Abstract
Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this second article of a 3-article series is to clarify the competencies for a new paradigm of case management built upon a value-driven foundation that
* improves patients' experience of health care delivery,
* provides consistency in approach that is applicable across health care populations, and
* optimizes the potential for return on investment.
Primary Practice Setting(s): Applicable to all health care sectors where case management is practiced.
Findings/Conclusions: In moving forward, the one fact that rings true is that there will be a constant change in our industry. As the health care terrain shifts and new influences continually surface, there will be consequences for case management practice. These impacts require nimble clinical professionals in possession of recognized and firmly established competencies. They must be agile to frame (and reframe) their professional practice to facilitate the best possible outcomes for their patients. Case managers can choose to be Gumby(TM) or Pokey(TM). This is exactly the time to define a competency-based case management model, highlighting one sufficiently fluid to fit into any setting of care.
Implications for Case Management Practice: The practice of case management transcends the vast array of representative professional disciplines and educational levels. A majority of current models are driven by business priorities rather than the competencies critical to successful practice and quality patient outcomes. This results in a fragmented professional case management identity. Although there is an inherent value in what each discipline brings to the table, this advanced model unifies behind case management's unique, strengths-based identity instead of continuing to align within traditional divisions (e.g., discipline, work setting, population served). This model fosters case management's expanding career advancement opportunities, including a reflective clinical ladder.