generations you serve? As a professional case manager, chances are you have worked with every generation...
Perspectives
Not Just Anything: Recognizing and Reclaiming Your Value as a Nurse, Social Worker and Case Manager
By Tenische Perry, BSN, RN, CCM When was the last time you were meeting with a patient or family member and were asked, "Are you the doctor?" Your response: I’m just the nurse. Have you ever been...
The Love After the Uniform: Walking Beside My Veteran
By Anna Zimmerly They say the battle ends when the uniform comes off—but no one tells you about the quiet wars that still echo long after the homecoming. When I met my husband, his Air Force days...
Case Management- Behind the Discharge
By Adrienne Trzonkowski, MSM RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, CCM As I begin to type my daily end-of-day projected discharge email, something hits me. I am writing the name of a gentleman who has been...
Health and Wellness
The Case of the Midnight Snore: What Every Case Manager Should Know Before the Lights Go Out
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM It started with a snore. Not the gentle, almost endearing kind that makes you chuckle and nudge your partner. This was the kind that rattles bedroom doors,...
Being Your Own Mental Health Advocate
By Amanda Law, RN BSN CCM It is 11:51 AM, and I am already frantic. In under 10 minutes, I have a final video interview for a senior learning and development specialist position, which consists of a...
Beyond Barriers: Embracing Adaptive Recreation as a Pathway to Inclusion and Well-Being
By Ilah Coe, BS Recreation and Leisure Services Navigating the world is tough for anyone. Navigating a world that does not understand you is even harder. Then, adding the complexities of a...
Case Management
The Road to Becoming a Fellow in Case Management (FCM ™)
By Vivian Greenway, PhD, MSA, BSN, RN, PAHM, CCM, FCM Since 2021, CMSA has provided the designation of Fellow to premier leaders within the organization. If you have ever thought of taking on the...
Donations that Drive Change: Advancing Advocacy and Awareness in Case Management
By Tenische Perry, BSN, RN, CCM Donations to Research Matters CMSA Past President, Melanie Prince, MSN, BSN, NE-BC, wrote, “I support the CMSA Foundation (CMSAF) because it pragmatically supports...
Sticky Notes, Strategy, and Sanity: A Day in Case Management
By Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM If you peek into this case manager’s workspace, you might see a computer screen filled with open tabs, a ton of...
Clinical Care
Beyond the Diagnosis: Supporting a Rural Navy Veteran/ RN / First Responder at the World Trade Center Through Complex Pulmonary Care
By Anna Zimmerly, BSN, RN Case management is never one-size-fits-all. Each member brings a unique story, shaped by their health history, environment, and lived experience. As a Case Manager with the...
How Are You Listening To Your Patients?
By Heidi Steinhebel RN, BSN, CCM I began my case management journey working with catastrophic patients who primarily had a cancer diagnosis. It required me to quickly become well-versed in various...
Case Management Can Play a Part to Address the Rising Cancer Numbers Among Young Women
By Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM The increasing incidence of cancer among women under 50 has become a growing public health concern. Recent studies indicate that the cancer incidence rate for...
Advocacy and Policy
Implications of Recent Department of Education Budgeting for Professional Case Management
By Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick DBH, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, CCM, CCTP, CRP, FCM There has been considerable chatter about the Department of Education ruling outlining which educational degrees are recognized...
Left in the Dust: Maryland’s DDA Cuts Are Devastating Disabled Children and Families
By Tami Wantola, BSN, RN and Sandra Zawalski, MSN, RN, CRRN, CCM In January 2025, Maryland’s disability community was blindsided by the unthinkable: a proposed $200 million...
CMSA Advocate for Change: A Successful Virtual Hill Visit Experience
By Ron Ordona, DNP, FNP-BC, GS-C, WCC In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare advocacy, CMSA and case managers have taken a proactive role in shaping policies that impact patient care, access...
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CMSA.





















