Case managers are expected to have the necessary education requirements, but also have the personality to effectively communicate between healthcare professionals, insurance agencies, and patients (Case Manager, 2011). Case mangers must be both compassionate and professional to balance the needs of the patient while interacting with healthcare and payer institutions. Compensation for case managers also varies based on the healthcare institution and level of education and experience requirements. In the United States, the salary range for case managers extends from $25,000/year to $65,000/year (PayScale, 2011). Salary for case managers also differs based on their number of years in the field, and if they have received any additional education or nursing experience (Case Manager, 2011). Case managers who are also nurses can expect to earn $58,000 during their first year in the field, whereas other case managers can earn $27,000 in their first year (PayScale, 2011). Internal recruitment for case manager positions is effective as many healthcare organizations want to hire case managers from existing professional expertise such as a registered nurse or licensed social worker. Recruitment can also be effective through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recruit individuals who pass the ANCC's Case Management Nurse Exam (SalaryWizard, 2011). The future of the case management field is expected to significantly grow in the next decade. Like the majority of the healthcare field, case management positions will be in high demand due to the rapidly growing elderly population and medical advances that allow for the treatment of chronically ill patients (Case Manager, 2011). The need for additional healthcare organizations will continue to increase over the next 10 to 20 years in order to treat the expanding population. Consequently, case managers will be needed to help facilitate the medical care for these patients.

The case manager in the healthcare field represents...

The case manager works as an assessor, planner, facilitator, and advocate for patient care. Case managers must balance between being sensitive to patient needs, in addition to being professional and knowledgeable during interactions with healthcare professionals and insurance companies to ensure the most effective care for the patient. Case managers earn a modest salary, and job requirements for case managers include having a degree in Health Care Management, Social Work, or Psychology, and prefer nursing and social work experience. As the elderly population continues to increase, and medical advances allow for better treatment of chronic illnesses, the demand for health care professionals will continue to grow. The demand for case managers is expected to increase over the next decade due to these enlarging demands. Case managers are critical to the healthcare field as they provide comprehensive services and oversight to meet the complexities of patient care.