Case Management Training

Case management is a segment within the healthcare industry that is concerned with the assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the options relevant to an individual's health care needs. Case managers are employed in different areas of health care including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), hospitals, and insurance companies. Individuals may enroll in case management training programs to learn the necessary skills to enter this profession.

Is The Program For You?
The program may be taken by anyone who is interested in this specific area of healthcare. Although you do not necessarily have to be a doctor or a nurse, the course is designed in such a way that it is suitable for healthcare professionals like social workers, physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, and physicians.

What Will You Learn?

• Acquire essential skills for client centered case management
• Learn about and use industry models
• Collaboration techniques with patients and their families, physicians, and health care providers
• How to make an effective and efficient use of health care resources
• How to maintain time and cost related data for provision of services

Levels Of Study
Depending on your current level of education and your future career aspirations, there are different programs in which you could enroll. These include certificates, diplomas, associate, bachelor, or master's degree programs.

Admission Requirements
Although the admission requirements vary across institutes, you'll typically be asked to submit:

• An Application Form
• A degree or a diploma and relevant work experience in health or social service discipline like nursing, social work, or physical therapy.

Course Examples
The names and type of courses differ depending on the institute at which you are enrolled. You will typically be required to complete a certain number of credits by taking a combination of core and elective courses. To give you a general idea, here is a list of courses that you may be taking:

• Essentials of Case Management - This course is intended to teach you the fundamental principles and models of case management in different settings with a specific focus on current issues and trends.
• Interviewing and Assessing Clients - You'll develop a participant centered perspective of communicating with clients and promoting a shared understanding of needs.
• Linking Case Management Practice to Policy, Education & Research - This course looks at how policy can be influenced by the practice of quality case management. Emphasis will be placed on evidence based research and education.
• Helping Skills - You'll learn the interpersonal skills that are required for supporting clients and dealing with different situations that arise in case management.
• Ethical, Legal & Financial Issues in Case Management - This course deals with the legal and ethical issues in case management as well as the resource management and financial issues that any case manager can come across.

As a part of the curriculum, some colleges may assign a case study to students which have to be submitted and presented by the end of the program.

Online Education
Many institutes are now offering online case management training programs. In terms of curriculum, an online program is equally rigorous, but you may enjoy the benefits of studying from the comfort and convenience of your home. You may be able to keep your current job while studying according to your own schedule.