By Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM
Hey CMSA family,
I'm overjoyed and deeply honored to share that I've been named the 2024 Nurse Influencer of the Year by the American Nurses Association of Illinois (ANA IL)! This award is incredibly meaningful to me, not only as a recognition of my efforts but as a victory for case management as a whole. As case managers, we know the depth and breadth of our roles, yet too often, we're the "best-kept secret in healthcare." Well, it's time to bring our work into the spotlight—and this award is a powerful step in that direction!
Case Management: More Than Just Behind-the-Scenes Work
Many people may not fully understand what we do in case management. We're the advocates, coordinators, problem-solvers, and patient champions in the complex world of healthcare. Our work is highly collaborative, intricately tied to clinical outcomes, and essential to delivering high-quality patient care. But unlike some healthcare roles that are widely celebrated, case management often remains unrecognized or misunderstood outside our immediate circle. It's like we're working magic behind the curtain, orchestrating care and outcomes without always getting the chance to take a bow.
But as all of us know, case management is much more than what people see on the surface. It's about bridging gaps in care, empowering patients, reducing readmissions, and ensuring our patients are safe, supported, and informed at every turn. We're the ones who ask, "What's next?" after discharge and work tirelessly to answer it with coordinated, compassionate care. And it's time the world sees the profound impact of this work.
From 'Best-Kept Secret' to Essential Role in Healthcare
Being named Nurse Influencer of the Year by ANA IL signals that this vital work is finally getting the recognition it deserves. I've spent years advocating for case management, speaking at conferences, mentoring others in our field, and creating resources to help us shine. My mission has always been to transform case management from a hidden gem into a celebrated and respected profession. We shouldn't be healthcare's "best-kept secret." Instead, we should be recognized as essential to the healthcare journey—a fact that this award underscores!
To every case manager reading this, I want to say thank you. This recognition is a tribute to the work we're all doing together. Every phone call, every family meeting, every transition of care you handle contributes to our collective mission to make healthcare better, safer, and more navigable for patients. Case management has a voice, a perspective, and a critical role to play, and we should never shy away from stepping forward and sharing our stories.
Why Recognition Matters for Our Future
Recognition like this matters because it fuels awareness of our profession and sparks interest in the next generation of case managers. It's no secret that healthcare is shifting rapidly, with new models of care, evolving patient needs, and an ever-growing focus on quality and patient satisfaction. Case management is a key part of that evolution, and our work is becoming more valuable than ever. This is the time to advocate fiercely for our field, making sure others understand what we do, the expertise we bring, and the value we add.
Awards like the Nurse Influencer of the Year give us a platform to tell that story more loudly. They validate our work in the eyes of our peers, our leaders, and the broader healthcare industry. They give us a chance to not only celebrate what we've accomplished but also to inspire the next generation of case managers to be proud of their role and committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
A Call to Action for All Case Managers
But this is just the beginning. There's so much more work to do! I'm committed to driving forward and continuing to be an advocate for case management. Together, we can keep educating others about our role, highlighting our successes, and driving our profession forward. Whether you're a seasoned case manager or new to the field, I encourage you to get involved, share your story, and be proud of the incredible work you do each day.
Thank you, CMSA, for supporting our community and helping to bring case management into the light. I am honored to represent case managers everywhere, and I'm grateful to ANA IL for recognizing the essential role we play in healthcare.
Here's to continuing our journey and making sure case management is not only seen but celebrated in every corner of the healthcare system. We've got an amazing story to tell—let's make sure everyone hears it!
With gratitude,
Dr. Colleen Morley
CMSA's educational programs are designed for flexibility, allowing you to stay ahead in case management while balancing your personal and professional life. Gain expert knowledge, stay up to date, and invest in your career—on your terms. Visit our Education page to learn more about our many available programs and get started today! https://cmsa.org/education/
Dr. Colleen Morley-Grabowski, 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.