The Basics

CM 8 requires that the CM program encourage professional development for its case managers.  Examples of this kind of encouragement would be direct provision of the kind of training described in the standard (QM, professional development, diversity), or time-off or financial assistance for that training and attendance at association meetings.  The training and meeting attendance under this standard should be documented as you would the more general staff training requirements of Core 7 (v. 2.1) or Core 27 (v. 3.0).  In otherwords, document training and meeting attendance in a centralized training file or in the employees' individual personnel files.

Regarding diversity training, keep in mind that URAC is likely to keep an eye on what kind of diversity training might be relevant for your particular consumers.  For example, if you serve consumers who speak Spanish as a first language, requirements that the case managers be bilingual or at least go through a diversity training that targets bi-cultural issues should be highlighted in your submission.

URAC Accreditation Tips

As usual, you should start your AccreditNet submission with a P&P that describes the CM staff training program, including any incentives the organization provides for training or meeting attendance.  In addition, evidence of implementation of that program will be useful here, for example, a couple of training agendas or certificates of attendance at professional development trainings.  Job descriptions for your case managers, too, could be helpful here, particularly if they articulate the organization's expectation that the employee participate in professional development activities.

During the onsite review, the URAC reviewer will do as he/she does for all training-related standards, that is, combine a review of personnel and training records selected from a list of case managers, with interviews of the case managers and their supervisor(s).