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What does a case management specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Virginia Schwindt
What does a case management specialist do

In healthcare facilities, a case management specialist is in charge of ensuring that patients get quality service. Their responsibilities often include handling admission and discharge procedures, preparing and processing documents, gathering and organizing patient information, and developing strategies to optimize case management operations. There are also instances where they must address patient concerns and issues, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a case management specialist, it is essential to function while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

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Case management specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real case management specialist resumes:

  • Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
  • Provide case management to give emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families during a financial crisis.
  • Complete admission, stay and discharge reviews utilizing Interqual criteria to evaluate medical necessity as indicated by corporate standards.
  • Fax documents to skil nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.
  • Perform psycho-social management, intervention, advocacy, and referral services for patients and significant others.
  • Supervise in educating patients and direct care staff about self-management of chronic illness tailoring instructions to patient's individual circumstances.
  • Co-Facilitate and facilitate weekly substance use groups to support veterans in their recovery process and provide clients education on relapse prevention.
  • Document all interactions and calls into the customer database and maintain compliance to HIPAA and other regulating bodies as required.
  • Follow all regulatory policies, procedures, privacy, and security standards in accordance with government agencies including all HIPAA requirements.
  • Used client information to complete various IRS forms and secure client's signatures on these forms.
  • Respond to inquiries from the IRS regarding all requests for financial documentation while offer proposal are in review.
  • Conduct MDS assessments for long-term care residents.
  • Schedule, complete, and submit the MDS assessments to the state within the allotted time frames to ensure appropriate billing.
  • Make contact with family or significant others to promote implementation of ISP and community stability.

Case management specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 19% of Case Management Specialists are proficient in Patients, Social Work, and Mental Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Time-management skills, Compassion, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Case Management Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 19%

    Supervised in educating patients and direct care staff about self-management of chronic illness tailoring instructions to patient's individual circumstances.

  • Social Work, 15%

    Maintained effective communication with other disciplines including Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, and Medical Social Workers.

  • Mental Health, 8%

    Advocated for improved mental health services with psychiatric, community, and government individuals and organizations.

  • Community Resources, 4%

    Conducted in-home assessments to 100 survivors of Hurricane Katrina that relocated to Detroit, crisis intervention and referrals to community resources.

  • Patient Care, 4%

    Provided excellent customer service and obtained the necessary documentation required by the hospital in order to provide patient care.

  • Crisis Intervention, 4%

    Developed family safety plans, conducted assessments, crisis intervention, and referrals for therapeutic services.

Common skills that a case management specialist uses to do their job include "patients," "social work," and "mental health." You can find details on the most important case management specialist responsibilities below.

Time-management skills. The most essential soft skill for a case management specialist to carry out their responsibilities is time-management skills. This skill is important for the role because "social and human service assistants often work with many clients." Additionally, a case management specialist resume shows how their duties depend on time-management skills: "complete all required court reports and submit within established deadlines. "

Compassion. Many case management specialist duties rely on compassion. "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations," so a case management specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways case management specialist responsibilities rely on compassion: "provide emotional support, identify client needs, coordinate treatment plan and provide compassionate care. "

Interpersonal skills. case management specialists are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to case management specialist responsibilities, because "social and human service assistants must make their clients feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues." A case management specialist resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "provide crisis intervention services and short-term counseling related to interpersonal, substance abuse or other behavior problems. "

Problem-solving skills. case management specialist responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." This resume example shows what case management specialists do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "repair resolution: repairs, recalls, financial assistance. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for case management specialist responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of case management specialists all the time, as "social and human service assistants talk with clients about the challenges in their lives and assist them in getting help." An excerpt from a real case management specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a case management specialist does: "worked closely with paraprofessionals and clinical/professional staff to maintain communication and provide feedback, standardize procedure and expedite pcp implementation. "

Organizational skills. While "organizational skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to case management specialist responsibilities. Much of what a case management specialist does relies on this skill, seeing as "social and human service assistants must often complete lots of paperwork and work with many different clients." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of case management specialists: "provided financial assistance and support to program participants, in accord with organizational policies and procedures. "

Most common case management specialist skills

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Compare different case management specialists

Case management specialist vs. Case worker

Caseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family. They then refer them to any programs or agencies that can give them the specific care and help needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify neglect and abuse signs, reporting them to the authorities right away.

The annual salary of case workers is $94 lower than the average salary of case management specialists.Even though case management specialists and case workers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, social work, and mental health in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a case management specialist are more likely to require skills like "patient care," "discharge planning," "care coordination," and "management services." On the other hand, a job as a case worker requires skills like "child abuse," "customer service," "foster care," and "intake assessments." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Case workers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $40,730. Comparatively, case management specialists tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $55,377.case workers tend to reach similar levels of education than case management specialists. In fact, case workers are 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Case management specialist vs. Case aide

A case aide is responsible for supporting the community operations and projects to provide high-quality services for the citizens and assist them with the resources for their daily needs. Case aides are also employed in a health care institution or private households to look for patients and monitor their conditions. They coordinate with other institutions in requesting fundings and sponsorships for community programs to help the citizens, especially for financial support. A case aide must have excellent communication and organizational skills in processing paperwork and sorting files for service reference.

A career as a case aide brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a case management specialist. In fact, case aides salary is $8,626 lower than the salary of case management specialists per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both case management specialists and case aides have skills such as "patients," "social work," and "mental health. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that case management specialist responsibilities requires skills like "patient care," "discharge planning," "care coordination," and "management services." But a case aide might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "foster care," "phone calls," "foster children," and "data entry."

On average, case aides earn a lower salary than case management specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, case aides earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $34,543. Whereas case management specialists have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $55,377.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Case aides tend to reach lower levels of education than case management specialists. In fact, they're 8.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for case management specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Virginia SchwindtVirginia Schwindt LinkedIn profile

MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University

Telehealth and the internet. Suppose the Pandemic has taught us one thing, that is that we can still meet people and their needs through the online environment. In my opinion, it is not the best way, but it is a way to meet with people and to be able to assist them, rather than people sitting alone and without assistance.

Case management specialist vs. Case coordinator

A case coordinator is responsible for assisting patients and families in receiving high-quality health care services, coordinating with medical institutions and professionals for medications and residential care resources. Case coordinators must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in reviewing patients' documents and insurance details for hospital admissions. For case coordinators employed in the community office, they also facilitate planning health care programs and activities to educate people about health awareness and management.

On average, case coordinators earn lower salaries than case management specialists, with a $374 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on case management specialists and case coordinators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "patients," "social work," and "mental health.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a case management specialist is likely to be skilled in "care coordination," "management services," "primary care," and "group therapy," while a typical case coordinator is skilled in "customer service," "home health," "data entry," and "child abuse."

Case coordinators make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $41,850. On the other hand, case management specialists are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $55,377.case coordinators typically earn similar educational levels compared to case management specialists. Specifically, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Case management specialist vs. Social services specialist

A Social Services Specialist provides social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions, or hospitals. They develop and implement specialized treatment programs.

Social services specialists tend to earn a higher pay than case management specialists by an average of $6,806 per year.While their salaries may vary, case management specialists and social services specialists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "social work," and "community resources. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between case management specialists and social services specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a case management specialist might have more use for skills like "mental health," "patient care," "care coordination," and "financial assistance." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of social services specialists require skills like "term care," "mds," "social service agencies," and "child abuse. "

Social services specialists enjoy the best pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $64,884. For comparison, case management specialists earn the highest salary in the technology industry.social services specialists reach higher levels of education compared to case management specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 8.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of case management specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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