Commission for Case Manager Certification Unveils Knowledge Framework to Advance Policy and Workforce Development

Framework is foundational to the Commission's Case Management Body of Knowledge

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Commission for Case Manager Certification (the Commission) today unveiled a Case Management Knowledge Framework that all partners in health care quality may freely use. It is designed to help them identify training needs of professional case managers as they take expanded roles in new models of care. The announcement was made in light of the critical role care coordination plays in accountable care organizations, medical homes and other advanced primary care models.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service's March 31 release of the proposed rule for accountable care organizations (ACOs) identified care coordination as one of five domains for quality measures required in the new model. The April 11 Department of Health and Human Services announcement of the new Partnership for Patient Safety initiative introduced new funding for hospital-based patient transition programs with the goal of reducing hospitalizations by 20 percent over three years. CMS' Innovation Center, in coordination with the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office, announced April 14 that 15 states will receive $1 million each to participate in the State Demonstrations to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Individuals. The intent of this initiative is to develop person-centered models of care that fully coordinate primary, acute, behavioral, and long-term supports and services for dual-eligible patients. Case management plays a critical role in achieving these goals and is called for as a tool to both lower costs and improve patient care.

"The Case Management Knowledge Framework is an important contribution to both the health care policy community and those organizations that represent the professional case manager," said Annette C. Watson, RN-BC, CCM, MBA, the Commission's chair. "The Knowledge Framework will allow organizations like the Case Management Society of America, the National Social Workers Association, community health organizations, primary care groups and academic leadership to create a standardized, structured way to train a new cadre of professionals. It offers a detailed and structured description of the process, interwoven with the foundational knowledge domains of case management."

The Commission also introduced its new product, the Case Management Body of Knowledge™ (CMBOK™).  The product is built upon the Case Management Knowledge Framework and educates the user on seven knowledge domains: case management concepts; principles of practice; health care management and delivery; health care reimbursement; psychosocial aspects of care; rehabilitation; and professional advancement and development. Within those domains are structured 38 sub-domains, more than 350 specific knowledge topics, and nine major phases in the case management process.

CMBOK offers the foundational knowledge a professional case manager must possess to work independently and effectively.  It is the first comprehensive, Web-based, peer-reviewed, online knowledge resource available today. In light of the current and critical need to educate today's workforce, the Commission is offering 1,000 free subscriptions at the June 1 launch of the CMBOK for those board-certified case managers who supervise, train and teach case managers in the private, public and academic settings. The Commission will also offer a block of subscriptions to the 15 states chosen to participate in the CMS State Demonstrations to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Individuals initiative to expand their knowledge of case management as it applies to this important effort. Subscribers to the CMBOK will be able to obtain continuing education credit through the CMBOK and automatically update their personal education records through the Commission's online CM Dashboard.

"The CMBOK has been in development for two years, and simply put, it is the go-to resource for those interested in the process and practice of professional case management," said Patrice Sminkey, RN, the Commission's chief staff executive. "It is the Commission's hope that the Knowledge Framework and the CMBOK product will inform community health programs, medical practices, hospital programs, and health plans as they develop new products and services designed to effectively coordinate care in a meaningful way."

The CMBOK was written by leading case management experts and its contents underwent peer review; it embodies both the science and art of case management. Its years in development represent the Commission's commitment to excellence and realize the Commission's vision for advancement and evolution of case management.

"The greatest challenge has been and will continue to be condensing the available knowledge to meet the practical needs of the various case management professionals, health disciplines and audiences," said Hussein Tahan, DNSc, RN, past chair of the Commission, Role and Function Study chief researcher and now knowledge editor of CMBOK.

The Commission has engaged an advisory board of case management professionals as well as employers, policy makers, academics, researchers, health plans and other providers who, working with the CMBOK's knowledge editor, will identify areas in the CMBOK for addition or updates.

Eligible board-certified case managers may click here to apply for the 1,000 free one-year subscriptions to the CMBOK.

Click here to read the issue brief, "Current, evolving and always available: The Case Management Body of Knowledge."

For FAQs about the CMBOK, click here.

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification

The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 30,000 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 CCMC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification