CMSA is pleased to announce the launch of the Case Load Capacity Calculator (CLCC). This software, developed by Consulting Management Innovators, Inc. (CMI), builds on both the Caseload Concept Paper and Matrix published by CMSA and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in 2008 as well as a 2011 survey of CMSA & NASW members. From that foundation, a team of clinicians and analysts developed software that provides comparison data between case managers in similar settings.

The Case Load Capacity Calculator is available, free of charge, to all case managers through December 31, 2011. Thereafter, it will remain free to CMSA and NASW members; non-members may continue to use the tool for a fee.

This first version of the CLCC is designed for health plan and inpatient acute settings. However, during the public access period, case managers of any setting may try the tool by selecting one of three test settings during setup. CMI hopes to develop calculator software for case managers in other settings in the future.

 

Select Sessions from the Annual Conference Now Available for Online Learning & CEs

In today’s world, we understand not everyone can join us for CMSA’s Annual Conference and Expo. Likewise, not everyone that attended this week-long event can visit every intriguing session offered. So, we are pleased to offer you the CMSA Extended Learning Conference, a convenient online learning environment offering 47 recorded sessions from CMSA's 21 Annual Conference in San Antonio! View all sessions and you could earn up to 84.0 Nursing and 70.0 CCM continuing education hours!

Don't Need CEs?
Consider Holding Educational InServices for Your Team
Purchase packages of 5, 15, 25, or all 47 courses and use the online presentations to conduct a series of educational in-services, providing professional development opportunities that can enhance the knowledge and skills of staff working in the multidisciplinary setting.

 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 1:00-2:00 pm CST

Join CMSA President Mary Beth Newman during the next All-Member Webinar to discuss current CMSA activities and member benefit updates. Use this time to ask questions and interact with your association President on CMSA hot topics. This is a great way to stay connected to your association and understand how your association is supporting you.

 

Do you or someone you know have the desire and dedication it takes to serve your industry's association in a leadership capacity?

Planning for the association's future is an important part of CMSA's purpose. Helping a remarkable association like CMSA grow requires the mindset of empowering others for successful service. If you, a colleague, or coworker yearns to share a personal passion for case management through service as a CMSA Board Member, please review the Candidate Nomination Form and submit the appropriate information to the Nominations Committee for review.

The deadline for Nominations is OCTOBER 31, 2011.

We encourage each member to consider this unique leadership opportunity to help CMSA continue to grow and thrive by submitting your nomination today.

 

What has been the most satisfying benefit of being a part of a national professional association? Do others know how CMSA has impacted your career through access to education and a network of other professionals?

Take a moment to share with colleagues and other health care professionals about why you are a member of CMSA.

Help support building the future of case management and strengthening the industry’s voice through one-on-one recruiting. Download your Member-Get-a-Member application today and spread the word. For more information on the Fall Member-Get-a-Member Campaign, tools and applications, and recruitment incentives, visit www.cmsa.org/recruit.

 

Did you know that CMSA is now part of the National Healthcare Career Network? This new partnership allows you access to more than 180 job openings in over 200 health care associations. By posting your resume on CMSA’s CareerCenter, you’ve put yourself in front of top health care employers 24/7.

Take Control of Your Career!

• Activate the job agent feature and have select jobs come to you.
• Make your resume available publicly or keep it confidential.
• Save and manager your favorite job postings.

Post your resume today at http://careers.cmsa.org/

 

Who do you know that is an outstanding case manager, or who is an outstanding leader in advancing case management?

Here is your opportunity to nominate them for the recognition they deserve. Watch for more details in November, or visit www.cmsa.org/awards to begin creating your nomination today

 

Rob Pock
Founder and CEO
TCS Healthcare Technologies

With all of the market forces at play and major reform efforts underway, both at the federal and state levels, it’s important to understand how these trends are impacting the practice of case management. Clearly, one trend is the need to promote and move to integrated "care" solutions. The move to enhanced clinical and administrative workflows often is dependent upon linking existing activities and interventions through emerging ideas, technologies, business platforms, and evidence-based clinical pathways. This column highlights some of the ongoing challenges and opportunities to promote a more seamless environment for case managers and the patients they support.

 

Read this very short but heavy-hitting guest column in The Seattle Times, written by a nurse, which advocates for patient-centered compassionate care for all and the importance of making health care about wellness.

 

Flu and its complications affect young and old and result in thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. The good news is that flu vaccination is covered by Medicare and for children covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Because case managers work with patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, the CMS is launching an effort to help case managers encourage everyone, especially the African American, Hispanic and Native American communities, who have low rates of vaccination, to get their annual flu vaccination as early as possible.

CMS has made available an Immunization Guide which helps providers bill for administration and the cost of the vaccine.

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have recently released selected publications in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and CDs and DVD in Spanish. You may order hard copies of these by setting up an account via online at http://productordering.cms.hhs.gov.

These resources are absolutely free from CMS.

 

Looking for information and support on caregiver-related issues? Here's an excellent listing of caregiver resources from the Rosalynn Carter Institute of Caregiving. The website also has great information in regards to raising awareness and recognition of caregiver-related issues and setting up programs to support caregivers.

 

Support early detection. Visit Nurse.com’s special Breast Cancer section today to read articles, participate in free webinars/CE courses, and join the breast cancer conversation.

 

Experts will discuss barriers to screening, opportunities to lower costs, and healthcare reform

The non-profit group Preventing Colorectal Cancer (PCC) is sponsoring a webinar series featuring PCC board members and other content experts who will share their thoughts on colorectal cancer screenings, anesthesia’s important role in the endoscopy suite, and the impact health reform is having on gastroenterology offices across the country. PCC was formed in 2008 to educate the public and key stakeholders on the opportunities to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer through consistent screening and care options for patients and their clinicians.

To register, click here.

 

In 2009, six Premature Infant Health Summits were conducted to address and discuss the many issues facing premature infants. Since that time many stakeholders have developed programs and initiatives, all with the goal of improving the care of premature infants. This year we will talk about the many small steps that have been taken and, with everyone’s involvement, can lead to big changes in the lives of premature infants.

Topics will include:

• Born too soon...why it matters. The latest on prematurity rates and research
• Engaging national and community stakeholders to make a difference
• Review and discussion of new premature infant resources
• Current policy landscape and the impact on premature infant care

To register please email MedImmunePrematuritySummits@gmail.com.

 

WHEN: October 28-29, 2011
WHERE: Hilton Atlanta Airport Atlanta, GA
PRODUCED BY: Bruce Berger and The Physicians’ Institute

CMSA Members receive a discount off the standard rates!

comMIt™(Comprehensive Motivational Interviewing Training) is an effective training program to teach health care providers how to use the principles of motivational interviewing (MI) with patients to more effectively improve adherence with health behaviors and hence, produce better outcomes. Brief motivational interviewing is a patient-centered approach developed for use with patients who vary in their readiness to take their medicines or manage their illness and related health behaviors. comMIt™ is offered over a two-day period. While both days are recommended for health care professionals, attending Day 1 only is an option for those who mainly wish to be exposed to the principles of Motivational Interviewing. Day two will feature extensive practice with expert coaching.

 

WHEN: October 30 - November 2, 2011
WHERE: Gaylord Opryland 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN
PRODUCED BY: Planetree: Patient-Centered Care

Planetree (www.Planetree.org) has been at the forefront of the effort to personalize, humanize, and demystify the health care system for more than 30 years, and this philosophy parallels that of case managers in many ways. As advocates for patients, case managers are personalizing, humanizing, and demystifying the patient experience each and every day.

 

WHEN: November 4-5, 2011
WHERE: San Antonio, TX
PRODUCED BY: American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP)

Merriam Webster defines "communicating" as transmitting information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood. Patients must communicate with their Providers. Providers must communicate with their Payors. We are all responsible to convey information to each other as we strive toward better outcomes.

Join ABQAURP in San Antonio to discover approaches to effectively Coordinate, Collaborate, and Communicate in today’s health system.

ABQAURP has assembled an extraordinary team of presenters to assess issues within the current health care quality and safety landscape, and to offer practical solutions.

 

WHEN: November 10, 2011, 1:00-2:30 pm EST
WHERE: Online Webinar
PRODUCED BY: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)

AHIP and its member companies are proud to collaborate with HHS, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) to increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates among culturally diverse populations and promote the 2011-2012 minority flu outreach campaign. As a longstanding commitment to increase access to childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccinations, health plans recognize that vaccinations are one of the most successful strategies for improving the public’s health.

Leading experts in vaccine safety and health care disparities at federal agencies and health plans will discuss the best practices at the local, regional and national level necessary to improve immunization rates among diverse groups especially among Hispanic/Latinos and African Americans, and within the communities that they live, work and play.

For more information and to register: http://www.ahip.org/webinar/influenza/

 

WHEN: November 17, 2011, 1:00-2:00pm EST
WHERE: Online Webinar
PRODUCED BY: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, CMSA, and PRIME

In the wake of an evolving health care system, health plans, hospitals, specialty pharmacy organizations and integrated delivery systems are all examining new approaches to the composition of their P&T committees. Many of today’s P&T committees are adopting an interprofessional approach that provides better representation of the variety of health care professionals involved in medication management. This webinar is intended to assist attendees in recognizing and exploring increasingly complex but opportunistic roles for physicians and nurses within P&T committees, as well as to identify tools and resources that can assist them in fulfilling ever-expanding responsibilities with P&T committees.

For more information and to register: http://www.primeinc.org/PT