COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 3,000 long-term care professionals are meeting in Columbus May 3 - 6 for the Midwest's largest gathering of personnel from nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and facilities for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.
The Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA), which represents nearly 75 percent of the nursing facilities in the state, is hosting its 59th Annual Convention & Exhibition at the Columbus Convention Center. The event features more than 100 educational programs for long-term care personnel during its four-day run.
The Ohio Centers for Assisted Living, OHCA's affiliate organization representing assisted living residences, also participates as a sponsor of the Annual Convention.
An exhibition of more than 330 providers of goods and services to the industry - one of the largest long-term care exhibitions in the country - will also be open to registrants at the OHCA Convention. The exhibition hall will include vans and busses for transportation services, furniture, high-tech medical devices, computer systems and software, food and dietary supplements, kitchen and laundry appliances, therapy aids, and pharmacy services, among others.
This year's theme, "Become an Instrument of Change," reflects the commitment of long-term care professionals to meet the expanding and shifting focus of long-term care. OHCA's annual convention highlights the benefits long-term care provides to its residents and patients, its employees, the community, and the economy, even though the profession is faced with the daily struggles of onerous regulations and limited reimbursement.
Educational programs will be presented for licensed administrators, nurses, therapists, dietary personnel, social workers, activity professionals, housekeeping staff, nurse aides, and other long-term care personnel. Topics include clinical, operational, administrative and technical aspects of providing care services, as well as personal improvement and motivational sessions. All programs have been approved for continuing education credit by the certifying agency of each discipline.
The OHCA Board of Trustees will also elect its Chairman and officers for 2004 - 2005 during the Annual Convention. The Chairman will oversee the operation of the 750-member organization, and lead the 26-member Board in its decision-making process.
The Ohio Health Care Association is a nonprofit organization representing more than 750 nursing, assisted living, and MR/DD facilities caring for nearly 67,000 Ohio residents. It is the largest long-term care organization in the state, and the only chartered Ohio affiliate of the American Health Care Association, representing more than 12,000 facilities nationwide.
Ohio Health Care AssociationCONTACT: Stephen L. Mould, Director of Public Affairs of the Ohio HealthCare Association, +1-614-436-4154
Web site: http://www.ohca.org/
