Case Management Certification Guide and Information
Welcome to the information page and guide for CASE MANAGEMENT Certification. We thank you for your visit. Here you will find detailed information on how you may become certified in this ever growing health care and nursing practice specialty.
What is Case Management?
Case Management in health care and in nursing have specific frameworks and theories which establish the practice. Health care Case Managers and Nurse Case Managers deal with the individual patient and their overall, comprehensive plan of care. Generally the process of case management begins with a comprehensive assessment of the client and the establishment of high risks for high cost care, complications from a disease process, co-morbid states and dealing with many different specialists in the health care delivery of the client. Such clients are assessed as high risk for quality of care and cost of care issues. High risk clients then enter the case management process. This evolved process is lead by a professional case manager who serves as the overall team leader and advocate for the client. Using an evolved process of case management assessment, diagnosis and identified client problems, evaluation and collaboration, the certified case manager is the manager of the overall plan of care. Case Management then is an established process of professional health care management which is client centered and highly focused on quality patient outcomes, containment and appropriate use of necessary resources and high level collaboration among all professionals providing care for the client. Its goal is the delivery of quality care and cost effective care for the client. There is a focus on the balance of quality and costs. One is not sacrificed for the other; rather the process drives the achievement of an appropriate balance of both factors for the client.
What is a Case Manager?
A Case Manager is a health care professional who assumes the active role of the manager of the client's overall plan of care. There are many types of licensed case managers, with the registered nurse being the most frequently identified as the case manager. Licensed Social Workers area also frequently designated as client case managers as well. We also see some specific case management positions developed and filled by other licensed health care professionals, especially related to a niche type of care modality or practice. Physicians, respiratory therapists, mental health professionals, counselors, psychologists, and more can all be seen today in case management positions. Case Managers are primarily seen working in acute care, skilled care and rehabilitation care. They are also working for insurance companies and other payor systems. You will find case managers working in most all types of delivery care systems and specifically working with clients who have more complex care needs which requires specific care management to produce quality outcomes in cost effective practices. Most case managers today are "certified" as case or care managers. Certification offers benefits for the practicing case manager as well as the community he/she is serving.
What are the requirements for entering the practice specialty of Case Management?
The requirements for entry into a case management position is most frequently, at the basic entry level, licensure as a health care professional. The vast majority of health care organizations and agencies that hire case managers will require licensure in a specific discipline. Very frequently licensure as a Registered Nurse is required. In many other instances, job positions may require licensure as a social worker, counselor, physician, etc. Each health care agency establishes position requirements based on their own specific human resource needs. Some health care organizations and agencies require one be certified as a case manager, and some require achievement of certification only after a prescribed period of time. Some may require the attainment of higher level courses or continuing education in case management or may require completion of an on the job type of training program sponsored by the specific hiring agency. Some type of education program completion is often needed or is looked up very favorably by health care agencies. Certification if often considered a gold standard for the practice of case or care management today.
What type of training is required?
There are many training programs available today in case and care management. Many programs are offered at the collegiate level, either as a degree program or certificate program. Some programs such as graduate level programs in nursing may have a specific case management focus area of concentration. There are also many organizations that offer courses, continuing education courses and full continuing education programs in case and care management. Length of course times as well as costs are variable by organization. You may visit our specific program by clicking here.
How can I become certified in Case Management?
Several types of certification programs exist today that offer a Case Management/Case Manager Certification. Some of the available programs provide a certification that is by examination only. Generally, a number of years of case management work experience is required prior to taking the certification examination. Also, some organizations that offer certification programs do require specific health care related licences and /or college degrees, in order to become a candidate for their examination. Other programs may require formal education in case management prior to entering a certification program or completing a certification examination. Those interested in certification should do a good internet search for programs. You will also find very good program information on many social media platforms. This page provides many links to social media programs that can help you attain more information on health care and nursing professional case and care management.