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
CNS Week 2026
By Pamayla E. Darbyshire, DHA, MSN/CNS Ed, FCEITR The 17th Annual Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Recognition Week is September 1–7, 2026. This year’s theme, “Amplify,” mirrors the National...
The Power of Active Listening and Individualized Discharge Planning
By Eleanor Diaz, MSN, BSN, BA, ACM-RN, ONN-CG One case that deeply touched my heart reinforced the importance of conducting comprehensive assessments and developing individualized care plans. It...
Advocacy in Its Purest Form: A Nurse’s Reflection on Family, Ethics, and End‑of‑Life Care
By Lisa Schaffer, BSN, RN, CIC, CRRN, CCM Nursing is difficult to define because it encompasses so many responsibilities at once—assessment, patient and family education, compassionate care, and...
Career Advancement & Advice
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...
Why I Became A Case Manager and How CMSA Shaped My Journey
By Cynthia Hopkins, RN, MBA/HCM, ACM-RN, CCM My journey into case management began while I was working as a nurse manager; I vividly remember the CNO and CEO frequently talking about grooming me to...
Professional Development
10 Reasons You Should Attend the CMSA Annual Conference in Las Vegas!
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM For professional case managers in all healthcare settings, staying current is essential. Best practices, emerging trends, and regulatory changes continue to...
The Gen Z Shift: What Every Case Manager Needs to Know Now
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM Something is shifting in the workforce. The newest generation of nurses, Generation Z, isn’t just joining...
Mentorship Without Walls: Growing the Future of Case Management
By Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM Mentorship in case management has never been a formal line item in a job description—but for many of us, it has become one...
Perspectives
Returning People to Work Starts with Returning Them to Life – I learned that as a mother.
Mental Health Recovery, Medical Privacy, How to Secure Mental Health Records By Diann Cohen Mental health conversations are finally becoming more open in both our personal lives and the workplace....
Restoration, Coordination, and Care: What Case Management and Nursing Taught Me About Bringing Things Back to Life
By Amanda Grady, ADN, RN, CCM It started in 2019, the day we drove past an old, abandoned farmhouse in rural Licking County. The grass was up to our knees, and the place looked forgotten. Most...
An Officer, A Gentleman, and a Case Manager Navigator
By Joyace G Ussin, MSN, RN, BSBM, CCM Captain Michael Sevilla, MSN, RN, serves as a Case Manager Navigator at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UT MDACC). With years of...
Health and Wellness
When You Don’t Want to Get Out of the Shower: Cues About Overload and Restoration
By Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick DBH, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, CCM, CCTP, CRP, FCM I was recently doing something I do often: stand in my shower with hot water cascading pouring...
Navigating Everyday Stress: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Case Managers
By Sharon Wagner Stress is not a stranger in healthcare settings. For case managers who juggle patient needs, care coordination, documentation, and system demands, the pressure can quickly become...
From Reaction to Prevention: A Case Management Perspective on Cardiac Care
By Jenny Quigley-Stickney MSN, RN, MHA, MA, CCM, ACM-RN, CMAC, CPHM, FCM. Heart Disease Prevention Month serves as an important reminder that cardiac care does not begin in the emergency department,...
Case Management
But Why Did Curiosity Kill the Cat?
Why the right questions lead to better care, stronger teams, and smarter systems By Dr. Raine Arndt-Couch, DSW, JD, LCSW, CCM, FCM The Warning We All Grew Up With “Curiosity killed the...
Grief Literacy in Case Management: Understanding and Talking About Physical Grief
By Tami Wantola, BSN, RN and Sandra Zawalski, MSN, RN, CRRN, CCM, MSCC Case managers meet people at the intersection of loss, change, uncertainty, and recovery. In hospital case management, we may...
Five Kidney Transplant Facts Every Case Manager Should Know
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM Every day, professional case managers work alongside individuals facing the life-changing realities of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal...
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
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...
Breaking the Chains: Understanding Sex Trafficking in America
By Lisa Lucchesi, MPH Sex trafficking is a pervasive human rights violation that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds across the United States. It involves the exploitation of...
Gun Control: A Public Health Issue
By Laura Ostrowsky, RN, CCM, MUP, FCM In August 2024, there were three separate incidents of accidental shootings by children aged 3, 5, and 8; two were fatal. On the first day of school in...
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CMSA.