Case Manager Board Certification Carrying More Weight

Occupational health practitioners who appreciate the value of positive working relationships with external case managers may be interested to know that the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC™) is doing what it can to streamline the path to board certification.

CCMC strongly encourages case managers to enhance their skills and credibility by obtaining board certification as health care delivery systems strive for improved service delivery and patient outcomes. CCMC is a non-profit, volunteer organization overseeing the case manager certification process for applicants including registered nurses, social workers, and other professionals in workers’ compensation and vocational rehabilitation.

New models of care such as the patient-centered medical home emphasize care coordination and other core case management principles. A foundational emphasis on team-based care in advanced primary care models has also expanded the role of case managers, CCMC reports. The concept of team-based care is aligned with the commission's philosophy that all parties in the system benefit when patients reach their optimal level of wellness, self-management and function.

In a press release issued yesterday, the organization announced two new related services:

• Candidates who take the exam to obtain a CCM® credential now receive immediate pass/fail feedback via an Instant Preliminary Scoring system rather than having to wait six weeks for test results. 

• A Pre-Approved Continuing Education (PACE) program for CCM-certified organizations simplifies the process to gain approval for workshops, webinars and continuing education coursework. PACE is an online system that reduces duplicate approvals for repeated courses and simplifies data entry and fee structures.

 “These new initiatives demonstrate our commitment to our core values – promoting, advancing and advocating for quality case management,” said Patrice V. Sminkey, R.N., the commission’s chief staff executive. “Health care reform is changing the landscape for board-certified case managers, and the commission will continue to explore ways to be the go-to resource for the professional case management community.”