In the world of health care, there are those who go above and beyond, bridging the gap between complex cases and compassionate, patient-centered care. These unsung heroes are none other than our dedicated Case Managers. As we celebrate National Case Management Week, we are delighted to recognize these remarkable individuals who tirelessly advocate for the well-being of injured workers, offering them guidance, support, and hope throughout their journeys.

This year’s theme, “Keeping the person at the heart of collaborative care,” is deeply reflected in our Case Managers, Network Managers, and support teams who assist behind the scenes. These groups are the heartbeat of Paradigm. Their dedication and compassion allow us to help as many people as possible return to the life and work they love, while restoring their hope.

Join us as we honor their unwavering commitment and passion for making a difference.

Showing gratitude for our remarkable teams
High-quality, patient-centered, collaborative case management is at the very foundation of Paradigm, and the warmth, humanity, and compassion from this group help change the lives of individuals dealing with some of the most challenging situations anyone can face. “Celebrating Case Management Week is just one way for us to show our teams how incredible we think they are. Every day, I’m in awe of our Case Managers’ and Network Managers’ ability to coordinate high-quality care, while always keeping the person at the center of their focus and advocacy. They are truly changing lives,” says Jo Carter, RN, BSN, CCM, Vice President, Clinical Resource Operations.

Kathy McNulty, MS, CDMS, CCM, Senior Director, Vocational Case Management, shared the following sentiments, “Case Managers make things happen. Success can happen with each encounter with an injured worker, their family, their providers, their employer, etc. Sometimes, we don’t know the impact we have made in one’s life while we are working with them. Sometimes, the best success story is the one we don’t always hear about. To our Case Managers who have dedicated their careers to service others, to walk in the footsteps of an injured worker and their family, to be by their side, to celebrate every step forward in their medical recovery, every return to work, every obstacle overcome—it’s why we do what we do—to provide hope for a brighter future.  Please know, you make a difference in the lives of so many.”

Earlier this year, Kathy Stacy, Director, Clinical Solutions, shared her appreciation for the hard work Cherith Baker, Network Manager, put forth in preparing for and delivering an important presentation. “I wanted to take a moment to recognize Cherith and the work she has done on the Client Engagement Call. While on the call today, the client’s third-party administrator mentioned what a wonderful job Cherith does in keeping them updated and moving their cases forward and even mentioned the appreciation of her work on another case. They went on to describe just how valuable Cherith is to them and how they appreciate her.” What a glowing endorsement of her performance.

Another one of our leaders, Brenda Calia, MHSA, Vice President, Case Management Delivery, Clinical Solutions, enthusiastically shared the following, “Happy Case Management Week to each one of our Case Managers around the country! Your efforts to go the extra mile to help injured workers are inspiring. In Clinical Solutions Case Management, our Case Managers have the unwavering support of so many in the organization—including our Special Programs Unit; Case Management Extenders; Catastrophic Specialists; Quality, Customer Implementation, and Onboarding teams; as well as dedicated leaders and other teams around the organization—such as Human Resources, Training, IT, Legal, Payroll, Sales, Go-to-Market, Marketing and more. Regardless of where you sit in Paradigm, everyone has a vital role in supporting our mission to improve more lives. During Case Management Week, I’m celebrating with pride and humility our Case Managers and all of those who support them.”

“A huge shout-out to our Vocational Case Managers (VCMs) who often face increased challenges when coordinating with injured workers who have been out of work for some time and have had their lives impacted by not being active. VCMs are not always able to work with injured workers early in their injury, and as such, are faced with heightened risks secondary to the injured worker potentially having experienced a change in self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem, and even social isolation,” says Steve Dadio, Manager, Case Management. “To this phenomenal group who continue to fight the fight, day in and day out, we say thank you for your dedication to the people you work with, your profession, and our organization!”

Another incredible example of our Case Managers’ impact that deserves our recognition comes from Annaliza Ternes, Telephonic Case Manager. Not only does she leave a lasting impact on injured workers daily, but recently, she demonstrated extraordinary heroism within her community. While in a store, she encountered a person in distress. Without hesitation, she sprang into action, initiating life-saving CPR as bystanders watched. Her unwavering determination carried her through until she could no longer continue, at which point she enlisted an onlooker and guided them in administering CPR. After a brief respite, she resumed her efforts until the paramedics arrived. We are overjoyed to share that, thanks in large part to Annaliza’s heroism and quick intervention, the individual she helped is on the road to recovery. This inspiring incident epitomizes the essence of keeping the person at the heart of care and going above and beyond, embodying the very essence of Paradigm Case Managers—it is in their very DNA.

Paradigm Case Managers offer unparalleled service
Network Managers and Case Managers are continually assessing the needs of the injured workers they serve and advocate to ensure each part of the treatment process is in motion—and always with the patient’s needs at the center of their focus. This approach sets the tone for everyone involved, and helps these injured workers get back to their lives and livelihoods.

“We are fortunate to have some of the most dedicated case management professionals in our industry right here at Paradigm. Their ability to seamlessly coordinate specialized care and return to work for some of the most complex cases is unparalleled, but it’s so much more than that. In many instances, they are also the first point of contact for injured workers and their family members looking for answers and guidance in one of the most trying times of their lives,” says Shannon Ford, Senior Vice President, Case Management Solutions. “Our Case Managers are tasked with facilitating care with injured workers and their providers, coordinating a safe and medically appropriate return to work, all the while functioning as a liaison between all other key stakeholders, including the employer and claims examiner. The role of a Case Manager is not only a big one; it is an important one. This is no easy feat, but these teams rise to the occasion every day.”

Earlier this year, Virginia Williams, RN, Case Manager, received a wonderful compliment from an adjuster at one of our largest clients. The adjuster noted how quickly Virginia arrived at the hospital and transferred valuable information to the claims team. Not only was the adjuster impressed with the referral handling, but she also said she would be giving us her next Field Case Management files as well. This is just one example of how our Case Managers directly impact the lives of many.

Another clint sang the praises of Jennifer O’Fallon, RN, Case Manager, “I just wanted to take a moment and let you know how invaluable Jennifer has been on my claim. This is a COVID-19 claim that was very complex at the beginning. Initially, there was a different nurse assigned to the file and she was not a great fit. When Jennifer came on, she quickly and thoroughly got to know the claim and the injured worker. She was able to get all the care coordinated and at the same time, make the injured worker feel at ease. She continues to do a wonderful job and is in the process of transferring the injured worker to the correct doctors to help continue to move her care forward.”

The life of an injured worker can be tenuous at times, never more so than when an injury precludes someone from returning to pre-injury work. Through advocacy and the persistent work of Vocational Case Manager Judy MacGilvary, MA, CRC, an injured worker was enrolled in an IT program at a community college, receiving straight A’s, and being placed with a new job for the Department of Transportation in their IT Department. Of Judy, the injured worker says, “You have been a great person to deal with during a crazy time in my life. There were times I never thought I would get here. I’m so insanely grateful for all your help!”

One of our team members, Eddie Price, BSN, RN, CCM, QRP, Case Manager, was relocating to another territory, and before he left, he received an amazing message from one of our customers. “I wanted to take a moment to celebrate Eddie’s incredible contributions as a nurse Case Manager on our team and to express our sincere appreciation for the remarkable work he has done, especially with the complex medical case we entrusted to him. Eddie’s dedication and unwavering commitment to our account have not only met, but exceeded, our expectations. His expertise, compassion, and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on our organization and, most importantly, on the lives of those he has touched.

“Throughout the management of this intricate medical case, Eddie consistently demonstrated exemplary skills in coordinating care, advocating for the patient, and ensuring that all aspects of the case were handled with the utmost professionalism and care. His ability to navigate the complexities of health care, his clear and effective communication, and his exceptional problem-solving have been truly outstanding.  Eddie’s departure is bittersweet news for us. While I understand and support his decision to relocate, I will undoubtedly miss his presence on our team. Once again, I just wanted to say, ‘thank you’ for his incredible work and dedication.”

Another Claims Specialist took the time to send the following message about our amazing Network Manager, Christina (Chrissy) Deane, “I wanted to let you know how special I think Chrissy is and we are lucky to have her. Chrissy helped me to be able to manage claims again. I got to remember why I love what I do. She has gone above and beyond for a native Spanish-speaking worker that can’t read or write in Spanish, nor speak English. He was evicted and she got his belongings and packed them up for him. I started crying when I read that. She inspired me to do what I love to do, and that is manage claims again. She ignited a fire within me, and she dealt with situations most can’t handle. However, through it all, Chrissy has stayed on track fighting for the injured worker. I am sure the injured worker doesn’t even know how lucky he is to have her; perhaps when it is all over, he will realize it.”

Two senior members from our Go-to-Market team, Camille Lewis, WCP^®, Senior Director, Key Accounts, Clinical Solutions, and Shawn Twiss, Senior Sales Executive, couldn’t let the week go by without sharing the following acknowledgement. “Along with the expertise of our Paradigm Management team, Virginia ‘Gini’ Paea, Network Manager, has been instrumental in guiding the care of a 30-year-old, non-English-speaking, hearing impaired female, injured worker who suffered severe, 70% total body surface area, burn injuries during her course of employment in a bakery. This case has presented various unprecedented challenges to include the injured worker’s deafness in both ears and inability to effectively communicate her care needs to her providers. The injured worker has required round-the-clock support by each of her two sisters to translate her family’s unique interpretation of sign language. To ensure her needs were being maintained, Gini met twice weekly with the injured worker and her sisters and maintained ongoing communication with the inpatient case manager and therapists.

“In close collaboration with one of our Community Support Specialists, Emma Schedler, Gini has been a strong advocate not only for this injured worker, but for the family. Both Gini and Emma have built an excellent rapport with the injured worker’s sisters. Together, they have collaborated to identify reasonable transportation, shelter, and meal stipends for the injured worker’s sisters as neither have had resources to support their own accommodations during their sister’s time of need. Gini has gone further to provide several meals for the sisters out of her own funds, which she has done for other injured workers in the past as well.

“This injured worker has a long and difficult road ahead of her, which will require significant Paradigm Management Team oversight, and Gini’s role as the Network Manager on this case has already been invaluable.”

Keeping the person at the heart of care
These testimonies are just some of the expressions of gratitude we receive about our case management team, and we could truly celebrate them every day of the year. This year’s theme is a perfect reminder that human connection, empathy, and unwavering dedication are what truly make a difference. The journey of a patient is often fraught with challenges, but it’s the guiding hands, the compassionate hearts, and the relentless advocacy of Case Managers that provide the beacon of hope.

At Paradigm, we are immensely grateful for our exceptional teams who embody this spirit every day. While you keep the person at the heart of your work, you all are the true heart of Paradigm.

Learn more about Paradigm’s Case Management Solutions and what sets us apart.