Case Management Week is your time to shine
Start planning activities to showcase your profession
Case Management Week, Oct. 10-16, offers a great opportunity for case managers to educate members of the public and people within their own organizations about case management, says Teri Treiger, RN-C, MA, CCM, CCP, new president of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).
Case Management Week is a great platform to start educating payers, providers, regulators, and consumers about the tremendous value case managers bring to the successful delivery of health care, she says. "Some organizations that employ case managers have been mindful of Case Management Week but in some large organizations, people aren't aware what case managers do and how much they can help," she adds.
It's important for employers to recognize case managers during their special week and not lump the celebration into Nurses Week or Social Workers Month, adds B.K. Kizziar, RN-BC, CCM, CLP, owner of B.K. & Associates, a Southlake, TX, case management consulting firm.
"Case management is neither; but at the same time, case managers are both. We should continue to bring to the forefront that case management is a different area of practice and should be identified separately and celebrated separately."
Treiger suggests that local chapters of CMSA hold significant events during Case Management Week and work with members at the chapter level to increase awareness of the profession.
For instance, the New England chapter hosts a dinner event, usually with a well-known speaker, in honor of Case Management Week, Treiger says.
"It's a networking opportunity but also a chance to celebrate our profession and the difference we make in people's lives, she says.
The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of CMSA has asked the mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth and the governor of Texas to issue a proclamation in honor of Case Management Week, Kizziar says.
The chapter sends case managers discount coupons for the dinner meeting celebrating Case Management Week and asks the local media to run spots or articles in recognition of the week and the importance of case management, she adds.
The Case Management Society of Alabama is holding its 16th annual conference during case management week, says Chris Saab, RN, president of the organization.
The day-long conference includes speakers, breakfast and lunch, and door prizes as well as a celebration of Case Management Week and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Saab says.
Here are some other suggestions from CMSA on how you can celebrate Case Management Week:
- Offer to speak about case management at community events.
- Ask every CMSA member to wear a "Member Pin" during the week.
- Sponsor health fairs, conduct preventative preventive screenings in underserved areas or organize other services in your community.
- Hold a celebration or reception to honor an outstanding case management in your community. The recognition could honor years of service in the community, exemplary acts of service, or commitment to case management.
- Display Case Management Week posters and banners in prominent places throughout your place of work.
- Profile case managers willing to share their stories in your organizations newsletter.
- Encourage employers to purchase CMSA memberships for their case managers.
(For more information, samples of news releases and proclamations, and promotional items, see the CMSA website at http://www.cmsa.org/Individual.)
Case Management Week, Oct. 10-16, offers a great opportunity for case managers to educate members of the public and people within their own organizations about case management, says Teri Treiger, RN-C, MA, CCM, CCP, new president of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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