By Anne Llewellyn, RN.C, BHSA, CCM, CRRN, Editor in Chief
After an entire year of planning and anticipating, the 16th Annual Case Management Society of America Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show took place from June 12-17, 2006 in Grapevine, Texas. To say that the conference was a huge success is an understatement. For those of you who were there and got to experience the event, I hope that this overview provides a way for you to share with your colleagues an insight into the conference. For those of you who did not attend, take some time and review the events.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
If you attended the CMSA Annual Conference and Trade Show, what was the presentation/event/experience from the conference that provided you with empowerment, passion and the charge to go back to your organization with renewed enthusiasm? Please email me at allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com. I will post the answers in next week’s Blog!
UPDATE: Click here to see responses to this question.
Driving up to the Gaylord Texan (the hotel where the conference was held) provided the first WOW. The hotel is brand new and has all the amenities that one would want when going to a conference. The staff was friendly, helpful and provided clear directions that made navigating the property feasible. Of course, you had to walk a mile wherever you wanted to go, but at least we all got some exercise!
The conference was packed with events, so most attendees did not get to shop or relax. But as type ‘A’ professionals, we all got the opportunity to experience many of the stores, restaurants and amenities the property had to offer. The typical day started at 7 a.m., ended at 11 p.m. and was filled with expert-led symposia’s, stimulating workshops, engaging keynote speakers who were very aware of their audience. They presented information that educated and reinforced the need for care management as a solution for ensuring that consumers of healthcare services receive safe, quality, cost-effective care at the right time and in the right setting.
Each speaker talked about the importance of prevention, wellness and adherence to care. The most impressive point for me was that each speaker I heard at the conference was very aware of who we were; they stressed our potential and took the time during their talk to empower each of us to understand better the important role that we play in today and the future of the U.S. healthcare system.
As promised in last weeks Blog, here is an overview of my week at the CMSA Conference.
Monday: June 12, 2006
I departed from Fort Lauderdale, FL at 8:50 a.m. and arrived in Dallas, Texas at 10:50 a.m. in time to check in and attend the afternoon session of the National Board Meeting with my fellow Past President Colleagues, the current Board of Directors and the CMI staff in order to honor Jeannie Boling. Jeannie was presented with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
As many of you know, Jeannie Boling has led the organization as the Executive Director for the past 12 years. Over the course of time, Jeannie, in collaboration with each President and Board of Director’s, has ensured that the organization has grown in numbers, as well as stature as a leading healthcare organization. Today we are recognized by employers, governmental agencies, other professional organizations and the consumer as the voice of case management. Case management and professionals who provide case management services are viewed as experts who are the glue that hold the system together. Jeannie has done an excellent job in using her expertise and creating the vision that has focused the organization. We have been asked to sit at the table of CMS in the development and implementation of Medicare Part D, and input into the development of new care coordination projects. We will also help to: collaborate with the AMA to begin talks regarding the development of CPT Codes for case management; work with the American Pharmaceutical Association in tackling the issues of compliance and adherence to treatment and medication using the Case Management Adherence Tool; and continue to put out official statements to assist the grassroots case manager in addressing the dilemmas, such as issues like the multi-state licensure laws, so that each case manager can have current inoformation on the topic and data that will assist employers in understanding the issues and impact on their organizations. For information and resources on this topic, visit the CMSA website at www.cmsa.org
As mentioned, Jeannie was presented the award as she has transitioned her role to Cheri Lattimer’ who took over the reigns of the organization in January, 2006, and holds the title of Executive Director. Cheri’s vision for the future is exciting and will ensure that CMSA is an active participant at the table to address the challenges that our healthcare system faces and the voice to consumers to break down the silos and increase communication and collaboration throughout the continuum of care. Jeannie has assumed the role of Assistant Executive Director and will continue to be an ambassador for the organization to provide outreach with partners like the American Medical Association, American Pharmaceutical Association, American Nurses Association, National Association of Social Workers, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, employer groups and many others who have called on CMSA to address the inadequacies of the system and to raise the bar on professionalism, competency and safety of our healthcare system.
After the ceremony, it was back to work for the Board of Directors. The past presidents were invited to join the discussion on the forward path that the organization is taking. Some points of the discussion included:
- How to gear up for the next generation of case management professionals who will be entering the field.
- What tools will be needed to mentor those new to the practice so they have a clear understanding of the concepts of care management and can adapt to the future because they understand the fundamentals.
- How to re-define ways to communicate the value of the Case Management Society of America to employers of case managers who currently support professional with membership, as well as attendance at National as well as local meeting, but to increase raise this understanding to those employers who do not provide this support.
- Packaging the message so that employers of case/care managers who are members of CMSA understand the professional caliber they have hired, have confidence that they are getting seasoned professionals who understand the role they play in the system of care coordination, and are both clinically and professionally competent because of the tools offered by the organization.
- The importance of raising the bar and empowering case managers to tell their personal stories of how they have improved the healthcare system through the care they provide to prevent patients at risk for falling though the cracks of the system
- Broadening the base of the organization to all professionals who are involved in the practice of medical management. We hope to see physicians, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation professionals, accountants, attorneys and others as attendees at future meetings, as well as active members because they view the Case Management Society of American as the organization that breaks down the silo’s and recognizes the care coordination team as the true solution for controlling cost and improving care for consumers.
- Proactively addressing legislative issues that impact the welfare of our members, as well as consumers of healthcare services.
- Being a leader and mentor to the International Community who are searching for ways to provide care management to their citizens as a tool to decrease cost and improve efficiency and effectiveness in their systems.
The resounding theme that I walked away with after the Board Meeting was that we as case/care management professionals continue to be the constant in equation and are gaining a strong voice in addressing the challenges of the 21st healthcare system. CMSA as the professional organization for those involved in the practice of case/care management is charged with and has accepted the challenge of working collaboratively with other organization and professionals to improve the healthcare system.
In conjunction with the Annual Conference, the U.S. military held its annual meeting. This year, for the first time, all branches of the military were represented. Over 100 military case managers from the Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force from around the globe, came together to network, learn and discuss challenges and opportunities that they can use to address the growing numbers of injured soldiers returning from the war.
I spoke with many of those who attended the meeting and there was a resounding theme that the military case management was an integral part of assisting the soldiers, as well as their families in adjusting and moving forward after a catastrophic event changed their lives.
Tuesday: June 13, 2006.
My task today was to co-present the URAC-sponsored workshop on the Updated Case Management Standards. It was an interesting day which brought innovation and a clearer understanding of how the case management standards when applied organizational wide can ensure that healthcare is safe, evidenced-based, provided at the right time, in the appropriate setting and in a cost-effective manner.
In addition to the URAC workshop, other case managers were able to attend one of the six Institutes for Learning topics also being presented as pre-conference activities. These meetings were complete sell outs. Here is an example of the workshops presented:
- Motivational Interviewing
- Fundamentals of Hospital Case Management
- Advanced Concepts in Disability & Workers’ Compensation
- CCM Prep Course
- Organizational Ethics: A Workshop for Case Managers
Wednesday: June 14, 2006
The CMSA Symposiums have become “Must Attend Events” as these are the cutting edge topics that case managers will be charged with addressing going forward. Expert presenters are asked to present to those who attend the latest advances discoveries. As a result of the demand for these high level programs, they have been extended to a full day on Wednesday to early morning times on Thursday and Friday. CMSA presented over 20 advanced practice programs to standing room only crowds. There was a wide variety of f topics that are too numerous to mention here, but make sure you check out the CMSA Educational Library (www.cmsa.org) as many of the symposiums presented will be available online for CCM credit. As a result of the generosity from the commercial supporters who sponsored the programs at the conference, most of the online programs are FREE!!!!
In addition to the symposiums, the chapter presidents held their annual meeting. CMSA has over 70 chapters across the country and this is the day that the chapter presidents come together to network, share successes and challenges of running their chapter and learn from each other best practices they can take back to make internal improvements. It is a full day of intense conversations that each president looks forward to each year. In addition, the Chapter Innovations awards are presented to those chapters who have submitted an overview of projects that they did in 2005 that increased membership, increased learning opportunities and raised the bar in recognition of the practice of case management in their individual cities. Check out the CMSA Website to view the winners of this year’s awards.
Wednesday is also the day marked as the Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall. Each year there is a tradition where the entire board of directors welcome the conference attendees into the hall to network with the over 300 exhibitors who were fortunate enough to get a booth in the exhibit hall. Learning continued as the attendees were able to meet face to face with the representatives of the various companies to learn about the new trends, issues and pharmaceuticals, DME, IT, Home Health and other core services essential to the practice. As I walked through the hall, it was exciting to see all of the companies represented and clearly showed that case managers are viewed as key decision makers in care coordination.
Once the exhibit hall closed at 7 p.m., attendees let down their hair and partied into the night at the opening night party. It is always great to see the ease that case manages can transition to the serious aspect of learning to having a good time with both the long-time friends they look forward to visiting with each year, as well as the new friends they make each year.
Thursday, June 15, 2006.
Thursday is the official opening of the conference. This year, Margaret Founier, a case manager from Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas opened the meeting by signing the National Anthem and a tribute to the soldiers fighting for our freedom in Iraq. Later in the day she also presented a breakout session, entitled The Other Battle: Coming Home. To illustrate the reality of challenges this war has dealt so many, Margaret brought three soldiers who were injured in the line of duty to explain in their own words the impact and change in their lives that has occurred, as well as to demonstrate the value of case management in ensuring care coordination from the battle field and back to the United States. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the house!
Following this, Susan Rogers, the current President of CMSA welcomed all to the annual conference and gave an overview of the accomplishments that have occurred over the past year. She also introduced Terri Kelly who was the chair of the Case Manager of the Year award. This year, the award went to Margaret (Peggy) Leonard of the New York Chapters. Peggy gave a beautiful speech and thanked her family, employer, friends and colleagues for the honor of receiving this award. She also challenged each of us to understand the important role that we play as experts in the field and urged us to make sure we communicate this to our legislative representative and to ensure that whenever healthcare legislation comes up, we are called to the table as a resource and voice. Readers of Case In Point magazine will be able to read more about Peggy as she will be profiled in the October issue.
Following the award, the opening keynote was introduced. Dr. Archelle Georgiou was the architect who designed United Healthcare Group’s revolutionary care management model in 1999. Dr. Archelle gave an overview of the process and the challenges, as well as the positive outcomes that have occurred during the transition. It was an interesting presentation as it showed the inside view of how the process occurred, the amount of work that it took to engineer the change and the monumental challenge that we all have to meet the needs of patients and families who are consumers of care so that they experience a safe, effective care system.
Following the keynote, we moved back to the Exhibit Hall for brunch. Attendees were able to continue their networking with the various exhibitors, as well as view the poster presentations that have become an annual event at the conference. Topics included:
- Telehealth Innovation: Nurse & Physician Networks Govern Policy Implementation Across the States
- Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Patients: A rewarding Case Management Endeavor
- How Diversity Impacts the Case Management Communication Process
- Partnering for Patients: HIV/AIDS Disease Case Management. Program & the Behavioral Health Department
- Creating An Evidence-Based Practice Environment in Case Management
- TRICARE Extended Care Health Option
- A Tale of Two Companies: Successful Post-Merger Integration of Care Management
The afternoon brought various concurrent sessions on a variety of topics. The day closed with 2 dinner symposia.
I was not able to attend the last session of the conference as I held a focus group to understand the needs of case managers better so that we can ensure that Case In Point magazine continues to meets and exceed the expectation of today’s case management professionals. A special thanks to all who attended.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Friday started off bright and early with an introduction of the second version of the Case Management Adherence Guidelines. Susan Rogers, Connie Commander and Sheri Alliotta provided a packed room with the latest version of this tool, as well as an updated CD Rom on Motivational Interviewing. Please make sure you check out the CMSA Website regarding the continuing news and outcomes on this project. It is the first tool that can truly validate the dedicated efforts that case managers extend to patients with chronic conditions to understand better why adherence to care is essential.
Friday General Sessions included two keynote speakers. The first presentation was done by Susan Dentzer. Susan is a healthcare reporter and presented an overview of “Washington Health Policy & the Impact on Care Management.” The second keynote of the day was by Diane Uustal who spoke on “Keeping our Promise: Ethical Issues & Insights in Case Management”. In between the two keynote presentations allowed for a final spin around the exhibit hall and a choice of 10 breakout sessions.
Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., CMSA held its annual membership meeting where there was a changing of the guard as the new board of directors took office and gavel was passed onto the new president, Connie Commander. Connie gave an overview of her goals and the promise to work to get Colin Powell to speak at out 2007 Annual Conference, which will be held in Denver, Colorado, June 19-23, 2007.
Following the membership meeting, the past presidents met at their annual dinner. This is a time when all of the past presidents come together and discuss where the organization is going and the future trends and issues. This year, there was a special tribute to Jeannie by each past president. To show our thanks, we each wrote a personal letter to Jeannie to let her know how her leadership impacted each of us during our term as president of the organization. It was interesting to hear the stories from each president, but the common theme of the evening was dedication, passion, commitment, and drive to see our practice become stronger. Cheri Lattimer’ has huge shoes to fill, but she is ready for the challenge and has already started to make her mark of excellence on the practice.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
I was not able to attend the Saturday Session as I had an early flight back to Fort Lauderdale. I am sorry to have missed the keynote speaker who I heard was going to be excellent. The closing keynote was Barbara Bancorft. The title of her talk was Live A Little, Laugh a Lot.
What a great way to end an exciting, educational and exceptional conference. I hope to hear from those who attended with your own best moment of the conference as you answer the Question of the Week. For those of you who did not attend, I hope this overview gave you a glimpse into the meeting and the motivation to set your sights on getting involved with CMSA. The rewards far outweigh the cost of membership.
Have a good week!
Anne Llewellyn, RN.C, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor In Chief
