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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions: Case Management and Disability Management .
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Greetings!

For nearly two years, the Case Management and Disability Management Section Representatives and Board Members have been engaged in identifying additional benefits for its members. The two Section Boards have jointly identified the multiple advantages of combining our two sections and becoming the largest professional section of IARP.  We continue to plan for this exciting change and we are confident that combining our CM and DM sections will result in significant professional opportunities for all CM and DM members! 

The operative word here is GROW. 

Our CM and DM sections consist of a wide range of highly unique, specialized, and expert professionals.  At the same time, we have unique skill-sets that can be applied to a broad and expansive range of rehabilitation and disability services.

It is clear that by working collaboratively, better opportunities can be created to capitalize on the experience, knowledge, abilities and resources of our joint membership.  Together, we can grow as individuals and as rehabilitation professionals.   The most powerful outcome of working collaboratively as disability managers and case managers is the impact our joint efforts will have on business, industry, policy development, and service delivery among persons with disabilities.. 

Now is the time to dialogue with our members to discuss, explore, and plan how we, as rehabilitation professionals in a newly combined CM-DM section, can utilize our collective abilities. 

Please join us in Puerto Rico in October to discuss Section activities and to kick-off our FIRST NIGHT as a joint CM-DM section. 

Two events are planned to discuss the potential of our new Section and how we might best serve our membership.  First, a Social Event is being planned during one evening of the Conference.  The purpose of this First Night event is to socialized and share ideas and expectations that will strengthen our new Section...and to have FUN.  Second, a Breakfast Roundtable is being planned at the conference.  This will be an opportunity to meet present CM and DM Section Board Members and to create a new vision for our Section that will stimulate growth, educational opportunities, professional career development, and begin planning that can help our new Section become a dynamic part of your professional life. 

 Please join us!     And ...please use this discussion list to ask any questions, express any viewpoints, or to get the Discussion Ball rolling immediately.       

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Norman Hursh and Kathy Trumm
Disability Management and Case Management Chairs
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Greetings,
As we mentioned last week, the leadership of both the Case Management (CM) and Disability Management (DM) Sections has been actively considering the benefits of combining the resources and expertise of our two sections...and identifying common interests.

As noted in a recent Experts Express, we did a survey of CM section membership to see what members thought about combining Sections.  Results indicated nearly 75% of the respondents reported being favorable toward the possible merger, 15% undecided, and 10% unfavorable.  

As part of this survey, members were asked to identify both their job titles and 5-essential job functions. The following is a synopsis of those responses.

According to the CM members, many job titles were inclusive of the term "case manager".  Examples included the following:

• RN, CCM Case Manager
• Vocational Case Manager
• Medical Case Manager
• Disability Case Manager
• Independent Medical Case Manager
• Vocational/Disability Case Manager
• Case Management Manager
• Senior Vocational Case Manager
• Vocational Field Case Manager
• Medical Case Manager/Vocational Consultant

Likewise, looking at the identified top 5 essential job functions, respondents identified the most common that could be expected including:

• Case Management
• Transferable Skills Analysis
• Job Analysis
• Vocational Evaluations
• Vocational Counseling
• Job Placement and Development
• Labor Market Surveys

In addition, there were several essential job functions identified that expand the boundaries of case managers that included "consulting to rehab facilities regarding various forms of accreditation (such as CARF)," "designing metrics to measure performance," and "deploying proactive safety programs."

What is clear when reviewing these results is that members of the CM Section are using traditional Vocational Rehabilitation techniques and methodologies in their daily work...as well as carving out new directions and possibilities.  One would anticipate similar outcomes from DM section members.

In our Puerto Rico Conference next month, two events are planned to discuss the potential of our new Section.  First, a Social Event is being planned during one evening of the Conference.  The purpose of this First Night event is to socialize and share ideas and expectations that will strengthen our new Section...and to have FUN.  Second, a Breakfast Roundtable is being planned at the conference.  We want to talk more specifically about your questions as we grow our new Section. 

Please join us in Puerto Rico in October to discuss our new Section and to kick-off our FIRST NIGHT as a joint CM-DM section.  More information to come!

Norm Hursh and Kathy Trumm
Section Chairs