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 reference books, handouts from post-acute partners, the ever-present bottle of Coke Zero, an odd assortment of anatomical squishy balls, gnomes and llamas to entertain me —and sticky notes. So, so many sticky notes.
To the untrained eye, it may look like chaos. But those notes? They’re signposts. A color-coded, scribbled roadmap to escalated patient needs, follow-up calls, meetings, pending issues, and every other moving part in our day. I learned the “sticky note organizational program” early in my case management career and have brought it with me into my leadership roles. Behind the sea of neon paper is the engine of care coordination: strategy. And behind that strategy? A deeply committed professional doing everything possible to hold onto their sanity in an increasingly complex healthcare system.
Welcome to a day in Case Management.
They may be low-tech, but sticky notes are a high-yield tool in a case manager’s world. Each one marks a task, a reminder, a system checkpoint. They’re placeholders for the thousand things our EMRs don’t track. And when you finish one, there’s real satisfaction in crumpling it with flair. After all, it’s the small victories that get us through.
Case management is not a reactive job—it’s intensely strategic. Behind every discharge plan is a layered assessment, an understanding of system resources, and a crystal-clear vision of what success looks like for that individual patient.
Strategy in case management means:
- Prioritizing patients by risk, readiness, and resource availability
- Navigating benefit limitations without compromising quality
- Anticipating psychosocial barriers before they become roadblocks
- Knowing which battles to escalate and which solutions to finesse
- Staying ten steps ahead while juggling ten competing demands
Every call, every chart review, every team huddle is part of a calculated choreography. We’re not “discharge planners.” We’re system navigators, risk mitigators, and transition architects.
And let’s be honest—some days feel like an episode of Survivor: Healthcare Edition. The patients are complex. The systems are tangled. The resources are limited. And the clock is always ticking.
So how do we stay grounded?
- We celebrate small wins. A successful transition. A grateful family. A safe discharge.
- We lean on our teams. Across the interdisciplinary team, collaboration is our lifeline and we are the MASTERS!
- We practice perspective. Not every day will be perfect, but every day we show up matters.
- And yes… we breathe. Sometimes it’s between back-to-back calls. Sometimes it’s in the supply closet. But we must remember to pause.
Our sanity isn’t maintained by chance—it’s protected through intention, humor, boundaries, and knowing when to ask for support.
Sticky notes. Strategy. Sanity.
That’s the rhythm of case management. It may not be glamorous. It’s often misunderstood. But it’s essential.
Because behind the charts and checklists are real people who need guidance, advocacy, and support. And behind them is a case manager—armed with a clipboard or laptop, a plan, and maybe just one more sticky note.
So the next time someone asks, “What exactly do you do all day?” you can smile and say:
“I manage chaos with compassion. One strategy—and one sticky note—at a time.”
Why Give to CMSA this Giving Tuesday? Because case managers are the vital link in healthcare. Your support helps us provide the education, resources, and policy advocacy they need to excel. Get ready to show your support this Tuesday! We can't do it without you. 
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Bio: Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, CMGT BC, ACM-RN, IQCI, FCM, FAACM is the Associate Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Care Continuum for University of Illinois Health System and the current Immediate Past President of the Case Management Society of America National Board of Directors and President Elect of CMSA Chicago. 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. Her 2nd book, "Practical Gude to Hospital Readmission Reduction =, published by Blue Bayou Press was released in February 2024. Her 3rd book, "Practocal Guid eto Acute care Case Management Leadership" is in the works, targeting publication in 2025. Dr. Morley celebrates 25 years of nursing experience and 20 years in case management in 2024. 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.