Ethics has long been viewed as not simple black and white, but varied shades of gray. Oh, how the times have changed! Ethics now comprise a spectrum of vivid colors that reflect its fierce disruptions to practice. This reality spans every health and behavioral health professional across every setting. Yet, those in case management face unique struggles. My latest book, The Ethical Case Manager: Tools and Tactics, offers clear guidance.
Unique Workforce Challenges
Case management’s workforce faces challenges not experienced by other professions. First, case management is an umbrella profession comprised of varied professions (e.g., counseling, nursing, occupational therapy, and social work). Each discipline has a distinct code of ethics or professional conduct, as well as dedicated standards of practice. Let’s add another layer of complexity that includes over 25 case management-related credentials for individuals (e.g., ACM, CCM, CDMS, CMGT-BCTM, CRC), organizations (e.g., NCQA, URAC) and their unique requirements. There are assorted professional associations across the industry, which each possess their own standards of practice. The landscape gets more confusing when we include the industry’s hierarchy of case management roles: community health workers, case management assistants, community-based case managers, board-certified case managers, and those in leadership positions.
The question beckons: Where should your ethical compass point? The range of established resources of guidance defined by each of the above entities makes the answer to this question challenging to answer. It also yields two more confusing conundrums for the workforce:
- Defining the ethical and legal parameters for case management practice, and
- Reconciling these parameters with employer policies and procedures across the industry.
The Ethical Case Manager to the Rescue
Here’s where, The Ethical Case Manager: Tools and Tactics comes to the rescue. The book’s content is written for an interprofessional audience that spans the spectrum of degrees held by case managers. This approach provides a context for accountability, while addressing the most complex ethical dilemmas to date.
Focus is on case management job descriptions, outcomes measurement, discharge planning, and care coordination. There’s content on digital healthcare innovation and patient assessment, addressing implicit biases, microaggressions, and health disparities. Promoting the latest domain of health equity, inclusion and belonging is covered, as is workplace bullying, licensure compacts and interstate practice.
Practical facts are blended with Federal and state regulations, tables, templates, and dedicated resources. Each chapter includes case scenarios and critical-thinking review questions for learners to apply the content. 20 Ethical Tactics provide touchpoints for learning. Every reader will reap their own reward, from students, to new and more seasoned case managers, consultants, as well as those in leadership roles.
The Ethical Case Manager’s 318 pages encompass the most vital areas for case managers:
- Forward by Dr. Colleen Morley
- Section 1: Essentials of Ethics
- Chapter 1: Terms and Definitions
- Chapter 2: Established Resources of Guidance
- Chapter 3: The Value Proposition
- Section 2: Realities of Practice
- Chapter 4: Population-based Practice
- Chapter 5: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (co-authored with Michael Garrett)
- Chapter 6: Workplace Bullying
- Chapter 7: Health Information Technology
- Chapter 8: Interstate Practice
- Section 3: Activation of Ethical Decision-Making
- Chapter 9: Ethical Decision-Making Models
- Chapter 10: Case Scenarios
- Epilogue
The Ethical Case Manager: Tools & Tactics will be your primary resource, whether you wish to:
- Educate students
- Onboard new staff
- Benchmark ethical practices
- Resolve ethical dilemmas
- Possess timely compliance knowledge
- Ensure successful fiscal, clinical, and operational outcomes
- Use ethical decision-making models
- Leverage interprofessional teams
- Inform individual practices
No wonder the book is now on ANCC’s formal list of study references for their Nursing Case Management Exam (CMGT-BCTM)
*************************************************
The Ethical Case Manager: Tools and Tactics is only available on Amazon
Attending these conferences? Special access for attendees to book signing events and giveaways:
- CMSA Chicago’s Annual Conference, 3/26/24 in Oak Brook, IL: Discounted rates on all orders! ($54.00 per copy)
- CMSA Detroit’s Annual Conference, 5/1/24, Livonia, MI
- CMSA’s Annual Conference, 6/4-7/24 in Providence, RI
Ellen's Interprofessional Insights 