✅ Reviewed for accuracy and relevance by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM on June 26, 2025.
A client-centered plan of care starts with the understanding that clients are the experts on their own lives and needs, so CMs must include the client’s and caregiver’s input when developing a plan of care. The case manager’s role is to facilitate and support the client’s goals, not to dictate what those goals should be.
Developing a client-centered care plan includes three essential, interconnected steps:
- Identifying care needs, barriers, and opportunities
- Prioritizing goals and outcomes
- Planning interventions or actions to reach the goals
This article shares a portion of the information covered on this topic in CCM Certification Made Easy, 4th Edition by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM (2025). For more details on this topic and related concepts, purchase your copy at CCMCertificationMadeEasy.com.
