Leader of first and largest case manager certification body to address crucial elements of board certification at national conference

Patrice Sminkey, CEO of Commission for Case Manager Certification, outlines the path to board certification in June 19 CMSA symposium presentation

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A professional case manager seeks certification as validation of the skill set and capabilities required for professional development and advancement. Patrice Sminkey, CEO of the nation's oldest and largest case manager certification body, will discuss the crucial step toward board certification in a symposium June 19 at Case Management Society of America's (CMSA) Annual Conference in San Francisco.

Professional case managers typically rise through the ranks of nurses, social workers or rehabilitation counselors, then receive additional training to arrive in the role of case manager. They serve consumers as patient advocates, care coordinators and health system navigators. Board certification of case managers provides the means for case managers to objectively demonstrate they have the knowledge and experience to serve as valued members of the care team. Board certification demonstrates a level of expertise in the field that is often used by employers as a benchmark requirement for leadership and advancement.

The Commission for Case Manager Certification (the Commission) is celebrating its 20th year of oversight of the board-certified CCM® credential. Some 12,000 case managers sought board certification in its first year, and more than 30,000 case managers are currently board certified by the Commission, more than any other certification body. The Commission is currently taking applications for the upcoming certification exam; more information can be found at ccmcertification.org.

"Over the past two decades, and especially in recent years, we've seen the role of the case manager expand," Sminkey said. "New models of health care delivery such as the medical home and accountable care place more emphasis on improving care transitions between settings than ever before. The board-certified case manager has demonstrated the skills and knowledge to work as a member of the health care team, and will be vital to the advancement of these models aimed at better access to care, improved care transitions and consumer safety, as well as lowering overall costs."

Sminkey will speak as part of the Certification Landscape panel, scheduled for 1 p.m. PDT June 19, 2012. For complete conference details and to register, go to http://www.cmsa.org/conference/tabid/694/default.aspx. To learn more about certification and tips for recruiting and training case managers, download the free issue brief, "Cultivating the accountable case manager: New models of care, increased demand make robust workforce development essential," at www.ccmcertification.org/node/760.

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification

The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 30,000 professional case managers. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM^® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with CCMC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification

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