Curriculum & Modules

Get ready to discover how care managers play a vital, empowering role in guiding patients through every step of their health journey, making a real difference in lives and communities every day.

In this section, you’ll get an introduction to the world of care management—a key part of today’s healthcare system. You’ll learn that a care manager is someone who helps patients not just during doctor visits, but throughout their entire health journey. Care managers support healthy lifestyles, encourage positive changes, and ensure patients receive the necessary care and resources. They often work as part of a team, utilizing the latest research and health data to help individuals and communities maintain their health.

You’ll also discover the differences between three important roles in healthcare: the care manager, the case manager, and the care coordinator.

Throughout this section, you’ll hear from real care managers, learn about professional standards, and see how these roles work in real-life situations. By the end, you’ll understand how care managers help patients and why their work is so important in healthcare today.

Dive in to see how care managers are at the heart of a rapidly evolving healthcare system—shaping better patient experiences, driving teamwork, and making a lasting impact on the health of individuals and communities.

Understanding care management in the United States means looking at how healthcare has evolved over time. Today's healthcare system has evolved through historical shifts, medical advancements, and legislative changes, making care management a crucial component in supporting patients. As care has become more complex, care managers play a vital role in guiding patients, coordinating services, and driving better health outcomes.

The goals of healthcare have also expanded, moving from simply improving patient experience and lowering costs to also supporting healthcare workers and addressing social factors that influence health. Care management draws from public health, data analysis, and an understanding of how social and environmental factors affect well-being. Recent reforms have encouraged more teamwork among healthcare providers, making the role of care managers even more important. By learning about these developments, you’ll see how care management connects to the bigger picture of healthcare and why it’s so important for the future of patient care.

Explore how the U.S. healthcare landscape is transforming—and how care managers are at the heart of that change. As the system shifts toward value-based care, care managers are helping patients thrive, fostering collaboration among providers, and ensuring care is more personalized, efficient, and effective. By understanding the unique environments and circumstances in which care is delivered, they’re able to address the whole person and tailor support that truly meets patients’ needs.

Healthcare in the United States is shifting toward a value-based approach, which prioritizes enhancing patient care and health outcomes while managing costs. This shift encourages healthcare providers to work together more closely to deliver better, more coordinated care. One important aspect of this change is the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which are groups of healthcare providers that collaborate to improve care quality and reduce expenses for specific patient populations. Care managers often play a key role in these organizations by helping patients navigate the system and ensuring their care is well-coordinated.

New payment models, like value-based contracting, reward healthcare providers based on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services. Alongside this, programs aimed at improving primary care and patient-centered medical homes are helping to make healthcare more accessible and effective. Healthcare improvement goals have also evolved over time, expanding from focusing on patient experience, population health, and cost reduction to also including provider well-being and health equity. Overall, understanding these changes is essential for anyone entering the healthcare field, especially future care managers, who will play a central role in supporting patients and improving the healthcare system.

Care managers can inspire others and turn change into opportunity, driving better care, stronger teams, and healthier communities for everyone.

Change is a constant in healthcare, and effectively managing it is crucial to enhancing patient care and the overall system. Healthcare goals now focus on enhancing patient experiences, promoting healthier communities, controlling costs, supporting providers, and ensuring fairness in care. To achieve these goals, healthcare organizations must continually adapt and improve.

Care managers and practice facilitators play important roles in guiding these changes. They help teams adopt new practices, utilize data effectively, and collaborate to deliver better care. Understanding basic change theories and using clear communication and teamwork can make transitions smoother and more successful. By embracing change thoughtfully, healthcare professionals can create lasting improvements that benefit patients, providers, and the communities they serve.

Care managers use proven theories and motivational interviewing to empower patients, inspire lasting health changes, and transform lives through supportive, patient-centered care.

Care managers utilize concepts from Self-Determination Theory and Change Theory to guide patients through meaningful and lasting changes in their health behaviors. Self-Determination Theory emphasizes the importance of supporting a patient’s sense of autonomy, competence, and connection with others. By fostering these qualities, care managers help patients become more motivated from within, rather than relying on outside pressure or rewards. Additionally, the Change Theory, particularly the Transtheoretical Model, enables care managers to understand a patient's readiness to change and tailor their approach accordingly.

Motivational Interviewing is a practical technique that brings these theories to life. It is a patient-centered method that uses empathy, open-ended questions, and reflective listening to help patients explore their reasons for change and build confidence in their ability to succeed. Instead of telling patients what to do, care managers partner with them, encouraging self-reflection and supporting their choices. This approach not only enhances medication adherence and lifestyle habits but also yields better long-term health outcomes by empowering patients to take an active role in their care.

Explore how trauma-informed care empowers care managers to create safer, more equitable healthcare environments that help patients heal, improve outcomes, and advance health equity for all.

Trauma-informed care is an approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma on individuals’ health and well-being, shifting the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This perspective is essential for care managers, who must understand not only the medical needs of their patients but also the life experiences that shape their health behaviors and outcomes. By integrating trauma-informed practices, care managers can create safer and more supportive environments that promote healing, enhance patient engagement, and improve long-term health outcomes. Health literacy plays a vital role in this process, as patients who understand their care are better equipped to participate in their recovery and make informed decisions.

Health equity is closely linked to trauma-informed care, as both aim to address disparities and ensure fair treatment for all patients. Historically marginalized groups often experience higher rates of trauma, including racism, poverty, and violence, which can lead to poorer health outcomes and mistrust of healthcare systems. Trauma-informed care provides a framework for advancing health equity by creating organizational and clinical practices that recognize and respond to these experiences, actively working to avoid re-traumatization and dismantle systemic barriers. Training programs, such as those offered by SAMHSA and CCSI, equip all healthcare team members, including non-clinical staff, with the knowledge and skills to recognize trauma, respond appropriately, and foster a culture of safety, trust, and empowerment. By embracing trauma-informed care, care managers and healthcare teams can help close health gaps and build a more equitable, compassionate healthcare system for everyone.

Unlock the power of teamwork in healthcare and discover how collaborative, team-based care leads to better outcomes, safer practices, and more satisfied patients and providers.

Team-based care is a collaborative approach in which healthcare professionals from various backgrounds work together to provide patient-centered care. This model relies on strong communication, coordination, and shared decision-making to ensure that patients receive comprehensive and effective treatment. By leveraging the unique expertise of each team member, team-based care enhances disease management, reduces complications, and improves patient satisfaction. It is especially valuable for managing chronic conditions, where a multidisciplinary approach is essential for addressing all aspects of a patient’s health.

Effective teamwork is supported by structured strategies such as those found in the TeamSTEPPS® framework, which emphasizes the importance of clear communication, situational awareness, and mutual support. Tools like SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation), debriefs, and regular team huddles help teams share critical information, clarify roles, and address challenges proactively. These practices not only prevent errors and improve patient outcomes but also foster a positive and resilient team culture.

Challenges such as miscommunication, unclear responsibilities, and inconsistent documentation can disrupt care delivery and compromise patient safety. Addressing these barriers requires a commitment to open dialogue, conflict resolution, and shared accountability among team members. Encouraging patients to engage in their care by asking questions and understanding their treatment further supports the delivery of high-quality, personalized care. Overall, team-based care—when supported by effective communication tools and a culture of collaboration—leads to improved clinical outcomes, enhanced patient satisfaction, and a healthier work environment for healthcare providers. As healthcare continues to evolve toward value-based models, the ability to work effectively as a team will remain a cornerstone of quality care.

Care managers are key to integrating behavioral health into primary care, using models like Collaborative Care to support the whole person, mind, and body. This team-based approach leads to more coordinated care, stronger patient relationships, and improved health and well-being.

 Care managers play a pivotal role in delivering holistic, patient-centered care by addressing both physical and behavioral health needs. Integrating behavioral health support into care management ensures that emotional, psychological, and social factors are considered alongside medical treatment, leading to more complete and compassionate care. One best-practice example of this integration is the Collaborative Care Model, where care managers work closely with primary care providers and behavioral health specialists to create a unified, team-based approach. This model enhances communication, improves care coordination, and ensures timely interventions. By helping patients access the right support at the right time, care managers strengthen the overall care experience and contribute to better health outcomes and improved well-being.