Commission for Case Manager Certification announces new officers, board members

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new slate of officers was announced today by the Commission for Case Manager Certification®. Their pledge to advance the Commission's mission and vision is demonstrated through their commitment as volunteers to the organization that validates the skills and knowledge required for excellence in case management. New health care reimbursement models that pay for value of care rather than volume are on the path to becoming the norm over the next three years. Most require expansion of successful, innovative approaches that include care coordination and team-based care collaboration across health care settings—functions professional case managers are best prepared to fulfill.

The number of board-certified case managers continues to grow, and more than 37,000 case managers have demonstrated their qualifications by earning the CCM® credential. But further workforce development efforts are required to meet this growing need. The Commission, the oldest and largest nationally accredited organization certifying case managers, will hold its first national meeting, the CCMC New World Symposium™, Jan. 21-23, 2016, to raise the profile of the evolving role of case managers in today's health care terrain. The Commission's new board will preside over this event.

Sandra Zawalski, RN, BSN, CRRN, CCM, ABDA, MSCC, is the Commission's newly elected chair. Zawalski is manager of case management at HealthSpan, which is based in Ohio. Zawalski is responsible for daily oversight, coordination, education and supervision of case managers and social workers. In addition to her service on the Commission, Zawalski has served on the executive committee of the Cleveland chapter of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and on the board for the Brain Injury Foundation for the Cleveland Chapter. Zawalski has also served on the education committee for the Northeast Ohio Case Management Network and is a former Boy Scout leader. Zawalski holds a bachelor's degree in nursing. http://ccmcertification.org/profiles/kathryn-m-serbin-bsn-ms-ccm

Other 2015/2016 officers are

• Immediate Past-Chair: Jo Carter, BSN, RN, CCM, http://ccmcertification.org/profiles/kathryn-m-serbin-bsn-ms-ccm vice president of network services, Paradigm Management Services LLC;
• Chair-elect: Jane Harkey, RN, MSW, CCM, founder and owner of an independent geriatric care management company;
• Treasurer: Annette Watson, RN-BC, CCM, MBA, founder and principal, Watson International Consulting; and
• Secretary: Charlotte Sortedahl, DNP, MPH, MS, RN, CCM, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

The Commission also elected three new Members at Large, representing a range of allied health fields and delivery settings:

• Nina Mottern, RN, BSN, CCM, geriatric nurse care manager for Seniors Choice Care Management, Rochester, N.Y.
• Michelle Crook, RN, BSN, CCM, CRRN, business project program manager, Aetna Medicare Provider Collaboration Program.
• Chikita Mann, RN, MSN, CCM, disability case manager supervisor, GENEX Services, Inc.

"This all-volunteer board brings energy and solid commitment to leadership," said Patrice Sminkey, the Commission's CEO. "With backgrounds ranging from geriatric nursing to social work, disability case management and academic leadership, our Commissioners champion professional case management excellence through certification, education and advocacy programs and services." For example, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) granted [re]accreditation to the Commission's CCM credential for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs in June.

"Consumers, health plans and employers are aware of the valuable contributions professional case managers make helping individuals get the right care, at the right time, and delivered in the most effective way," Sminkey said. "Through our research-based examination and requirements for education and professional experience, CCMs validate that they have the expertise to navigate, equip and lead in a rapidly changing health care environment."

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification
The Commission for Case Manager Certification (the Commission) is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 37,000 professional case managers. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM^® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with the Commission on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification