Geriatric Case Management Annual Conference
Presented by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM)
Date: April 12-14, 2007
Location: Boston, Mass.
I had the privilege of attending this conference and learning about an organization that I had admired from afar. The conference was well planned and brought together Geriatric Care Managers from across the county. If your career goal is to branch into an emerging field, make sure you investigate the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.
Enjoy the overview.
Anne Llewellyn, RN.C, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief
Out & About Overview:
Borrowing from the theme of the Boston Marathon, President, Mary Lynn Pannen, RN, BSN, CCM, set the tone and welcomed attendees to the 23rd Geriatric Care Managers Annual Conference — GCMs Go the Distance. The meeting was held just a few days before the Boston Marathon. Over 300 care managers attended the meeting to learn, network with new colleagues and reconnect with long-time friends.
Highlights:
The First Timers Reception: This was an event for anyone who was a First Timer to the conference. The reception provided a way for “newbies” to learn about the organization by networking with the Board of Directors and leaders of NAPGCM. This was particularly interesting to me as it gave me a chance to talk with many of the leaders in the organization and gain insight into its mission, vision and culture. Having never attended this conference before, I was warmly welcomed and learned a great deal about the practice of care management.
The Annual Business Meeting Luncheon: This annual event allowed the 2007-2008 President, Mary Lynn Pannen, and the Board of Directors and Committees to provide updates and highlights of the organization to the members present at the conference. Again I was impressed with the caliber of leaders of the organization and the passion that they brought to the meeting. The overall message of the meeting was that of the aging of America and the future for the geriatric care management professions. The leadership of the organization has put processes in place to ensure the professionals in the organization are well positioned to take advantage of that growth.
Exhibit Area: There were a variety of vendors who brought their products and services in order to update care mangers about some of the advances to their practice. As care managers directly advise patients and their families on many decisions in addition to those related to healthcare issues, there were many services, including attorney services, elder care services, home-care agencies and assisted living facilities for the mentally challenged, that I had not seen at other case management conferences. It was interesting to see these and to talk to the various representatives about their products and services. I was also impressed by the obvious respect the vendors have for the important work that the geriatric care managers are doing. It was clear that these providers understood their audience and felt they were part of the process of improving care to the people that they served.
Breakout Sessions: I was able to sample many of the breakout sessions that covered a wide variety of clinical as well as business-related topics pertinent to the practice of geriatric care management. The presenters were very good and the questions that followed the sessions showed that the information was relevant to the practice and would be implemented.
The planners of the conference also made sure there were fun events included in the itinerary so attendees could take advantage of highlights of the host city. Events included sightseeing on the Boston Duck Tour and a trip to the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, which gave visitors an inside view of the museum and the powerful story of the Kennedy years. Shoppers were not left out as the organizers planned a trip to the second most popular attraction in Boston Filenes Basement.
Take-Away Thoughts:
My take-away from this conference was that the geriatric care managers have truly been pioneers in an emerging practice. They set the course to directly connect with the consumer, which many others in the field are just discovering. Today, because of consumerism, the aging of America and the fact that many baby boomers care for their own families as well as their parents, the practice of geriatric case management has a bright future. Geriatric care managers have been successful in explaining their services to stakeholders and showing the outcomes that proves their success. To learn more about the practice, the requirements to enter the practice and an organization that is dedicated to the success of its members, take time to explore The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers website at www.caremanager.org.
Photo recap:
Mary Lynn Pannen, NAPGCM President, addressing conference attendees during the Opening Session.
Conference attendees visit with the exhibitors.
Dr. Edward H. Thompson, Jr., MA, from Worcester, Mass., presented “The Invisible Lives of Men: Men as Caregivers.” With him is Deborah Fins, PGCM, member of the New England Chapter and 2007 Conference Chair.
