This Concurrent Session, a part of CMSA’s Pathway to Certification series, discussed all aspects of psychosocial influencers that dictate how case managers treat and manage their clients/patients. 

The setting of case management will largely influence psychosocial issues that surface, and all issues are situation dependent. This session discussed all general factors, including:

• Living situation
• Education
• Social economic status
• Available support systems
• Health insurance status
• Legal encumbrance
• Behavioral health issues

The session discussed the importance of understanding special issues as these largely affect patients’ treatment and their path to recovery. It’s important to always complete a psychosocial assessment so you know where the patient stands and set benchmarks for their treatment plan. 

Dr. Roger Kathol and Rebecca Perez also discussed the importance of understanding multicultural issues and patients’ acceptance and trust in Western Medicine practices. In demonstrating your value, Perez emphasized that setting goals and measuring outcomes, whether it’s a decrease in depression severity or lower cholesterol numbers. This is concrete evidence that case managers can directly impact the outcomes of patients and clients and should be used to demonstrate expertise and the important role case managers have in the care continuum.