Toni G. Cesta, Ph.D., RN, FAAN is a founding partner of Case Management Concepts, LLC, a consulting company which assists institutions in designing, implementing and evaluating case management models in the acute care, emergency department and outpatient settings. Dr. Cesta writes a monthly column called “Case Management Insider” in the Hospital Case Management newsletter in which she shares insights and information on current issues and trends in case management.

Dr. Cesta has held positions as Senior Vice President – Operational Efficiency and Capacity Management at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where she was responsible for case management, social work, discharge planning, utilization management, denial management, bed management, the patient navigator program, the clinical documentation improvement program and systems process improvement. Prior to her position as Senior Vice President at Lutheran Medical Center, Dr. Cesta has held positions as Corporate Vice President for Patient Flow Optimization at the North Shore – Long Island Jewish Health System and Director of Case Management, Saint Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers of New York, in New York City and also designed and implemented a Master’s of Nursing in Case Management Program and Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Case Management at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. Dr. Cesta completed seven years as a Commissioner for the Commission for Case Manager Certification.

Dr. Cesta has been active in the research and development of case management for over 25 years. Her research in case management has included two funded studies measuring the effects of a case management model on congestive heart failure and fractured hip patient populations, with measures of patient satisfaction, quality of life, and short and long term clinical perceptions and outcomes.

Dr. Cesta has presented topics on case management at national and international conferences and workshops. She has published extensively and the fourth edition of her book, “Nursing Case Management: From Essentials to Advanced Practice Applications”, Elsevier-Mosby Publishers, was published in 2004. The second edition of her bestselling book: “The Case Manager’s Survival Guide: Winning Strategies for Clinical Practice” was published in 2002 and won the AJN Book of the Year award in 2003. “Survival Strategies for Nurses in Managed Care” was also released in 2002. Her newest book: “Core Skills for Hospital Case Managers” was published in 2009 and is already a best seller! Dr. Cesta is Consulting Editor of “Hospital Case Management Journal” and “Discharge Planning Advisor”. In addition, she serves as editorial advisory board member of several case management journals and publications including “Strategies for Healthcare Excellence” and “The Journal of Care Management”.

Dr. Cesta has a BS in Biology from Wagner College, a BS in Nursing from Adelphi University, an MA in Nursing Administration from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Research and Theory Development from New York University. Dr. Cesta is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Among her awards are included the “Nursing Service Administration Award” from the New York State Nurses Association, the Jessie M. Scott Award for excellence in research, practice and education from the American Nurses Association, and three “Book of the Year” awards from the American Journal of Nursing. In 2010, she was awarded the Brooklyn Leaders Award from the Arthritis Foundation.