Resume Skills For A Case Manager (Definition And Examples)

Updated 30 September 2022

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Case managers are responsible for evaluating care options and treatment plans for a patient's health needs. Employers often look for specific skills while evaluating and hiring case managers to ensure that they can provide the best service to patients. Learning about some important resume skills for case managers and how to showcase them to interviewers can improve your chances of getting a job. In this article, we discuss what resume skills for a case manager are, explain how to improve them and provide steps to include these skills in your job application.

What Are Resume Skills For A Case Manager?

Resume skills for a case manager are the abilities you list down on your resume while applying to the role of a case manager. Case managers act as a mediator between doctors and patients, and these skills include their capability to both communicate and execute patient care plans. These professionals use skills like critical thinking and empathy to make patients feel empowered and at ease. They are also flexible and creative while designing care plans. It is helpful to learn about the different types of case management skills and how to develop them to be a more successful case manager.

Examples Of Resume Skills For A Case Manager

Below are a few skills that can help you excel in your career as a case manager:

Clinical skills

With good clinical skills, a case manager can explain treatments and medical processes to patients. Clinical skills are essential for case managers to help them understand the health conditions of patients and be aware of various treatments that doctors, therapists, dieticians and counsellors offer. Case managers first learn clinical skills while pursuing their educational degrees and later refine them on the job.

Communication

Good communication skills include active listening, clear articulation and solid writing skills. Case managers often liaison between a patient and health care provider, and require excellent communication skills to pass on important information to either party. Communication skills can help case managers relay information in simple terms and provide accurate patient updates to health care providers.

Advocacy

A case manager is also responsible for advocating for patients and ensuring that they receive the entitled government and community resources. They support patients and advocate on their behalf to insurance companies to receive the right support for the patient's needs. Advocacy skills can help these professionals contribute effectively to the well-being of the patients.

Empathy

With empathy, case managers can attempt to understand a patient's feelings, background and various other concerns. The ability to relate to a patient is important for advocating effectively to receive support for their health needs. When case managers are empathetic, patients are likely to trust them more, helping them serve their patients better.

Teamwork

Case managers often work in a team along with doctors and nurses to provide the required care for a patient. They collaborate with patients and their family members to provide them with additional resources for enhanced care. Teamwork, along with reliability and active listening, is an important skill that case managers require on the job.

Flexibility

A patient's first treatment option may often not address all their health conditions. Case managers require to be flexible to address various types of situations and develop more than one plan for patient care. Changes in a client's health or economic situation can also demand a flexible approach from a case manager.

Organisation

Case managers require to be well-organised to provide their patients with the best care possible. They may be familiar with the patient's health needs, medical history and also any allergies the patient may have. A case manager typically sees several patients in a day and often visits multiple facilities daily. Organisation and time management can help them increase efficiency in the job.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking involves analysing facts to thoroughly understand an issue. Case management requires critical thinking skills to solve problems that may be barriers to effective patient care. If a patient requires in-network care to keep the cost of care within their budget, a case manager may find creative ways to meet the patient's health needs while still keeping costs low.

How To Improve Your Case Management Skills?

Following are some ways to develop your case management skills:

1. Improve your interviewing skills

Since case managers interact with patients on a daily basis, it is essential for these professionals to build upon their interviewing skills. Performing some prior research about the patient's background and preparing questions can help ease the interview process. Keeping your body language open and relaxed can help a patient feel more comfortable with you.

2. Develop a genuine interest in different cultures

Cultural sensitivity is an important aspect for case managers. Developing a genuine interest in different cultures, traditions and religions can help you understand different types of patients better. Familiarity with a diverse set of beliefs and viewpoints can make you a reliable person with whom the patients can connect.

3. Enhance your critical thinking skills

Interacting with patients often comes with challenges that require quick solutions. Improving your critical thinking skills can help you work on problems effectively when they occur. You can improve this skill by volunteering to solve various problems in your workplace.

4. Practice your team skills

Since case managers work in large teams, team skills are an integral part of their professional life. Practising active listening, collaboration and responsibility can help you improve your team skills. Learning to work in a team can help you learn more about your strengths and areas of improvement.

Case Management Skills In The Workplace

You can use the following ways to show your skills in the workplace:

Manage time effectively. A good way to show your case management skills is through exceptional time management. Interacting with several patients in a single day requires you to stay organised with your time and resources.
Practice empathy. Practising empathy on a regular basis is essential to case management. Focus on understanding a patient's needs and attempt to relate to them on a personal level.
Research and counsel patients. Performing the required research about a patient is essential to being a good case manager. Good interviewing and listening skills can help you research, learn and counsel patients better.
Brush up on clinical skills. Constantly improve and update your clinical knowledge to show your case management skills. Focus on effective communication with the patient and health care provider, to allow for smooth passage of information between both the parties.

Ways To Highlight Your Case Management Skills

You can highlight your case management skills during every step of the hiring process. Here are three ways to show your skills to the employer:

On your resume

Have a dedicated section to list down your case management skills in your resume. You can list down five to six relevant skills in this section, with the most relevant skills towards the top. Read the job description for specific skills that the employer is looking for, and mention these skills in the skills section.

In your cover letter

Highlighting the results of specific skills instead of just listing them is an ideal approach for a cover letter. You may add specific numbers and accomplishments that give employers a broader perspective on your skills. You can also include certain soft skills to show the employer how you used them for effective results.

During a job interview

Preparing in advance for common interview questions is essential to showcasing your skills. Talking clearly, precisely and effectively is a great way to highlight your communication skills. Make a list of examples and relevant anecdotes to share, to give the employer a better idea about your previous job experience.