The Case Manager RSS feed: Current Issue. The Case Manager is targeted to medical case managers and other related professionals who coordinate and manage patient care in hospital, home, long-term care, rehabilitation, mental health, and managed care settings. Articles, columns, and departments in The Case Manager provide the latest news and information in the field. The magazine brings readers thorough and insightful coverage of the profession's hottest topics, including outcomes management, guidelines and standards of practice, reimbursement, trends in managed care, and ethical/legal issues. Readers can earn CCM, CRC, and/or CDMS education credits through the magazine's CEU articles. The Case Manager is a membership benefit of the Case Management Society of America . To order this journal, and for more information, go to http://www.elsevierhealth.com http://www.thecsmgr.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. The Case Manager1061-9259176November 2006 © 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004139/abstract?rss=yesEditor Catherine MullahyInformation for readers10.1016/S1061-9259(06)00413-9The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-133http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004115/abstract?rss=yesTable of contents10.1016/S1061-9259(06)00411-5The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-144http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004127/abstract?rss=yesReach out and touch us on-line10.1016/S1061-9259(06)00412-7The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-188http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004073/abstract?rss=yes The end of each year always seems to be a time of reflection and planning for the future, whatever that might be. It's also a time for celebrations and holidays with family and friends. There are so many dimensions to our lives, and keeping them separate becomes more and more of a challenge. Our work life and personal life are intertwined, of course, and trying to strike a balance that satisfies the demands of the individuals in each world is more difficult each day.Footprints for the futureCatherine M. Mullahy10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.09.003The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Concurrent Review99http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS106192590600405X/abstract?rss=yesDear Editor: The July/August 2006 issue of The Case Manager included our article “Seeking to Understand Case Management in New York” (pages 55–62). We appreciate your publishing the article. We did not include the health plans that have participated in this initiative and request that you include this information in an amendment to the article. The health plans have been very involved in the process and should have been recognized in the article. It was an oversight on my part, and I would very much appreciate it if you could help me rectify this mistake by including the list of organizations.Letter to the editorAnne Schettine10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.09.001The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Letter to the Editor1313http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003341/abstract?rss=yesAlcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most recognizable organizations for people with alcohol dependency. The following materials are available on its Web site at www.aa.org.Resource center10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.07.007The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Resource Center1415http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS106192590600333X/abstract?rss=yesThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has important new safety information about taking triptans (drugs used to treat migraine headaches) together with certain types of antidepressants. The antidepressant medicines of concern are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); brand names are provided below. A life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome may occur when triptans are used together with an SSRI or an SNRI.The drug scene10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.07.006The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Drug Scene1620http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003699/abstract?rss=yes For a variety of reasons, I've been thinking a good deal lately about suffering. I'm sure one of the main reasons is because my youth seems more and more like a historical relic. I am getting old. My first grandchild is on the way, and retirement may be less than a decade away. When one has lived that many years, it is inevitable that one will be impressed by suffering. Also, consider this: In 6 years, the first batch of World War II baby boomers (ie, those born in 1946) will become social security beneficiaries, and their numbers will continue to swell as the years go on. Much suffering is just around the corner for us all.Three perspectives on sufferingJohn D. Banja10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.005The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1CM Ethics2123http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003754/abstract?rss=yes It has now been 16 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law this historic act on the White House lawn. At that signing, President Bush said the ADA legislation was a “dramatic renewal not only for those with disabilities but for all of us.” This column explores some of the progress that has taken place and some of the government initiatives made on the basis of the ADA. As a part of that celebration, the US Census Bureau has released information titled “Facts for Features.” This information is reviewed relating to individuals with disabilities.The Americans with Disabilities Act, 16 years laterLewis E. Vierling10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.011The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1ADA Update2428http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003729/abstract?rss=yes I am an RN with 26 years of continuous nursing experience. At this stage in my life, I have become very interested in case management (CM) and would like to get certified. However, I need to first find out how to proceed. Would you be so kind as to give me some tips as to the best way to go about this? Also, I am looking for employment in CM, as I am getting a sense that this is necessary for certification. A great many positions require one to be certified before they will consider you for employment.How do I find a job in case management?Victoria Hekkers10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.008The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1League of Our Own2930http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004085/abstract?rss=yesThe case report: CMSA president 2006–2007Connie Commander10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.10.001The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1CMSA3142http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003675/abstract?rss=yes Part 1 of this two-part series examined the social, economic, and health effects of alcohol problems. Now that readers recognize how alcohol can affect clients' overall health and well-being, what's a case manager to do about it? CE: Managing alcohol problems, Part 2David R. Anderson, Andrea Brachtesende10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.003The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features4346http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906004061/abstract?rss=yesCEU application10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.09.002The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features4747http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003705/abstract?rss=yes The concept of the “older population” is changing as increasing numbers of baby boomers begin to age, bringing more and more clients to the attention of case managers. Alcohol use and abuse can mimic symptoms of illness and have negative consequences for the older population across physical, social, and psychological parameters. It is therefore necessary in good case management to consider the impact of substance abuse and addiction in the older and geriatric populations. The unique nature of this problem gives us much to consider, and a systematic approach can promote a timely resolution. Alcohol in the older population, Part 2: MAST you speak the truth in an AUDIT or are you too CAGE-y?Patricia T. Bowman, Susan Gerber10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.006The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features4848http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003687/abstract?rss=yes Patient safety has become a key issue in health care since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. This landmark report examined the extent of preventable patient injuries and deaths occurring in US hospitals. It was estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die annually as a result of medical errors and that nearly half were preventable. Subsequent studies suggest that the medical error rate is even higher. These statistics are a call to action for case managers to explore creative ways to implement patient safety practices in their systems and procedures. Promoting patient safety: One company's exampleKimberly Babaie10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.004The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features5459http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003730/abstract?rss=yes The escalating health care costs attributed to high-risk populations have fueled a need for a proactive approach to deal with people affected by complex mental health issues that often coexist with chronic medical conditions. Through an in-home behavioral health case management (CM) program, patients with mental illnesses (some with coexisting medical conditions) receive integrated medical and mental health services through a disease-management approach that has proven effective in treating high-risk patients. In-home behavioral health case management: An integrated model for high-risk populationsGerald A. Theis, Jenna Behrens10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.009The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features6060http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906002980/abstract?rss=yes Discharge planning resources change frequently, and keeping them current, available, and accessible to case management (CM) staff and others is a challenge. Given the time-consuming and labor-intensive nature of updating, many organizations revise them in preparation for the triannual survey or when they are hopelessly out-of-date. The reality is that CM staff and others involved with discharges have their own personal “little black book” of resources. Those personal reference tools are treated with reverence and guarded like the family Bible. Organizations are challenged to have up-to-date resources available and accessible for staff in all areas. One approach is to transform the traditional paper-based manual into an electronic document and make it available on the organization's intranet. This approach means that each page of the current paper-based manual must be in electronic format, ending the use of overcopied resources that become difficult to read and “grandfathered in” to each successive edition of the paper manual. This option permits easy and rapid updates when resources and information change. Transforming the traditional discharge planning manualJudith R. Sands10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.06.009The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features6668http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003717/abstract?rss=yesKathy M. Aaron Kathleen Anne AbboudCongratulations, certified case managers! The Case Manager salutes the newest certified case managers!10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.007The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1Features6973http://www.thecsmgr.com/article/PIIS1061925906003742/abstract?rss=yesAs I began to write what I thought would be a poetic article, I paused to explore Robert Frost, the man. He is famous in this area for his poetry and for choosing a lifestyle of writing and taking walks in nature. He gave me a goal toward which to work.Case management in Robert Frost countryMary E. Gerdt10.1016/j.casemgr.2006.08.010The Case Manager 17, 6 (2006)2006-11-01The Case Manager2006-11-01176S1061-9259(06)X0040-1End Notes7576