Getting the Most Out Of Life: Defining Your Personal Credo

ABSTRACT
Getting the Most Out Of Life: Defining Your Personal Credo
Jeff Frater, RN, BSN
Richard Klingler, RN, BSN, CCM, MBA
2103
CONCURRENT
Wednesday,
June 20, 2012
4:15 PM – 5:45 PM
Truly effective case managers seek to develop all seven dimensions of themselves: intellectual, emotional, social,
environmental, spiritual, vocational, and physical. It is this continual pursuit of self-enhancement that fuels their ability
to advocate for the needs of those they serve.
"Credo" is a Latin word that means "fundamental beliefs or guiding principle." A credo is simply a personal statement of
belief that serves as a guiding tool to gaining personal happiness, success, and well-being. By clarifying and applying our
values, we can achieve healthier self-awareness, more effective time management, greater integrity, and enhanced
credibility as a leader.
One of the most often-cited challenges of case managers is the struggle to achieve work-life balance. Creating a personal
credo; and putting one's values in perspective is a powerful, yet simple, way to help achieve a well-balanced life. A
personal credo can easily be expanded into a leadership philosophy that helps case managers find personal satisfaction
and professional success within the companies and organizations they work.
This presentation will explore the benefits of a personal credo in helping the case manager gain clarity and focus in
leading self and others. Attendees will be guided through thoughtful self-analysis exercises to help identify and focus on
personal values. A simple 3-step process for writing a personal credo will also be presented. Case managers will leave
this presentation with a better understanding of how defining one's values, and putting them into action, plays a key
role in getting the most out of life.
OBJECTIVES
� Describe the role of a Case Manager in promoting a Personal Credo.
� Recognize the components needed to create your own Personal Credo (communication and values).
� Identify the relevance of a Case Manager maintaining and teaching a healthy lifestyle to personal and
professional success.
PRESENTER PROFILES
Jeff Frater, RN, BSN, CTT, is a Registered Nurse specializing, and previously certified in Case Management. Mr. Frater has
significant experience in Case Management, including large commercial health plans, small state Medicaid managed care
organizations, acute care hospitals, and post acute facilities including acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities.
He also has experience as an independent consultant working with long-term care insurance policies and case
management software development.
Currently, Mr. Frater is an Account Executive for Milliman Care Guidelines. In this role, he provides care management
professionals and health care systems with evidence-based practice guidelines, helping to incorporate guidelines to
support quality and efficiency outcomes. His clients include health plans and hospitals, large and small.
Mr. Frater is a frequently sought speaker on health-related topics, and is a returning guest lecturer on health policy,
health system structure, and reimbursement methodologies at Washington State University, Intercollegiate College of
Opinions expressed in conference sessions and handout materials are those of the speaker and do not reflect the opinion of CMSA, its officers or staff, or the CMSA Annual Conference

Nursing.
Mr. Frater has long-standing involvement with the Case Management Society of America. From June 2008 through June
2009, he served as the President of this national organization. Previously, Mr. Frater served on the Board of Directors for
the Case Management Society of America from 2003 to 2006.
Mr. Frater's overall professional interest involves reform of the delivery and financing of health care services with an
emphasis on the patient as a consumer of health care with full ownership of the process, medical record, and the
ultimate outcome.
Disclosure: NONE.
Rick Klingler, formerly the Program Director at a national dialysis cost containment company, is now the Vice President
of Medical Management for Renalogic, LLC. Mr. Klingler provides operational and medical management oversight over
Renalogic's Comprehensive Chronic Kidney Disease Management Program. The program is based on recent research
developments that demonstrate, with early identification and management of patients with chronic kidney disease, it is
possible to delay the onset of dialysis, extend and improve quality of life for participants, and reduce health care costs.
Rick has a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, a Master's Degree in Business Administration, and is a Certified Nurse Case
Manager. With over 15 years' experience in the medical field, Rick has worked at the bedside providing direct patient
care, and on the reimbursement side for a large Blue Cross plan. Rick is active in the Case Management Society of
America, and has served as President in one of its local chapters.
Disclosure: NONE.
Opinions expressed in conference sessions and handout materials are those of the speaker and do not reflect the opinion of CMSA, its officers or staff, or the CMSA Annual Conference

Getting the Most Out Of Life:
Defining Your Personal Credo
Rick Klingler, RN, BSN, CCM, MBA Jeff Frater, RN, BSN, CCM
What A Credo Isn’t
Cre-D’oh! Cre
Cre D’oh!
Objective One
�The Role of a Case Manager In Promoting
a Personal Credo
Objectives
Describe the role of a Case Manager in promoting a
Personal Credo.
Recognize the components needed to create your
own Personal Credo.
Identifying the relevance of a Case Manager
maintaining and teaching a healthy lifestyle to
personal and professional success.
What Is A Personal Credo?
“A system of principles and beliefs that provides
direction and impetus to your life. It acts to guide
your attitudes, decisions, and actions in everything
you think, feel, and do. You can think of a credo
as a manifesto for your life: it espouses what you
most profoundly believe. To not have a credo
means to go through life without defined purpose,
clear focus, or identifiable direction.”
~Jim Taylor, Ph.D.~
What Is A Personal Credo?
“A system of principles and beliefs that provides
direction and impetus to your life. It acts to guide
your attitudes, decisions, and actions in everything
you think, feel, and do. You can think of a credo
as a manifesto for your life: it espouses what you
most profoundly believe. To not have a credo
means to go through life without defined purpose,
clear focus, or identifiable direction.”
~Jim Taylor, Ph.D.~
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Objective Two
�The components needed to create your
own Personal Credo
�Perspective
�Understanding
�Priorities
�Responsibilities
�Commitment
�Challenges
�Support
�Objectives
Authenticity: Values, Thoughts and Actions
Values Thoughts Behaviors Results
Objective Three
�Identifying the relevance of a Case
Manager maintaining and teaching a
health lifestyle to personal and
professional success
Exercise
�Perspective
A Holistic Reflection Of One’s Self
Case Managers Influence
http://taggalaxy.com/
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What It All Means… Three Steps to a Personal Credo
My Personal Credo
“Each day I will live life on purpose and with intention,
striving to be in harmony with my values and beliefs and
allowing them to guide my actions, attitudes and decisions.
I will approach life with humility and gratefulness,
acknowledging that I am unable to add a single minute to
my life and allowing this knowledge to motivate me to
revel in the moments I have. Each Day I will practice
graciousness and forgiveness, starting with myself.”
Closing Thoughts
~ Rick Klingler (1963 – Present) ~
Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about
creating yourself.
8
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HUMAN
7E+09
~Author unknown~
�Quiet non-distracted time 1 – 2 hours
�Values, Beliefs, etc.
�Crafting Your Credo
What We’ve Covered
Describe the role of a Case Manager in promoting a
Personal Credo.
Recognize the components needed to create your
own Personal Credo.
Identifying the relevance of a Case Manager
maintaining and teaching a healthy lifestyle to
personal and professional success
Speaker Contact Information
Rick Klingler: rklingler@renalogic.com
3

References
� Engleberg, I., N. Where Have All The Credos Gone? Free Speech Yearbook, 2004.
Vol. 41, p3-6.
� Jim Taylor, Ph.D. Business: Prime Business Credo.
http://drjimtaylor.com/2.0/business/business-prime-business-credo/
� How to write a Personal Credo: http://www.joyfuldays.com/how-to-write-apersonal-creed/
� Reidenbach, E.R., Robin, D.P. A Conceptual Model of Corporate Moral
Development. Journal of Business Ethics, April, 1991. 10(4), p273-284.
� Willis, R. The Levi Strauss Credo: Fashion and Philanthropy. Management Review,
July, 1986. 75(7), p51-54.
Getting the Most Out Of Life:
Defining Your Personal Credo
Rick Klingler, RN, BSN, CCM, MBA Jeff Frater, RN, BSN, CCM
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