It’s a Wrap!

The 2023 CMSA National Conference just ended yesterday, and I am still processing the events of the week.

The kickoff preconference day was a showcase of workshops: leadership, writing, chapter management, MVD (military/Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense) Day, 2 bonus education sessions, and a first-time attendees meeting that was energetic and set the tone for the week! The Opening Night Reception demonstrated the value and importance of connecting with new people and reconnecting with cherished friends. The keynote speakers brought us purpose, encouragement, and new perspectives.

The days were jam-packed with educational opportunities and topics that ran the gamut of practice settings and included acute care, maternal/ child health/pediatrics, mental/behavioral health, managed care/managed Medicare/managed Medicaid, ambulatory case management, older adult/ geriatric care, postacute/community care, and, of course, military services/ DoD/Veterans Affairs. Attendees enhanced their case management practice with subjects including communication techniques, value-based reimbursement, disease/condition-specific case management readmission prevention, transition management, technology, professional development, leadership, self-care, and legal/regulatory/ethical topics.

Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, is current President of the Case Management Society of America National Board of Directors and principal of Altra Healthcare Consulting in Chicago, IL. She has held positions in acute care as director of case management at several acute care facilities and managed care entities in Illinois for over 14 years, piloting quality improvement initiatives focused on readmission reduction, care coordination through better communication, and population health management. Her current passion is in the area of improving health literacy. She is the recipient of the CMSA Foundation Practice Improvement Award (2020) and ANA Illinois Practice Improvement Award (2020) for her work in this area.

As I sit on this plane and reflect on the past week, what really stands out to me is the community I experienced this week: reconnecting with people I have known for years, meeting new friends. The energy was palpable and reinvigorating. The vibe was awesome; as one would expect from over 1000 engaged, passionate case management professionals gathered in 1 place. Some of the highlights for me, of course, revolved around the professional networking experiences.

Studies have shown that professional organizations play a crucial role in the professional and personal development and advancement of people. These organizations, such as CMSA, provide platforms for individuals to connect, share knowledge, collaborate, and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in their respective fields. Networking refers to the process of building and maintaining professional relationships with individuals in your industry or related fields. Networking offers several advantages, including:

1. Career opportunities: networking can help you discover job openings, career advancements, and business opportunities. Building a strong network can raise your professional profile, increase your visibility in the industry, and open doors to new opportunities. Many jobs are filled through referrals and personal connections. Case in point, professional networking helped me to obtain my current position. Working with my local CMSA chapter gave me greater visibility in the career marketplace. Greater visibility brings opportunities whether in the form of information (in my case) of available positions or actual offers.

2. Knowledge sharing: networking continues on page 34