Explore a Career in
Care Coordination & Care Management
If you enjoy working with people and have good communication and listening skills, consider a career in care coordination or care management.
Insights from the Field
Jason M., RN Nurse Care Coordinator
Community Health Center of the North Country
What is Care Coordination and Care Management?
There are many definitions for each, and they often overlap. Here are two definitions that give a basic overview:
Care Coordination: Involves organizing patient/client care and sharing information among all participants involved, ensuring effective communication and safe, appropriate care.
Care Management: Focuses on partnering with patients/clients to help them prevent and manage their medical and mental/behavioral health conditions for optimal outcomes.
Job titles include:
- Care Coordinator
- Community Care Coordinator
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Clinical Care Coordinator
- Care Manager
- Nurse Care Manager
- Complex Care Manager
- Health Home Care Manager
- Case Manager
- RN Case Manager
What is Care Coordination and Care Management?
There are many definitions for each, and they often overlap. Here are two definitions that give a basic overview:
Care Coordination: Involves organizing patient/client care and sharing information among all participants involved, ensuring effective communication and safe, appropriate care.
Care Management: Focuses on partnering with patients/clients to help them prevent and manage their medical and mental/behavioral health conditions for optimal outcomes.
Roles of Care Coordinators & Care Managers
CCs and CMs work directly with the person receiving care and/or family members or caregivers to provide a wide variety of functions, such as:
- Conduct assessments of medical, behavioral, social, and functional needs
- Help set individualized goals and develop care plans to empower clients
- Advocate for clients and remove barriers to care
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals and social service agencies
- Coordinate care and support transitions
- Monitor progress and provide education
- Maintain records and build positive relationships
- Work in various community and healthcare settings
Care coordinators usually focus more on coordination of efforts and bridging social care with clinical care. Care managers usually focus more on chronic disease management and may need a clinical degree.
Education & Experience
The requirements for education and work experience can vary by employer and location within New York State.
Education Requirements:
- Many CC and CM positions require at least an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in a field such as human services, health education, substance use services, mental health, psychology, public health, gerontology, social work, nursing, occupational therapy, or another related field.
- Some CC and CM positions require a high school diploma or equivalency (GED/TASC).
- Some jobs require the care manager or care coordinator to have a clinical degree and state licensure, such as registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or social worker (LMSW).
Work Experience
- Many (but not all) care manager and care coordinator jobs require one or more years of related work experience. For example, if you want to work as a care manager or care coordinator in a nursing home, you may need experience working with older adults.
Where do Care Coordinators and Care Managers work?
Care managers and care coordinators work in a variety of settings, including:
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Behavioral and mental health care providers
- Care management agencies
- Health homes
- Health centers, clinics, hospitals
- Outpatient facilities
- Patient/client homes
- Physician offices
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Work in the communities they serve
Helpful Resources
The following resources are for people interested in becoming a Care Coordinator or Care Manager.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,545,000 with 100 percent funded by HRSA/HHS and $0 amount and 0 percent funded by nongovernment source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
