Congratulations to CMSA on another great conference! There were over 2,300 attendees representing various case management settings.  The week started with optional pre-conference workshops focused on certification preparation, chapter leadership, DOD/VA, and an introduction to the new CMAG-3 program.

The conference itself started with a presentation from Charity Tilleman-Dick, a soprano opera singer who was faced with not one, but two lung transplants.  She recounted her...

The TCS Family is excited to be attending the 22nd Annual CMSA Conference and Expo in San Francisco, CA. The conference is known as one of the premier educational events in the industry and we ar very pleased to be a part of it.

Come by and see us at booth #519; we would love to chat! Also, we will be hosting a reception from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday at the St. Regis. When you stop by our booth, please obtain a ticket for the reception—we would love for...

AcuCare, an outcome-based, condition-specific, clinical content program, now covers five new conditions: asthma, diabetes, heart failure, high-risk pregnancy and COPD.

AcuCare provides care managers and other health professionals with key management and benchmarking tools to take medical management interventions to the next level. Each AcuCare program has been created based upon evidence-based practice standards and national guidelines that are dynamically linked to all of the...

People no longer have to take a backseat to chronic diseases or other health concerns that are affecting their everyday lives. Whether the source is the Internet, mobile application or text messaging service, patients are using modern technology to manage their health and access to health care providers and guidance.

Today’s self-management tools are also an asset to clinicians – making complicated medical information easy to understand by using simple language and...

Growing up in California I learned to surf as a teenager.  Little did I know that during my “senior years,” I would be riding some of the best waves on the planet.  As providence would have it, I was blessed to live on the North Shore of Kauai for a decade while in my 50s.  During those years on the Island, I surfed two- to three-hour sessions about 12 times a month.  That equates to 2,880 hours on my surf board, passing over (or under)...

Reform has always been a sign that society is evolving and changes need to be made to meet the needs of the population, and it is no secret that healthcare is in the middle of its own reformation.  Public and private demands, market forces and several legislative bills are pushing the system to improve patient care and expand coverage. With the current paradigm shift facing the healthcare industry a variety of resources are being published which can help professionals understand...

Traditional case management interventions often have used face-to-face, telephonic, and written communication links to support patients and others who need healthcare support. With the rise of new communication strategies that are affordable and the buzz about social media, case managers are beginning to think about expanding how they connect with their patients to improve patient engagement levels and clinical outcomes.

TCS Healthcare, through Acuity Advance Care™ (ACUITY),...

The advent of health IT (HIT) systems has transformed the health care industry. Leveraging technology to improve medical management intervention strategies should remain a high priority in terms of both improving patient outcomes and reducing medical costs. These applications are ever-evolving tools that support care management. Clearly, HIT applications are changing the practice of care management in profound ways.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (...

At this time of year, we see numerous articles and blogs discussing health care trends and predictions for the upcoming months. 2012 is no exception. These trends include a range of topics, but a big issue on most case managers’ minds is how “medical management” and “technology” will work together to improve care management processes. Leveraging technology to support and enhance medical management solutions is essential to optimize clinical and financial...

As we venture into a new era of information and storage options, one question keeps arising… What are the risks?

Sure, endless information stored “somewhere else” sounds great, but who is making sure this data is secure?  Making sure no one else can view, copy, or download your private data.  And what are some options in regards to this?  An article in Healthcare Informatics Magazine discusses this topic in depth...

Recently, the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC), a non-profit founded by CMSA posted a Transitions of Care checklist which aids in identifying areas providers do not currently assess but may want to begin including in patient records moving forward. The main goal of the checklist is to increase communication between providers, care settings, and caregivers of patient care plans, assessment and other clinical information.

The checklist which can be found...

In order to offer effective medical management programs, case managers need to be aware of key health care trends and try to stay “one step ahead” of them. Clearly, the expanding symbiotic interface between technology and care management workflow processes is a prime example.

It is imperative in most health care settings that nurses understand how technology solutions can improve patient care. On the other hand, we also need to be cognizant of those situations where...

The concept of “external review” is familiar to most case managers.  The ability for a patient or their provider to appeal an adverse medical necessity or benefit determination has been around for years.  However, a new national framework for such appeals is being established through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). 

Last June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a...

It is amazing to observe how quickly technology is changing the practice of case management. A review of the TCS website at www.tcshealthcare.com provides an illustrative example of how TCS is making its mark in the care management field through technology-based applications and clinical workflow support.

In these fast-changing times, another important thing to consider is stability and consistency. I, along with my wife Esther...

I’ve been surfing since I was 15 years old, and ten of those years were spent on the North Shore of Kauai. One thing I’ve learned is, “when in doubt, don’t go out.” This sport requires a great deal of patience, and to catch your wave you must spend considerable time in the lineup studying the rhythm of the ocean and the other surfers. Moving too quickly can result in a wipeout, but when it’s your time to go you must be totally committed. As in surfing,...

With all of the market forces at play and major reform efforts underway, both at the federal and state levels, it’s important to understand how these trends are impacting the practice of case management.  Clearly, one trend is the need to promote and move to integrated “care” solutions.  The move to enhanced clinical and administrative workflows often is dependent upon linking existing activities and interventions through emerging ideas, technologies, business...

At TCS, we are happy to announce that we have completed the project to incorporate ICD-10 codes into our suite of products.  They are available to you now, or whenever you have the time and resources to go through the upgrade process and do thorough testing so that you are ready for production.

Before we began implementation, we did a lot of research to understand what ICD-10 is and what its impact would be to our software.  We called on our internal experts in workflow...

One of the hot topics in today’s healthcare trade press and blogs is the Accountable Care Organization (ACO). ACOs are essentially a model for healthcare reform. Under the recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ACOs are listed as a model for cost-cutting and improved care under the Medicare Program. At press time, the new ACO regulations are due to be published by the federal government at any moment.

What Are ACOs?

ACOs are intended to deliver...