I arrived in Denver, Colo., at 10 a.m. to a beautiful day and breathtaking views of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As I drove from the airport to the Hyatt Hotel, I was surprised to see flags hanging from streetlights welcoming the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) to Denver.

Once checked in, I headed to the Convention Center for two important meetings. The first was the Military Tri-Service Pre-Conference Meeting in which about 200 military case managers representing all branches of the armed services from around the world gathered as a unified group. For the past six years, the military has used the CMSA Annual Conference as a venue for its own annual meeting. The pre-conference allows military case managers to connect with each other and discuss updates and issues pertinent to their practice. Once their meeting is completed, they take advantage of the show’s other programs and sessions to learn and network with their civilian counterparts.

The other meeting held today was the CMSA’s National Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting. I was able to attend the second half of this meeting when the Board reviewed its strategic initiatives and made decisions on what they want to continue when the new BOD takes over on Saturday.

All CMSA members are welcome to attend the National Board Meeting. Traditionally, the Board meets three times a year — twice during the Annual Conference and a third time mid-year. Attending a National Board Meeting is a great way to witness firsthand how your membership dollars are being utilized. I was impressed with the multitude of opportunities presented to CMSA over the past year. Connie Commander, CMSA President, and the Board have met with legislative leaders, key employers and several stakeholders to coordinate events that raised recognition and awareness of the practice of case management.

Also on the agenda were several updates on membership benefits, such as the online Education Library. This is a member benefit that holds a wealth of information for professionals who wish to gain educational credits or access programs that enhance business and professional skills. It was reported that the site is getting more than 25,000 hits a month and that members are completing 200-300 courses per month. If you have not checked out this resource, go to the CMSA Website.

In addition, Connie updated the Board on some new conference enhancements. This year, CMSA has introduced a way for attendees to electronically enter their session evaluations while at the show. By doing so, case managers can return home with certificates of completion in hand as opposed to waiting eight weeks for the mailed copy. Also, several of the sessions will be videoed and placed on the CMSA Website, allowing some of the top sessions to be viewed on demand.

The Case Management Adherence Guidelines tool is gaining momentum and two organizations that have used the program are expected to share their results in the next few months. It will be interesting to learn how this tool provides a way for case management outcomes to be shared.

On Friday, a new “caseload” tool — designed for organizations to enter information regarding the model of case management practice into an online system — will be introduced. The information will be analyzed and provide a recommendation on the appropriate caseload a case manager in that practice should be expected to manage. Ultimately it will be placed on the CMSA Website as a means to gather feedback on a regular basis. I was excited to hear this news as this is information that case managers have requested for some time now.

The National Board Meeting closed with Connie installing the new Board of Directors. Peter Moran from the New England Chapter will assume the role of the Presidency on Saturday. Jeff Frater from Spokane was elected by the membership as the new President Elect. As President Elect, Jeff will assist Peter throughout the coming year. It is interesting that we have two men back-to-back as President! The last male President was Gary Wolfe, who served his term more 10 years ago.

Several members of the current Board are rotating off this year and Connie thanked everyone for their time and service. In recognition of Connie’s services, she received a standing ovation as Nancy Skinner praised her for the work done this past year. Connie has advanced the practice of case management more than any other president. She has worked closely with Executive Director Cheri Lattimer and has made some important milestones that will continue to push the practice into the future.

And that’s all for now. But there’s excitement in the air and a lot more to report on. Tomorrow will begin with a National Transition of Care Coalition Board Meeting and an all-day meeting being held by American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP), one of CMSA’s newest partners. The day will wrap up with a round table discussion on the exploration of outsourcing healthcare quality sponsored by URAC. Several of our international visitors will be in attendance, too, so stay tuned for more highlights in tomorrow’s Across My Desk.

Until then, wishing you good health,

Anne Llewellyn

Many of the attendees started arriving today so as not to miss several of the pre-conference workshops. The pre-conference topics included a case management certification review course, an update on hospital case management, a review on workers’ compensation/disability management and a session on motivational interviewing. The meetings were well-attended and the comments that I heard from people during the lunch break were positive; they were pleased with the presentations and they had received information they could take back to their coworkers.

In addition to these meetings, there were several others held by invitation only that addressed some of the emerging issues in today’s healthcare system — issues that CMSA has taken the lead to address. These meetings brought together leaders from across various sectors of the healthcare industry to discuss important topics such as transitions of care, the role of technology in today’s healthcare system, outsourcing of healthcare services and the role of case management in the Military Healthcare System.

I had the privilege of attending the second meeting of the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC), which was “formed to bring together thought leaders and healthcare providers from various care settings to improve care coordination and communication among professionals when transferring patients from one level of care to another.” There are currently 23 members of the Coalition representing organizations such as The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, The Joint Commission, The Leapfrog Group, URAC, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, The American Society of Health System Pharmacists and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists as well as physicians from a variety of settings. The meeting allowed the three workgroups that the Coalition has charged to share their progress in developing industry tools focused on improving transitions of care, increasing awareness of transitions of care among various stakeholders and influencing health policy on these issues. A fourth group was added to measure the success of these initiatives. Their report will be presented at the next meeting in October.

The NTOCC meeting successfully gained feedback from the members of the Coalition and gave the workgroups direction to further refine their efforts. Cherri Lattimer, Executive Director of CMSA, told the group that the plan going forward is to post the completed documents on the NTOCC website for public comment, so monitor your email for word from CMSA as to when these will be available. I encourage all case managers to take the time to review the NTOCC website, as this information is pertinent to the practice of all case management models. NTOCC is another initiative that raises awareness about the practice of case management. You can read more on the National Transitions of Care Coalition at www.ntocc.org. In addition, you will find an update on NTOCC in the CMSA monthly newsletter — “The Case Report” — that appears in the June/July issue of Case in Point, which you should be receiving in your mailbox any day.

I then attended a discussion on the emerging role of the case manager in the Military Healthcare System. Today’s case managers are viewed as key resources to the military, and there is a great deal of work going on to ensure that individuals who assume the role of case manger have the training to perform their roles effectively and efficiently. It was exciting to see all branches of the armed services coming together to discuss the resources that they have in place and to share with each other the services needed to better enable them to meet the complex needs of the patients coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. As I listened to the dialogue, I heard and felt the passion that these professionals have for the practice as well as the commitment they share to improve the care they provide to injured soldiers and the families of those in the military. I also realized that military case managers are dealing with some of the same issues that those in the civilian sector face — namely, limited resources, time management issues and challenges with transitions of care. There are no easy answers to any of these issues, but it was good to see the dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

I also attended a portion of the 2nd Annual Medical Management System Innovation Conference that was sponsored by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP). The meeting examined the latest developments in managing individuals with chronic or high-cost conditions. Dr. Bill Crounse, Worldwide Health Director for Microsoft Corporation, shared how advances in technology are allowing the healthcare industry to make tremendous advances in quality, safety and delivery of care and cost containment. He challenged all in the audience to go back to their organizations and take a new look at the systems they have in place to make sure they are meeting the needs and producing the outcomes to measure success.

The ABQAURP meeting closed with roundtable discussions led by URAC. Each group was given a question to discuss and report back on their findings by the end of the meeting. The question that my table was asked was, “What are the potential or actual changes in the U.S. healthcare business model due to globalization?” One of the major changes that we are starting to see is outsourcing of various services. We had a lively discussion on the pros and cons of the impact healthcare outsourcing will have. Today, there are a few healthcare services that are outsourced, but this is changing due to societal advances and challenges, including advances in technology, impending staff shortages of healthcare professionals, rising costs of healthcare services and a demand to lower overhead. This is a topic that all should watch as organizations such as CMSA, URAC and ABQAURP continue to follow.

After meetings and booth setup were done, my colleague, Liz, and I had time for some real fun — Denver style. We saw the Colorado Rockies duke it out with the Yankees at Coors Field. The Rockies are doing well in the league standings, so the stadium was packed with more than 48,000 fans! It was an exciting game with the home team coming out on top 3-1.

Wednesday will start off with an early morning meeting of the Industry Council, which will bring about 25 employers together to share their views of and challenges with today’s healthcare system. Afterwards, I’ll attend a few of the many symposiums that I signed up for; I need to stay up-to-date, too. The exhibit hall opens with the CMSA Board of Directors welcoming the attendees in at 4:00 p.m. — always an exciting time as it is a way to learn about new equipment, products and services that companies are showcasing to meet the increasing needs of our patients. And the busy day will close with an evening reception by DHI for about 100 invited guests who have supported all of our case management products throughout the year. So watch for tomorrow’s update for more show highlights.

Have a great day!

Anne

Wednesday at CMSA is traditionally Symposia Day. The day started for many at 7 a.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m. Topics focused on the continuum of care. All of the presentations were well planned, and pertinent to the practice. In addition to the symposiums presented, there were other meetings on the agenda.

I was invited to attend the Industry Council Meeting, which brought together employers from across the country to provide CMSA with information on challenges they face in addressing healthcare issues. I represented Dorland Healthcare Information. Deb Smith, a leader in the practice of case management, led the discussion and will develop a report for the CMSA Board of Directors to review and better understand the challenges employers are facing regarding absenteeism, presenteentism, productivity, health and wellness. The report will be used to develop initiatives to address various needs. To gain consensus, CMSA utilized advanced technology to learn the views of those in attendance and to understand the needs. One of the key messages that I came away with was the need to move forward with informing consumers about the role of the case managers and how utilizing case management can help address consumers’ needs regarding challenging healthcare issues. Look to Dorland Healthcare Information to provide leadership in this arena.

Following this meeting, I moved to the Chapter Leadership Meeting. This meeting brought together chapter presidents from around the country to give recognition to the role they play in growing the organizations. Pat Agius, Chair of the Chapter President’s Council, led the meeting and recognized a number of chapters for the creative initiatives they have brought to their chapters. Recognized initiatives included membership growth, excellence in technology implemented to inform and reach their membership, excellence in education, and conference management.

Peter Moran, the incoming CMSA President, addressed the chapter presidents and recognized that the chapters are the backbone of the organization. Today, the membership stands at 10,319 with 75 chapters across the United States. Peter empowered the chapter leaders to continue to bring questions, challenges and issues to the CMSA Board of Directors, but also to bring creative solutions. Peter encouraged case managers to share their successes and to celebrate their accomplishments.

Next I took some time to catch up with old friends and colleagues. Attending CMSA allows you to learn what people have done over the past year, to catch up with their changes and to learn about the new opportunities that have taken place over the past year. Afterward, I attended two symposiums. The first one was on COPD in Women: A Growing Trend, which was presented by Dr. David Tinkelman from National Jewish Medical and Research Center and another presentation sponsored by Evercare titled Strategies for Successful Advanced Care Planning.

At 4:30 p.m. the attendees gathered at the doors of the exhibit hall for the annual ribbon cutting by Connie Commander, the current President of CMSA. All attendees were welcomed into the hall by the current and incoming Board of CMSA. All of the exhibitors were ready to provide information and updated information to all.

Dorland Healthcare Information was a busy booth. This was mainly due to the fact that many attendees were interested in the materials at the booth. Those at the conference were the first to see the June/July issue of Case in Point. The cover of the magazine was a great hit at the conference. For those of you who have not gotten the magazine, I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you who is on our cover for this issue, but several of the case mangers wanted to know if they could frame the cover for their offices. In addition, attendees learned about some of the new initiatives that Dorland Healthcare Information will be rolling out over the next few months. On www.caseinpointmagazine.com, we will be sharing all of the entries that we received for the first Case Management Writing Contest. The site will be available on July 6 so make sure you check it out. In addition, we are in the process of organizing the Case Management Bookstore. The books contained on the site will be those written by case management leaders on various topics to enhance professional development. Lastly, I am in the process of interviewing case management leaders on a variety of topics. This site will be live by July 10. Across My Desk will keep you posted as we move forward with many of these enhancements.

The night capped off with the Dorland Healthcare Information Vendor Reception. The party had a western theme and was attended by over 100 exhibitors who have supported our case management products over the past year. The reception allowed attendees to relax, enjoy food, drink, music and a variety of popular card games, such as Texas Hold’em and Black Jack.

Thursday is another busy day, with the conference in full swing. More symposium covering topics such as Wound Care Management, Case Management Adherence Guidelines (CMAG) and a Genetic Primer: From the Bench to the Bedside. From there we will gather for the opening keynote speaker and an announcement of who will be named Case Manager of the Year. The Expo Area re-opens at 12 p.m. for brunch and runs till 4 p.m. Following the Expo, we move to the concurrent sessions and end the day with two appetizer symposia. Stay tuned for more updates…

Signing off from Denver,

Thursday at CMSA was the “real” opening of the conference. The day started off again at 8 a.m. with three symposia. The programs presented were: “A Generic Primer: From the Bench to the Bedside,” “CMAG Tools and Resources,” and “How to Case Manage a Wound.”

From the symposia, all traveled to the Grand Ballroom where Connie Commander reviewed what has occurred this past year and the multiple benefits that CMSA brings to its membership and to the industry as a whole. Then we heard from keynote speaker Steve Farber, a motivational speaker who shared his “extreme leadership” message to the packed house. I am always impressed when speakers present to a room full of people with no notes and still seem natural and passionate. I have done a great deal of public speaking, and to watch someone who can make an audience laugh, think, cry and just get it always astounds me. Steve talked about extreme leadership from the general standpoint, but brought it home to all in attendance. He has authored two books — the latest being Radical Leap — and stayed for a couple of hours after the meeting to sign those books. To view his website and gain a better understanding of his message, go to www.stevefarber.com. If you want to motivate people at your next retreat or conference, I recommend Steve for your next meeting.

From this general session, all moved to the Exhibit Hall where attendees were treated to an excellent brunch and had the opportunity to visit with the vendors as well as view the posters’ sessions. This year there were 14 poster sessions presented. The poster sessions were introduced about four or five years ago and have become a way for case managers to share best practices.

The Dorland booth was busy again with people picking up copies of the Dorland Healthcare Website Guide, a new product that can enhance your case management practice. To learn about the Website Guide, go to www.dorlandwebsiteguide.com. I also want to remind you about the online version of the Case Management Resource Guide as it seems many show attendees where not aware of this valuable resource. I encourage all case managers to take a look at CMRG.com for several reasons. First, it’s free. Second is that since the 2007 version has come out, new products and services have been added. And finally, if you need to learn about resources outside of your geographic area, you can do this without purchasing additional guides. We also have been gathering great feedback on the current and future services we are offering to case managers around the world to improve their practice. As you could not see them in person, take time to check out the website and share the information with your colleagues.

I ended the day at 4 p.m. when the Exhibit Hall closed. I went back to the hotel, put on my bathing suit and headed to the pool/Jacuzzi for some personal time. It was wonderful sitting in the hot tub, doing some laps and relaxing in the sun. Other case managers continued on to any of the 11 concurrent sessions and one of two dinner symposia — “Treatment Options for Vertebral Compression Fractures” supported by Kyphon, Inc. and “Influenza Prevention: New Approaches, New Considerations” sponsored by Medimmune, Inc. I had dinner with a good friend, Cynthia Whitaker. We talked about many things and enjoyed a great dinner — a great way to end the day.

Friday starts at 7 a.m. with three more symposia. The topics are “Understanding Pandemic Inflenza” supported by Roche, “Myoelectrics & Myo-orthotics: The Future of Orthotic and Prosthetic Care is Finally Here” supported by Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. and Innovative Neurotronics, Inc. The last program — “Management of Substance Abuse: Alcohol and Prescription Opiates” — is supported by Reckitt Benckiser.

Following these programs, the recipients of the Case Manager of the Year and the Association of Service Excellence awards will announced. The keynote program is titled “Case Management: Can We Impact the Care along the Continuum.” The panel is made up of case managers Jeff Frater, Susan Rogers, Deb Smith, Pat Stricker and Cristina Walter. This should be an excellent program as it will be from professionals who work across the continuum of care, so check back on Monday for an update.

The exhibit hall will reopen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. giving attendees a last chance to visit those exhibitors they did not get to over the past two day. With more than 325 vendors in the hall, getting to each one requires a carefully devised plan. Some people really do try to get to all of the vendors taking the time to talk to each one. This is the key reason that over half of the vendor have already signed up for next year’s conference, which will be held in Orlando, Fla. in June 2008.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Anne

I am back home after a great conference. I am writing this e-newsletter on Sunday, so I had a day to reflect on the events of Friday and Saturday.

Friday was filled with additional symposia and a variety of learning opportunities for case managers who look to this conference each year as a way to gather the majority of their needed continuing education credits to renew their professional licenses and various certifications. Attendees moved from session to session with their program guide close in hand so they could find the session they wanted to attend. What many have learned over the years is to pick out a few sessions they want to attend, but always to have several back ups. Many times the session you originally picked do not meet your needs, so it is good to have a back up session in mind so you can use your time effectively and efficiently.

The Friday keynote comprised a panel of case management leaders who discussed Case Management: Can We Impact the Care along the Continuum? The panel was made up of Jeff Frater, Susan Rogers, Deb Smith, Pat Stricker, and Christina Walter. Connie Commander moderated the session. The panel had a lively discussion about the challenges that we face as a practice, but concluded with a consensus of opinion that by working collaboratively, we can make a difference in today’s healthcare system and improve the quality of lives of our patients.

Friday was also the last day for the attendees to navigate the exhibit hall for the last time. The hall was open from 12 to 2 p.m. and many were frantically trying to find the vendors they had on their list that were ‘must sees’. The Dorland Healthcare Information booth was on many attendees’ lists, as they were in search of those last-minute continuing education credits. This year, our giveaway was a waiver of the $15 CE processing charge for those who stopped by our booth and had their June/July issue of Case in Point signed. As a result, we were one of the last booths to leave the hall on Friday.

Following the close of the exhibit hall, I met a colleague from URAC and assisted her with the presentation she was to present at 3 p.m. The title of the session was Integrating Patient Safety in Care Management Programs. We had a lively discussion and all left the room with a clearer understanding and examples they could use to develop quality improvement projects within their organizations.

Next on the agenda was the Annual Membership meeting, where events over the past year are reviewed and the new president and board of directors are introduced to the membership. It was exciting to see the room packed, as this meant the members of CMSA are interested in learning what their board of directors are doing to ensure that CMSA is leading the industry and keeping case management front and center.

The last event of the day was a special event for the past presidents of the Case Management Society of America. This year, several presidents were missing, but were remembered in spirit. They included, Nell Ann Peck (the first President of CMSA), Gary Wolfe (the 4th President of CMSA), Mary Gambosh (the 5th President of CMSA), Cathy Mullahy (the 11th President of CMSA), and Karen Chambers (the 12th President of CMSA)

In attendance this year were:

Mindy Owen, 2nd President of CMSA
Carrie Marion, 3rd President of CMSA
Marlys Severson, 6th President of CMSA
Cynthia Whitaker, 7th President of CMSA
Nancy Skinner, 8th President of CMSA
Kathleen Moreo, 9th President of CMSA
Sandi Lowery, 10th President of CMSA
Anne Llewellyn, 13th President of CMSA
Sherry Aliota, 14th President of CMSA
Susan Rogers, 15th President of CMSA

The meeting is always lively with conversation about what all are doing in their personal and professional lives. Kathleen Moreo made the first toast of the night and welcomed Connie Commander, (16th President of CMSA) to be a member of this elite group of professionals.

Peter Moran, (17th President of CMSA) and Jeff Frater (18th President of CMSA), were also in attendance. They received congratulations and offers for assistance as they began their terms as leaders of CMSA.

Mindy Owen made the next toast. She recognized Cheri Lattimer, the Executive Director of CMSA. This was Cheri’s first ’solo’ conference as ED and she was recognized for taking CMSA to the next level. She has elevated the organization, which is proven by the many opportunities that have come to CMSA this year. The professionalism and dedication the organization has shown helps ensure that consumers who enter the healthcare system receive safe, quality, evidence-based care in the least restrictive setting for the most cost effective price. CMSA, as the organization for professionals charged to ensure these things occur, provides tools, resources and support to the practice. Under Cheri’s leadership, the membership has surpassed the 10,000 mark, which is a great accomplishment to her, her staff and the Chapter Presidents. Cheri Lattimer asked all to toast Jeannie Boling, the past Executive Director. Cheri reminded all that Jeannie was the one who did the work that lead up to this day and she should be congratulated. Jeannie was not able to attend this year, but took the time to attend an important business meeting that she had missed for the past 12 years due to the timing of the CMSA Annual Meeting. This year, because she was ‘free,’ she and her husband, Charlie, took the time to attend. She was missed, as was Cathy Crowell. Cathy had been the mainstay in the management of the annual meeting for the past 12 years. We all hoped that they are doing well in their new endeavors and wish them well as they move forward. The group partied into the night and promised to meet same time next year at the 18th Annual Conference.

Saturday morning officially welcomed Peter Moran as the 17th National President. Peter set his goals for the year and shared his mission and vision that he and his board will strive to achieve. You can read about his goals in the June/July issue of Case in Point. As you know, each issue of Case in Point carries the Case Report, the Case Management Society Newsletter. Peter is a great leader and will leave his own fingerprint on CMSA as he moves forward with his board of directors.

The closing keynote of the conference is charged with sending all home with an important message. Warren Macdonald did that as he closed the conference to a standing ovation. The title of his session was A Diversity of Strengths & Strength through Adversity. Warren sat in a wheelchair in front of about 1000 attendees and shared his personal and unbelievable story of how he survived a mountain climbing accident more than 10 years ago. As a result of that accident, he is a double amputee today. But he is not disabled due to his experience. He continues to push the envelope and lives a full and exciting life. His story is one that many will be able to take back to their organization and keep in mind when we say we can’t do something, or that we don’t have the strength to fight another battle. He truly showed how to overcome the challenges we face, as well as the challenges our patients face.

Well, as they say, all good things come to and end. For the staff of the management company of CMSA, CMI, they get about one week to unpack and recuperate from this conference. Then they start preparing for the 18th Annual CMSA conference, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, in June 2008. If you have a story to tell, or a best practice to share, make sure you begin to put your thoughts together so you will be ready to submit your call for papers when they open the site in a few weeks.

I hope you have enjoyed the daily updates from the conference this week. I would like to thank Jennifer Hagemann, our Managing Editor, and Robin Jay, our Executive Editor, for their help in preparing each e-news letter for your. They are responsible for taking my daily overviews and performing editing miracles. I also would like to thank Jace Cohen, who was responsible for posting each newsletter and sending it out to each of you each day. Thanks Jace, great job! We will go back to our usual format starting July 2.

I hope you have a great week!