Medical Case Manager

Medical Case Managers coordinate care for individuals with complex medical conditions while supporting and monitoring care plans, advocating for their clients, educating patients and their families, and managing utilization of services.

Education and Training

A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Nursing, or a related field is typically required. Additionally, a Certified Case Manager (CCM) certification is recommended.

Skills and Knowledge

Candidates should have strong communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills, as well as experience with medical terminology and insurance.

Responsibilities

Medical Case Managers coordinate care for individuals with complex medical conditions. Responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing care plans
• Monitoring patients’ progress
• Advocating for patients’ rights
• Educating patients and their families about their illness and treatment options
• Managing utilization of services

Tools and Certifications

CCM (Certified Case Manager)

Career Prospects

Employment of Medical Case Managers is expected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Transferable Skills

Skills developed as a Medical Case Manager are transferable to a variety of other healthcare settings, such as:

• Social work
• Nursing
• Health insurance
• Pharmaceutical sales

Day-to-Day

A typical day for a Medical Case Manager may include:

• Meeting with patients and their families
• Reviewing medical records
• Developing and implementing care plans
• Coordinating appointments and services
• Advocating for patients’ rights
• Educating patients and their families
• Managing utilization of services

Challenges

Challenges faced by Medical Case Managers include:

• Managing a large caseload
• Dealing with difficult patients and families
• Navigating the healthcare system
• Keeping up with changes in healthcare

Projects

Projects that Medical Case Managers may be involved in include:

• Developing a new care plan for a patient with a complex medical condition
• Coordinating a patient’s discharge from the hospital
• Advocating for a patient’s rights
• Educating a patient and their family about their illness and treatment options

Personal Growth

Opportunities for personal growth as a Medical Case Manager include:

• Developing strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Gaining a deep understanding of the healthcare system
• Making a difference in the lives of patients and their families

Personality Traits

Individuals who are well-suited to a career as a Medical Case Manager typically have the following personality traits:

• Compassion
• Empathy
• Strong communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving skills

Self-Guided Projects

To better prepare for a career as a Medical Case Manager, students may complete the following self-guided projects:

• Volunteer at a hospital or clinic
• Interview a Medical Case Manager
• Shadow a Medical Case Manager
• Research the healthcare system
• Take an online course in medical terminology or insurance

How Online Courses Can Help

Online courses can help learners who are interested in a career as a Medical Case Manager by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Courses cover topics such as medical terminology, insurance, and healthcare policy. They also provide learners with the opportunity to develop their communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills.

The interactive nature of online courses, with lecture videos, projects, assignments, quizzes, exams, discussions, and interactive labs, allows learners to engage with the material in a way that is not possible with traditional textbooks and lectures.

While online courses alone may not be enough to prepare learners for a career as a Medical Case Manager, they can be a helpful learning tool that can increase learners’ chances of success.