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 significant contributions to the professional practice of case management. This honorary award designation announcement included the inaugural of Founding Fellows – eight distinguished individuals whose contributions to the case management community set the stage to model the way for this notable professional designation. As of June 2024, CMSA has awarded the Case Management Fellow (FCM™) designation to twenty-eight individuals (including Founding Fellows) who have made a significant impact in the field of professional case management.
Why Establish a CM Fellow Program?
As the oldest and leading case management membership organization, CMSA recognized the imperative of establishing the Case Management Fellow Program to honor distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions to professional case management practice through leadership, innovation, and scholarship. CMSA currently serves 6,000+ members, 22,000+ subscribers, and over 50 local chapters through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy, and establishing standards to advance the profession. The Case Management Fellow Program provides a pathway to advance professional case management practice into the future. As the healthcare landscape evolves, case management leaders will grow the profession and make a positive impact.
Who Are CM Fellows?
According to CMSA, FCMs are recognized leaders within the case management community, having served and continuing to serve as “ambassadors of the profession, visionary, strategic thinkers, mentors, authors, speakers, leaders, and facilitators.” FCMs are a growing community of thought leaders who are passionate and engaged in advancing the practice of case management into the future. FCMs show their passion for case management through their work and volunteer efforts, which demonstrate a strong commitment to the standards of professional case management practice. FCMs are dedicated to promoting excellence in case management practice, serving as exemplars and mentors to the next generation of professional case managers.
Consider Your Professional Case Management Journey
Are you ready to apply? The following questions can help to assess your readiness for the application as you consider pursuing the FCM™ designation. What does your case management practice and leadership journey look like?
Minimum Qualifications
- Do you meet the minimum qualification criteria?
Leadership
- Have you held professional leadership roles in the workplace in case management?
- Have you held CMSA National and/or Chapter leadership roles?
- Have you served on CMSA National and/or Chapter committees or taskforce that impacted case management practice?
- Have you served on other professional organizations in a leadership role, committee or taskforce that impacted case management practice?
- Have you mentored other case management professionals?
- Have you volunteered for any community service that impacted case management practice?
Innovation
- Have you helped to develop or improve programs, models of care delivery, or processes that impacted case management practice?
- Have you helped to develop new positions or roles in case management?
- Have you helped to redesign programs to improve case management access to patients/clients and promote quality outcomes?
- Have you helped to develop or integrate evidence-based tools and resources to impact case management practice?
Scholarship
- Have you advocated for professional case management practice through scholarships, grants, or other funding sources for case management?
- Have you advocated for any health policy and case management practice in your workplace or at the state and /or federal legislative level?
- Have you provided any educational presentations on evidence-based practices that impacted case management practice to improve quality, efficient care and outcomes?
- Have you published any articles, manuals, or books to educate on case management practice and quality care?
- Have you helped to establish or integrate any professional standards, codes of conduct, or ethics to impact case management practice?
- Have you participated in any process improvement or research project that impacted case management practice?
Please note that these questions can serve as a guide only. There are many ways to demonstrate your contributions to case management practice. Please read the Case Management Fellow Program - Application Criteria available at https://cmsa.org/about/fellow/
A Call to Action for FCMs
A pathway for advancing professional case management practice into the future lies in growing the FCM Program. This will require all FCMs to help lead the way. What can FCMs do?
- FCMs can encourage a professional colleague to consider applying for the FCM.
- FCMs (not serving on the FCM selection committee) can provide a letter of recommendation for a professional colleague who they have worked with and have first-hand knowledge of their contributions to case management practice.
- FCMs can serve as a mentor to a professional colleague that is pursuing the pathway to the FCM.
- FCMs can raise awareness on the Case Management Fellow Program at chapter conferences and other case management educational venues.
Applications for the 2025 Case Management Fellow Program will open October 2024. Information available at https://cmsa.org/about/fellow/
References
1. Case Management Society of America (CMSA). Case Management Fellow Program. Accessed August 28, 2024. Available at https://cmsa.org/about/fellow/
2. Owen, M. (October 23, 2023). Recognizing YOUR Impact on the Professional Practice of Case Management. CMSA Blog. Available at https://cmsa.org/recognizing-your-impact-on-the-professional-practice-of-case-management/
3. Wolfe, G. (January 16, 2023). Becoming an FCM – A Fellow in Case Management. CareManagement. December 2022/January 2023. Available at https://cmsa.org/about/fellow/
4. Tahan, H. (December 26, 2022). Fellow in Case Management Recognition by CMSA – Its Your Time to Apply! CMSA Blog. Available at https://cmsa.org/fellow-in-case-management-recognition-by-cmsa-it-is-your-time-to-apply/
5. Case Management Society of America. (CMSA). CMSA Launches Case Management Fellow Program-FCM, Press Release. December 15, 2021. Available at https://cmsa.org/about/fellow/
Bio: Patricia Noonan, MBA, RN, CCM, CDP, FCM, is a passionate advocate for case management practice with over twenty years’ experience in case management leadership roles. She has served on the CMSA Board and currently serves as Chair of the CMSA Public Information Committee; Director on the CMSA Foundation Board; and member of the CMSNE Membership Committee. She is experienced in population health: ACO, Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial and Employee care management program development. She has published articles and presented on important case management topics. Patricia is the recipient of the CMSA CMOY Award in 2021, CMSA AOSE Award in 2017, and was recognized as a CMSA Case Management Fellow (FCM) in 2022.