MUNDELEIN, IL --(Marketwired - June 19, 2013) - They are the unsung heroes of the nursing home industry - caring, feeding, bathing and dressing millions of our nation's elderly. But for a few days this week, the spotlight will shine brightly on America's certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) annual leadership conference and awards ceremony. Medline Industries, Inc. is the exclusive corporate sponsor for the conference.
Starting today, hundreds of CNAs will arrive in Oklahoma City where they will be celebrated at the 19th annual Key to Quality Awards ceremony for their outstanding and compassionate care to nursing home residents. Overall, NAHCA has more than 40,000 members representing almost 1,000 long-term care facilities throughout the country.
Held at the Cox Convention Center, the conference featured speaker is former Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson, who is now president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).
"Caregivers are critically important to the health of our nation's elderly, and we are proud to take part in recognizing their exceptional contributions in providing the highest quality of care," said Shawn Scott, senior vice president of Medline. "While this is a special week where we recognize their professional achievements, caregivers should be celebrated year-round for their compassion and tireless efforts caring for our aging loved ones."
As a way to recognize the special position caregivers hold in caring for the nation's elderly, the CNAs will also star in a fun fashion show to unveil Medline's newest line of fashion scrubs called AVE.
"Caregivers have a crucial role in caring for our elderly, but it is not glamorous or highly visible, so the fashion show is a fun way for them to be front and center and feel special about who they are," said Scott.
Medline is sponsoring the conference as part of its exclusive partnership with the association in which Medline and NAHCA collaborate on several initiatives. These include: a new education series for CNAs to increase their skills and competencies, an outreach program to elevate the professional standing and importance of CNAs in the care and treatment of nursing home residents, and a communications campaign to raise awareness of NAHCA and its benefits.
"CNAs are the backbone of our nation's elderly care and with Medline's help, we are showing them how special they are and how important and appreciative we are of their efforts," said Lori Porter, co-founder and chief executive officer of NAHCA. "As the population continues to age, frontline caregivers will continue to play a larger and more important role in the care of our nation's elderly. Ongoing education and professional development for our caregivers can help guarantee high quality care is being provided to long-term care residents in a mutually supportive and respectful culture."
About NAHCA
Research has shown that members of NAHCA have greater job retention and professional satisfaction, which leads to greater care for the resident. Today, the association has a membership of more than 40,000 caregivers representing more than 800 nursing homes in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Based in Washington, DC, NAHCA provides recognition for outstanding achievements, development training for caregivers, mentoring programs to reduce CNA turnover, and advocacy for issues important to long-term care and caregivers. The organization also has entered the legislative arena, providing testimony on staffing in long-term care before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
About Medline
The nation's leading provider of medical supplies to the long-term care industry and the largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of health care products, Medline manufactures and distributes more than 350,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, physician offices, home care agencies and providers, and retailers. Recently named one of the nation's "Best and Brightest Companies to Work for," Medline is headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., and has more than 1,100 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services. For more information on Medline, visit www.medline.com .
John Marks (847) 643-3309 jmarks@medline.com
