I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend. Last week I received a call from Michael Garrett, the current Chair of the Commission for Case Manager Certification. He informed me of an important administrative change that is taking place within the Commission. Due to the importance of this news to the practice of case management, I invited him to share his news with readers of Across My Desk.
The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) is taking a new direction to better the way it serves its professional clients. By leveraging technology capabilities and implementing additional strategies, its goal is to improve efficiency in administration and, on the whole, to improve service to certificants and applicants. The certification standards and requirements will remain the same; however, the ability to use technology to apply for and renew certification will serve as an important enhancement.
Effective July 1, 2008, CCMC will transition its administrative responsibilities to Association Headquarters Inc. and Amedco — two organizations that have the necessary infrastructure to meet current needs as well as the technology, online application capability, product development and other services to enable greater efficiency, effectiveness and growth.
As part of this change, CCMC will obtain a new address and contact information, which is listed as follows: Commission for Case Manager Certification, 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mount Laurel, N.J. 08054. Telephone: 856-380-6836.
CCMC will continue to uphold the “gold standard” in certification examinations. The Certified Case Manager (CCM) examination remains backed by the scientifically conducted role and functions study conducted every five years to determine current trends and practices in the case management field. The CCM credential continues to be widely known and respected across the healthcare field and among employers and insurers.
Individuals applying for certification can now submit their information through the CCMC website. This online capability has been available since mid-May, and within the first two weeks more than 100 individuals submitted their applications online.
In addition, CCMC is utilizing the latest in examination technology and best practices in order to offer computer-based testing for its CCM certification exam. This will begin in December 2008. Advantages of computer-based testing include:
- One hundred and eighty test items rather than the current 300;
- The ability to schedule an examination within a one-week window, rather than only being available two days each year;
- More than 300 convenient test sites across the country; and
- More rapid notification of results.
Through its relationship with Amedco, certificants will be able to use online tools for renewals, continuing education and program approvals. (For more information, visit the CCMC website at www.ccmcertification.org.)
Through these administrative changes and a more facilitative use of technology, CCMC believes that applicants and certificants will be pleased to have more efficient processes available to them while continuing to uphold our high standards.
Michael Garrett, MS, CCM, CVE, NCP, RMHC, is the Chair of CCMC, the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies case managers. (For more information on CCMC and its Certified Case Manager credential, see the website at www.ccmcertification.org.) He is also Vice President of Business Development for Qualis Health in Seattle, Wash.
Have a great week!
Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com
