My first case management book was published in 1996 (Powell, 1996). I look back and see how so much has evolved (certainly the title of this book has!). I remember in 1995 when the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) merged with the Individual Case Management Association (ICMA), it felt like case management was growing and getting stronger, like a teenager trying to find his/her place in the world. ICMA was strictly an educational and networking for-profit organization without any chapters, paid officers, or Board of Directors; it is credited with spearheading the foundational initiative, which ultimately brought together 29 different organizations' interest in establishing certification for case managers, whereas CMSA was structured as a nonprofit national organization with state chapters, national leaders, and a Board of Directors (Mullahy & Boling, 2015).

Since that merger in 1995, case management and CMSA have grown and now impact health care policy and provide evidence-based tools and resources. A few years later, in 1998, discussions began that turned into what is well known as the National Case Management Week. The first National Case Management Week celebration was October 10, 1999. Now we mark the second full week in October each year as National Case Management Week. As the idea quickly spread, other organizations also began to establish their own Case Management Week celebrations. To strengthen the movement, collaborate with other organizations, and avoid confusion about the celebration, CMSA approached those organizations about unifying the annual event and celebrating it during the same week (CMSA, 2023).

Case management has changed and evolved from 1996 in exponentially remarkable ways. But one thing has not changed: that the clients/patients need our expertise and care.

Another unchanging facet that health care professionals may never fully know ... is the impact we may have on a patient, family member, or friend. Sometimes we are told directly the impact, but most times we go on with our lives never knowing how others were influenced by our words or actions.

In a 2015 Professional Case Management journal, I wrote an Editorial that, in part, told this story:

Most of us got into nursing, or social work, or health care because we wanted to make a difference in others' lives. With this "making a difference" comes much angst and frustration along the way. I remember the first time my passion went over the top.... It was in the late 1980s and I was working for a Medicaid plan in Arizona. The young man's name was Chuck, but the nursing staff affectionately called him "Chuckles." Chuck had leukemia and had just celebrated his 19th birthday (on the oncology unit). The oncologist told me that Chuck needed a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. After investigating the benefits, I was stunned to find out that bone marrow transplants were only "allowed" for children up to 18 years old. Being a new case manager, and not knowing my "limits," I made phone calls and wrote letters, persistently badgering Arizona Medicaid at the highest levels of their Leadership. Finally, in August 1989, I learned that autologous bone marrow transplants would be an added benefit for "adults" starting October 1, 1989. So in August, I started the process of getting authorization, collating medical records (they were not electronic at that time), getting the patient and family educated, and coordinating the doctors between Phoenix (where Chuck was located) and Tucson (where the procedure would take place). However, by September, Chuck was deteriorating. Chuck did not live long enough to have the transplant, but he certainly left a lasting footprint in my case management heart. (Powell, 2015)

Over the years, we have all read stories of these influential times of serendipity. I will bet you have at least one or two. Remember them, and know how important you were to that one person ... or a whole family. It truly is time to celebrate YOU.

References