2026 CMSA of Eastern Oklahoma Award Nominations & Applications

Case Manger of the Year
The Case Manager of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding professional who exemplifies excellence in advocacy, leadership, innovation, collaboration, and compassionate client-centered care. This individual demonstrates measurable impact within their organization, community, and the broader field of case management.

Please note the following minimum eligibility requirements:
- Active membership in CMSA of Eastern Oklahoma for at least 2 years
- 5+ years of case management experience
- Current national certification required (CCM, CDMS, CRC, CRRN, COHN, etc.)
In addition to the questions below, you will be asked to submit a current CV or resume, a current professional photo, and two recommendations (one from a mentor or supervisor and one from a peer or co-worker) on the next page.
What does case management mean to you, and how does that philosophy guide your daily practice?
Please select THREE qualities from the list below that best represent your excellence in case management. After making your selections, you will use the space below to explain how these qualities reflect your professional strengths and impact.
Please explain why the THREE qualities you selected represent your strengths as a rookie case manager. Include specific examples of experiences, accomplishments, or feedback that demonstrate your impact and professional growth.
Describe how you have demonstrated leadership, initiative, or professional influence early in your case management career. Include examples of teamwork, mentorship, committee involvement, advocacy, process improvement, or ways you positively influence those around you.
Provide an example of how your work as a case manager positively impacted a patient, family, coworker, or healthcare team. Examples may include advocacy, communication, coordination of care, emotional support, resource management, or measurable improvements in outcomes. Include specific examples whenever possible.
Describe a challenge, difficult experience, or learning opportunity you encountered early in your case management career. How did this experience contribute to your professional growth, confidence, resilience, or perspective as a case manager?
What do you believe is the greatest opportunity or challenge facing case management today, and how are you helping address it?

Readmission Reduction Excellence Award
The Readmission Reduction Excellence Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in reducing avoidable hospital readmissions. This award honors efforts that improve quality of care through evidence-based interventions, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient and caregiver engagement, and sustainable care coordination strategies.

If you are an individual submitting for this award, in addition to the questions below, you will be asked to submit a current CV or resume, a current professional photo, and two recommendations (one from a supervisor and one from a peer) on the next page.

Applicants are encouraged to upload supporting outcome data, dashboards, graphs, or quality improvement materials that demonstrate measurable impact.
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION & DATA ANALYSIS: Describe a readmission challenge, patient population, or care coordination issue you as an individual or organization sought to address. Include relevant baseline data, identified risk factors, trends, or condition-specific concerns that demonstrated a need for intervention.
INTERVENTION DESIGN & INNOVATION: Describe the intervention, program, or strategy implemented to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. Include any evidence-based practices, innovative approaches, communication improvements, transitional care strategies, or partnerships utilized to improve patient outcomes and care coordination. Examples may include discharge communication, post-discharge follow-up, home visits, virtual care, medication reconciliation, patient education, technology integration, or community partnerships.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES & IMPACT: Provide measurable outcomes demonstrating the effectiveness of your intervention or initiative. Include data comparing baseline and post-intervention performance whenever possible. Examples may include reductions in readmissions, financial impact, patient satisfaction, operational improvements, quality metrics, or CMS-aligned performance measures.
COLLABORATION & PATIENT ENGAGEMENT: Describe how interdisciplinary collaboration, patient engagement, and caregiver involvement contributed to the success of your readmission reduction efforts. Include examples of teamwork, education, discharge planning, follow-up coordination, or partnerships with post-acute or community-based providers.
SUSTAINABILITY, LEADERSHIP & FUTURE IMPACT: Describe how your initiative or intervention demonstrates sustainability, scalability, or long-term impact. Examples may include standardized workflows, policy changes, expansion to additional patient populations or service lines, ongoing monitoring processes, or broader organizational or community influence.
EQUITY & HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS: How did your initiative address healthcare disparities, high-risk populations, or barriers to care that may contribute to avoidable readmissions?
LESSONS LEARNED: What lessons were learned through the development or implementation of this initiative, and what recommendations would you share with others seeking to reduce avoidable readmissions?

Case Management Equity Champion Award
The Case Management Equity Champion Award recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates exceptional commitment to diversity, inclusion, advocacy, and healthcare equity. This award honors those who work to reduce disparities, improve access to care, advocate for underserved populations, and create more equitable systems through compassionate, culturally responsive, and collaborative case management practices.

If you are an individual submitting for this award, in addition to the questions below, you will be asked to submit a current CV or resume, a current professional photo, and two recommendations (one from a supervisor and one from a peer) on the next page.

Applicants are encouraged to submit supporting materials demonstrating measurable outcomes, community impact, educational initiatives, or equity-focused programs.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY & IDENTIFYING NEEDS: describe how you as an individual or organization demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and healthcare equity within case management practice. Include examples of populations served, disparities identified, barriers recognized, or efforts made to improve equitable access to care and services.
ADVOCACY & BARRIER REDUCTION: Describe how your individual or organization advocates for underserved, marginalized, or high-risk populations. Include examples of how barriers to care were identified and addressed through care coordination, resource development, community partnerships, process improvement, or innovative problem-solving. Examples may include addressing barriers related to transportation, housing, language access, disability, health literacy, financial hardship, or systemic inequities.
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE & COMPASSIONATE PRACTICE: Describe how culturally responsive, compassionate, and person-centered practices are incorporated into your work. Include examples of how you or your organization ensure clients feel respected, heard, included, and empowered throughout the care coordination process.
MEASURABLE IMPACT & OUTCOMES: Provide examples of measurable outcomes or meaningful impact resulting from your equity-focused efforts or initiatives. Examples may include improved client engagement, increased access to services, improved care coordination, reduction of disparities, successful navigation of complex systems, or positive health and social outcomes. Include specific data or examples whenever possible.
LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION & INFLUENCE: Describe how you or your organization demonstrate leadership and collaboration in advancing healthcare equity. Include examples of mentorship, interdisciplinary teamwork, community partnerships, policy or process improvements, committee involvement, education initiatives, or efforts to promote a culture of inclusion and equitable care.
REFLECTION: What values, mission, or experiences drive your commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, and healthcare equity within case management practice?
FUTURE VISION: What opportunities or changes do you believe are most important to advancing healthcare equity in the future, and how do you hope to contribute to that progress?

Supporting Documents
Please upload all required documents listed below. Be sure your name is at the top of each document or in the file name.

Case Manager of the Year
* CV or Resume
* Recommendation Letters
* Current Professional Photo

Rookie Case Manager of the Year
* CV or Resume
* Recommendation Letters
* Current Professional Photo

Readmission Reduction Excellence Award
* CV or Resume (if an individual)
* Recommendation Letters (if an individual)
* Current Professional Photo (if an individual)
* Supporting Documents (if necessary)

Case Manager Equity Champion Award
* CV or Resume (if an individual)
* Recommendation Letters (if an individual)
* Current Professional Photo (if an individual)
* Supporting Documents (if necessary)
Company Logo

Cancelof
CV or Resume

Cancelof
Recommendation Letter (Mentor or Supervisor)

Cancelof
Recommendation Letter (Peer or Co-Worker)

Cancelof
Current Professional Photo

Cancelof
Supporting Documents

Cancelof
Please be sure to click SUBMIT on the next page to ensure your application is received. If you do not see a THANK YOU page, your submission is not complete.

If applying for an award, please be sure that all questions are answered in their entirety and all necessary documents are uploaded.
Should be Empty:

2026 CMSA of Eastern Oklahoma Award Nominations & Applications

Contact Information

Case Manger of the Year

Rookie Case Manager of the Year

Readmission Reduction Excellence Award

Case Management Equity Champion Award

Supporting Documents