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
Momentum That Matters: Moving Case Management Forward This April
By Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM April carries a special kind of energy. It is a season of renewal, visibility, and forward movement. For the CMSA Foundation...
Living Donors Just Got a Win: What the HOLD Act Means for Case Managers and Our Patients
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM On February 3, 2026, an important milestone in transplant advocacy became a reality. The Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act was...
What Professional Identity Means to Me: A Personal and Professional Reflection
By Colleen Morley DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM Professional identity is a phrase we use often in healthcare, but for me, it is far more than a theoretical...
Career Advancement & Advice
The Importance of Lifelong Learning
By Jennifer Gazda, LCSW, CMC, CDP Remember that feeling when you graduated (high school, college, you name it!) and felt like you were on top of the world and could do anything? If you were anything...
Six Ways to Improve Your Orientation and Onboarding Program for New Case Managers
By Marie Stinebuck, MBA, MSN, RN, ACM We all know how important first impressions are. As a new case manager hire, the first impression of your department occurs during their orientation and...
CMSA Volunteerism: An Avenue for Professional Growth and Opening Doors of Opportunities
By Paul Borja, DNP, EdD, PhD, PHN, CCM, ACM-RN, CMAC, CMCN, CNML, CMGT-BC, CDONA, FACDONA, FAACM According to Michael DeAngelis (2019), the core of volunteerism is altruism. It is the sense of...
Professional Development
The FCM: Advancing Professional Case Management Practice
By Patricia Noonan, MBA, RN, CCM, CDP, FCM In December 2021, the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) launched the Case Management Fellow Program (FCM™) to recognize individuals who have made...
The Role of Mentorship in Leadership Development: From Novice to Intermediate Levels in Case Management
By Samantha Walker, RN, DNP, CCM, FCM Embarking on a leadership journey within case management is both thrilling and challenging. Navigating the intricate healthcare landscape requires a blend of...
Do You Want to Be a Case Manager When You Grow Up?
By Vivian Greenway, PhD, MSA, BSN, RN, PAHM, CCM When did you last tell a young person (under 13) what you do as a case manager? This is a critical time to begin the conversation, as we know that...
Perspectives
Coloring Outside the Lines
By Brenda Sutliff, MSN, RN Fred has been developmentally disabled since birth. He was non-verbal and came to our hospital with a bowel obstruction due to Pica. He lived in a long-term nursing...
The Case for Simplicity: How Letting Go Can Lighten Your Load (and Your Mind)
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM Professional case managers know a thing or two about juggling responsibilities. Our day usually includes trying to balance documentation, patient...
The Fear of Touch
By Takara Just, BSN, RN I was a nurse who lost the importance of touch. You see, as a nurse, as a case manager, you touch the lives of so many around you, for good or for ill, in so...
Health and Wellness
Mental Health Awareness
By Gary Wolfe, RN, CCM, FCM How is your mental health? Since May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, we celebrate National Nurses Week, and many case managers are nurses, I will focus on...
When Case Management Becomes Personal: A Journey Through Foot Health
By Jennifer Gazda, LCSW, CMC, CDP Every day, we wake up and strive to provide the best care and advocacy for patients and their families. Our specialized training and ongoing education give us the...
What is Your Self-Care Plan?
By Gary Wolfe, RN, CCM, FCM, Editor-in-Chief, CareManagement Do you have a self-care plan? We are used to making case management plants for our patients but what about ourselves? Case...
Case Management
OIG Report: Missed Care Coordination After Youth Suicide Crises
By Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM Over the years, my work has taken me into emergency departments and inpatient units across the country, often alongside social workers navigating some of the...
Bringing HOPE to Hospice: A Closer Look at CMS’s Transformative New Assessment Tool
By Dr Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM Hospice care is entering a new chapter with the introduction of the HOPE Tool—Hospice Outcomes and Patient...
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...
Clinical Care
Transplant Games of America: Olympics for the Transplant Community
By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM The Summer Olympics have started in Paris, France. This international multi-sport event has captured worldwide attention. Did you know there is an Olympics...
Protect Your Skin: Understanding UV Safety Month and the Impact of Skin Cancer
By Colleen Morley-Grabowski, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM As the summer sun shines brightly in the sky, it's important to remember that July is UV Safety Month to raise awareness about the...
Advocacy and Policy
Every Day is Hill Day
By Joan Westgor, MSN, RN, CCM All the hype, social media exposure, and preparation activities lead to CMSA’s Hill Day, culminating with our 30-minute opportunity to engage a legislative staffer or...
Enhancing Health Equity in Professional Case Management Practice for LGBTQ+ Individuals and Communities
By Michael B. Garrett, MS, CCM, CVE Key Terms and Concepts The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community is a mix of various gender identities and sexual orientations...
Rights? What Rights?
By Paul Borja, PhD, DNP, EdD, MBA, PHN, RN, CCM, ACM-RN, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CNML, FACDONA, FAACM With the rise of baby boomers, we see an increase in the number of individuals utilizing skilled nursing...
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CMSA.