Practical and Professional Tidbits for Case Management and Physician Team Building

Connie Commander, RN, CCM, ABDA, CPUR, is a graduate of Charity Hospital School of Nursing of New Orleans, Louisiana. She currently holds professional nursing licenses in Texas, Illinois, and Louisiana (inactive) and obtained her certification as a CCM in 1996. She is the Principal of Commander’s Premier Consulting Corporation. With her previous experience in the development, implementation, and management of numerous Medical Management departments, Connie is able to share her knowledge as it relates to the responsibilities for Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Managed Care lives. Previous positions have included Vice President of Quality Management, Executive Director and Director positions at several health plans in Texas, and Administrator of an Independent Physician’s Association in Chicago, Illinois. Connie remains very active in her professional organizations both locally and nationally. This year she will assume the Secretary’s board position for the National Case Management Society of America (CMSA). She has held numerous positions in the past years including President of the Houston CMSA chapter, Vice President of the National CMSA, and several Chairman appointments. She was awarded the Case Manager of the Year for the Houston Chapter of CMSA for 2002, and was awarded the Case Manager of the Year for the National CMSA for 2003. Connie is also credentialed as a Senior Disability Analyst and Diplomat with the American Board of Disability Analysts, has completed a certification in Interqual ISD Criteria, is Certified as a CPUR, and is pursuing a concurrent Bachelor of Science and Master of Business degree. Connie has presented several presentations on managed care over the 18 years of her involvement. She has written and been published on issues relating to utilization and case management, the development of medical management departments, enhancements of medical management software, and outcome measurement processes. She continues to be networked in the ever-changing field of managed healthcare and attends many related educational conferences to stay abreast of current trends and issues facing the delivery of healthcare today. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Connie Commander, RN, CCM, ABDA, CPUR. Via Fax: (281) 412-9721.