Lisa A. Vogele R.N.

First of all thank you for taking the time to read about one of your directors in the Southern Ohio Valley Case Management Society of America. I decided to run for the director role because I was interested in making the educational meetings meaningful and valuable. Thank you for voting for me, I will do right by the SOV/CMSA Chapter.

I have joined forces with Maggie O'Malley on the education committee. We are working diligently to bring interesting topics to the meetings for our members. I have learned so much in the short time that I have been a board member. My current responsibilities are to assist in getting the speakers. I have learned the art of filing the applications for the continuing education hours for nurses and case managers. I then put together the meeting materials. Mary Beth Newman has graciously taken Maggie and I under her wing to teach us all the "ins and outs" of getting the speakers together for the meetings. Let me tell you it is a lot of work! We learned that there is a lot behind the scenes work to prepare a successful educational meeting. It is definitely a labor of love. So please bear with us it is a work in progress. I am very proud of this board. They are a group of wonderful ladies that devote a lot of their personal time and energy to a worth while cause. Next time you see a board member, please give her a pat on the back for the work she does.

As far as my career as nurse...I knew since second grade that I wanted to be a nurse. When I graduated I worked at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. I worked mainly in the ER for about 20 years. I then went in to the insurance end of health care. I will tell you it was a difficult transition. It took me about 6 months to learn how to sit down in a chair for an 8 hour day. I was in utilization review and learned a lot about health insurance. However, there was always something missing. Then one day I heard some of the girls talking about Case Management. I put in my application. I got the job.

Then one of the first clients on the phone I was able to engage and assist her to better manage he COPD. I was hooked! Case Management was it! I love this art of compassionate nursing. I never thought that I would be this satisfied not being at the bedside. It is a great place to be at such a critical time in the management of health care. Case Managers are defiantly part of the future of health care in the U.S.A.