For more than a century, case management has meant better-coordinated care for patients with complicated health needs. Over time, case management has transitioned from a narrowly applied function to a fully developed area of practice for professionals to manage the social, medical, financial, and behavioral issues associated with complex cases. Board-certified case managers must hold a current, active, and unrestricted license or certification in a health or human services discipline or a baccalaureate or higher degree in a health or human services field that promotes the physical, psychosocial, and/or vocational well-being of the persons being served.
Today’s professional and board-certified case managers are found in health care, workers' compensation, behavioral health, insurance, managed care organizations, or other practice settings. Tens of thousands of board-certified and professional case managers are employed in a range of healthcare settings and in independent practice, and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, case management is one of the fastest-growing occupations.
Team-based models for healthcare delivery like the patient-centered medical home and advanced primary care have accelerated the drive to break down the “silos of care” that for generations have defined fragmentation and increased the potential for errors in healthcare. Board-certified and professional case managers are uniquely qualified to help close these gaps in care and work collaboratively to advocate, communicate and manage resources for higher quality, cost-effective care. Download our infographic explaining How Case Managers Help Patients Navigate the Health Care Maze.
The Commission is committed to advancing the case management profession by giving eligible case managers across the healthcare continuum an opportunity to become board certified.