Source: CMSA Today BY ANGELA SIMMONS, MSW, LCSW, CCM AND BINA STITT, MPA, MSN, RN, CCM Back in 2016, two major VA offices— Offices of Nursing Services (ONS) and Care Management and Social Work (CMSW)—teamed up for something big: the Integrated Case Management Initiative. The goal was to take a hard look at how we handle

Source: CMSA Today BY HEATHER KELLY, MSN, RN, BCPA, CPC A child’s eighteenth birthday marks an abrupt and consequential transition, not only socially but legally, transforming a dependent minor into an autonomous adult overnight. In healthcare, this legal reclassification can fracture continuity of care, abruptly limiting parental access to medical information, decision-making authority, and coordination roles

Source: CMSA Today BY JACQUELINE (JACQUI) BASTIAN, BSN, RN, MSOL, CCM, KATE COFFIELD AND AMY CAMPBELL-TUMBLIN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In early 2023, OhioHealth and The Laurels Healthcare launched a direct-bill, contracted-bed model to safely transition medically stable, long-stay patients with significant discharge barriers from acute care to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Over three years, the partnership improved hospital throughput, protected

Source: CMSA Today BY HEIDI STEINHEBEL, RN, BSN, CCM Heart failure represents a significant national health crisis, accounting for more than one million hospitalizations annually in the United States. The condition affects approximately one in four individuals over their lifetime, with the prevalence expected to increase from 6.7 million Americans today to 8.5 million by 2030.

Source: CMSA Today BY AMANDA LEIGH LAW, RN, BSN, CCM AND HASEEN WILLIAMS “I can’t thank you enough for picking up that extra project; I know how busy you are.” “Wow, you’re working overtime this week, too? You’re so committed to your job!” These phrases, praiseworthy in nature, highlight the irony many health professionals frequently feel. In

Source: CMSA Today BY DR. JENNIFER GAZDA, LCSW, NCG, CMC, CDP As case managers, we have the opportunity to provide insightful and supportive care to patients in a variety of roles and settings. While a large proportion of case managers are nurses and social workers, many ancillary professionals also have found themselves serving in the capacity

Source: CMSA Today BY HUSSEIN MICHAEL TAHAN, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCM Advocacy is a defining function of professional case management. It assumes heightened importance at the end of life, when patients and families must navigate complex decisions, emotional distress, and fragmented care systems. Strengthening advocacy capacity among professional case managers is essential to promoting patients’ dignity,