COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 3,000 long-term care professionals are meeting in Columbus May 5 - 8 for the Midwest's largest gathering of personnel from skilled 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 62nd 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 (OCAL), OHCA's affiliate organization representing assisted living residences, also participates as a sponsor of the Annual Convention.
An exhibition of more than 300 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/OCAL 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 program, "Take it to the Extreme," features fast-paced activities, high-action educational sessions, and world-class vendor previews. The program recognizes the variety of careers available in long-term care, the continuum of services, and the next level of caring for Ohio's elderly and convalescent populations. The OHCA Convention reflects the commitment of caring 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, 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 Directors will also elect its Chairman and officers for 2008 - 2009 during the Annual Convention. The Chairman will oversee the operation of the organization, and lead the 26-member Board in its decision-making process.
The Ohio Health Care Association is a non-profit association of more than 780 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and facilities for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, representing 64,000 beds. It is the largest long-term care association in the state, and the only chartered Ohio affiliate of the American Health Care Association, representing 12,000 long-term care facilities nationwide.
SOURCE Ohio Health Care Association
