Governor Parkinson to speak at 2011 IHCA Convention and Expo

The IHCA is pleased to announce that Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson, the next president and Chief Executive Officer of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2011 IHCA Convention and Expo!

Governor Parkinson has been an owner and operator of long term care facilities for over 15 years, both as the Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Development, LLC, in Olathe, Kansas and as Chairman of the Board, founder and developer of Allen Park, Inc., Allen Park Two, Inc., and Allen Park Three, Inc. Under his leadership, he has helped develop ten separate facilities in Kansas and Missouri. His facilities include hundreds of rooms for skilled nursing, assisted living and dementia-related care, giving him a broad background in the continuum of care.

Be on the lookout for more exciting updates about the 2011 IHCA Convention and Expo that will take place May 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center! If you have any questions, please contact Kate Vaulter at kvaulter@ihca.org or 317-616-9002.

NCCDP Alzheimer's Dementia Staff Education Week

For the third year, the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners is offering The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week February 14th to the 21st Tool Kit. The Tool Kit is free and available at www.nccdp.org. The tool kit includes many free Power Point in-services for download beginning November 15th to March 1st 2011. Each in-service is designed to be taught in 30 minutes to health care professionals and front line staff.

The Tool Kit and the declaration by the NCCDP Alzheimer's and Dementia Staff Education Week February 14th to the 21st was developed to bring national and international awareness to the importance of providing comprehensive dementia education by means of face to face interactive classroom environment to all healthcare professionals and line staff and to go above and beyond the minimum state requirements regarding dementia education.

Currently there are no national standards for dementia education. The regulations are different from state to state. The NCCDP recommends at minimum an initial 8 hours of dementia education to all staff. Throughout the year, additional dementia education should be provided that incorporates new advances, culture change and innovative ideas.

In addition to facilitating the Train the Trainer programs, The NCCDP promotes dementia education and certification of all staff who qualify as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP®). The NCCDP recommends that at minimum there should be one Certified Dementia Practitioner® per shift. The NCCDP recommends a trained and certified Alzheimer’s and dementia instructor by the NCCDP to utilize up to date NCCDP training materials.

The NCCDP recognizes the importance of educated and certified dementia unit managers and certifying the Dementia Unit Manager as Certified Dementia Care Manager (CDCM®).

Dementia Unit Managers report that they have received little training as a Dementia Unit Manager.

Front Line First Responders and Law Enforcement need comprehensive Dementia training and the NCCDP provides Alzheimer’s and Dementia training to First Responder and Law Enforcement educators and certification as Certified First Responder Dementia Trainer®.

The free tool kit includes:

• Free Power Point In-services (Many topics) for Health Care Staff which includes pre test, post tests, hand outs, answers, in-service evaluation
  and in-service certificates.
• Nurse Educator of the Year Nomination Forms
• Nomination Forms for NCCDP Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week Contest
• Proclamations for Senators and Mayor
• Letters to the Editors Promoting Your Program
• 97 Ways to Promote Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week 2011
• Resources and Important Web Sites

The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners®, LLC was formed in 2001 by a group of professionals with varying work and personal experiences in the field of dementia care. The Council was formed to promote standards of excellence in dementia and Alzheimer's education to professionals and other caregivers who provide services to dementia clients. As the number of dementia cases continues to increase nationally and worldwide, there is a great necessity to insure that care givers are well trained to provide appropriate, competent, and sensitive direct care and support for the dementia patient. The goal of the Council is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in the health care profession and delivery of dementia care.

Women and Smoking: An Innovative Smoking Prevention Strategy

Presented by:
Anna McDaniel, DNS, RN, FAAN

Chancellor's Professor & Associate Dean

IU School of Nursing

Professor, Health Informatics

IU School of Informatics

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 8:15 a.m.

Joseph Walther Hall Auditorium (R3 Rm 203)

908 West Walnut Street

IUPUI

For more information, please contact:

Tina Darling at tdarling@iupui.edu

About the Lecturer:

Dr. McDaniel focuses her research on using technology for cancer prevention and control, specifically the treatment of nicotine dependence. Using interactive technology to deliver theoretically sound health education empowers consumers to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle. Dr. McDaniel is working with Gabriel Interactive, an Indianapolis computer gaming company, to develop "The Ocean's Secret," an anti-smoking video game targeted specifically at younger girls. The primary outcome is an effective tool for teaching girls about the dangers of smoking while engaging in a safe, fun activity. By playing the game, young girls will discovery that they have the power to become stronger, healthier women by remaining smoke-free. Dr. McDaniel earned her BSN and MA at Ball State University and has her DNS at Indiana University.

IHCA is conducting a online survey as a follow-up study to the survey on the Recruitment and Retention of Indiana LTC workers

Follow-up Online Survey to the Survey of the Recruitment and Retention of Indiana LTC Workers

Your facility is invited to take part in an online survey as a follow up of the Survey on Recruitment and Retention of Indiana’s Long Term Care Workforce. Your employee was selected to participate in the online survey because of his or her practical experience working in long term care. Participation in the survey is Confidential.

Click here to take the survey.

The online survey should Only be Completed and forwarded to employees in the following classifications:

• Director of Nursing
• Administrative Registered Nurse
• Staff Registered Nurse
• Licensed Nurse Practitioner
• Certified Nurse Assistant

*Individuals who participated in the focus group study should not complete this online survey.

Background Information:
The purpose of this study is to further examine and develop information on the recruitment and retention of long term care workers. The information gathered here will be broken-down and analyzed; the analysis of that data will then be compared to the responses gained from the initial survey mentioned above. We will also analyze information as it relates to employee engagement, social identity, and general efficacy.

Procedures:
If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to participate in the online survey and:

• Complete a demographic general questionnaire
• Complete an employee engagement survey
• Complete a social identity survey
• Complete a general efficacy survey
• Complete three open-ended questions

The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.

Voluntary Nature of the Study:
Your participation in this study is voluntary. This means that everyone will respect your decision of whether or not you want to be in the study. If you decide to join the study now, you can still change your mind during the study. If you feel stressed during the study you may stop at any time. You may skip any questions that you feel are too personal.

Risks and Benefits of Being in the Study:
There are no foreseeable risks associated with this study. The associated benefit to you, for taking part in this study, is that you are providing information for policymakers, who in turn help influence decision making as it relates to policies, education, and training in long term care.

Confidentiality:
Any information you provide will be kept anonymous. Only group data will be reported in publications. The researcher will not use your information for purposes outside of this research project. In addition, the researcher will not include your name or anything else that could identify you in any reports of the study.

Submitting Completed Survey:
Surveys Must be completed online. After completing the survey via the online process, you may email the survey by clicking Submit by Email tab.

Completed surveys may also be faxed to: 877-298-3749 or mailed to: Dorothy Henry, One N. Capitol Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN. 46204

Contacts and Questions:
If you have questions regarding this survey, you may contact the researcher via (317) 616-9028 or dhenry@ihca.org.

IHCA Announces New President

The Indiana Health Care Association is pleased to announce its new President. Scott Tittle takes over for outgoing President Steve Smith.

Mr. Tittle comes to the Association from Krieg DeVault's Government Affairs, Health Care, and Business Practice Groups. He counsels clients on all aspects of government relations, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and health care, regulatory and business legal matters.

Mr. Tittle previously served as Health Care Policy Director to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels where he was responsible for executing the Governor's health care initiatives through the Indiana General Assembly and the State's health-related agencies.

Survey on the Recruitment and Retention of Indiana's Long Term Care Workers

View the results of the IHCF and Indiana University's Survey on the Recruitment and Retention of Indiana's Long Term Care Workers here.

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor
Stephen A. Smith
President, Indiana Health Care Association


The article entitled “Crisis of Care” that appeared in the Sunday, March 7th edition of your paper suggested the care provided in each of Indiana’s for-profit nursing homes was suspect, due entirely to their motivation to achieve an economic gain. IHCA agrees that there is a “crisis of care” in Indiana nursing homes, but implying that the “for-profit” nature of the majority of the providers engaged in providing this type of service is the cause is simply misleading to your readers. The fact that 52 Indiana facilities appeared on the GAO list of poorest performing nursing homes should be a call to action for all stakeholders, not just the for-profit nursing home operators and ownership groups.

What if the “crisis” being described in your story referred to education and not to nursing home care? If you were the parent of a student who was in a class that had the highest failure rate, lowest graduation rate, or lowest test scores of any school system in the country, you would not immediately assume that all of the students were failing, you would assume that the system was failing the students. You would also not assume that the issue would be resolved by providing fewer resources to the failing schools or limiting their options to resolving the issue. However, this is exactly what it taking place in Indiana nursing homes.

For-profit nursing homes in Indiana serve a higher proportion of low-income patients than non-profit nursing homes and are reimbursed less for providing that care. In fact, approximately two-thirds of residents of for-profit nursing homes in Indiana utilize Medicaid to pay for their care. In addition, for every 100 nursing home residents who utilize the Medicaid program to pay for nursing home care in Indiana, 89 are residents of for-profit nursing homes. Medicaid reimbursement currently falls short of meeting costs for these residents by an average of $7/day. In part this is due to an arcane and complex reimbursement system that limits the amount a nursing home can be reimbursed for staff costs, exactly the issue that was cited as the core of the “crisis of care”.

These financial conditions contribute significantly to Indiana having turnover rates for nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNA) that far exceed the national average. Over 90% of all Indiana CNAs change jobs – on average – each year. This undoubtedly has an impact on patient care, but finding a direct solution to this problem will not occur until all stakeholders agree that staff turnover is the real issue to improving the quality of care, and offer real, common sense solutions to reduce staff turnover and improve staff retention. This will require a departure from the historical response of penalizing the providers of nursing home care. Reducing the amount of resources available to solve the problem will obviously not solve the problem.

Finding these solutions now is critical for two reasons. First of all, as we are constantly reminded in the press, the proportion of our population considered “seniors” will roughly double in the next 25 years, and will undoubtedly put an additional financial strain on the long-term care system in Indiana. Second, assuming a staff-to-patient ratio of roughly 1:1, there are over 40,000 Hoosiers employed by nursing homes statewide, a total that now exceeds the number of employees in the state’s automobile industry. Without securing the financial future of these employees we will see a continued erosion of financial conditions in many areas of our state, especially in some rural areas where the local nursing home is one of the largest local employers and economic generators in the community.

There is a genuine crisis of care in Indiana nursing homes, and this is most obvious to the nursing home owners and operators. To focus entirely on for-profit nursing homes ignores the symptoms of the problem and places blame disproportionately on one of the many stakeholders in the process. All stakeholders must be held accountable in order for real reform of the system to occur.

The vast majority of Indiana nursing homes provide a loving, caring environment that maintains or improves the quality of life of their residents. The best way for someone to choose – or evaluate – an Indiana nursing home is to visit one. According to AARP, “The most important element of the selection process, according to the experts, is a personal visit—preferably more than one—to any nursing home you’re considering”. Medicare’s “Nursing Home Checklist” is based almost entirely on a personal visit, and makes no mention of Five-Star ratings, GAO reports, or state survey results as part of their evaluation criteria. The reason is simple: People are the most important part of nursing home care and you can’t experience the people without experiencing the place.

IHCA Member Receives "Best Place to Work in Indiana"

February 22, 2010 (INDIANAPOLIS) — A total of 70 Hoosier companies from throughout the state are being honored this year as a “Best Place to Work in Indiana” for their strong workplace environment that values employees. The program, now in its fifth edition, is managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Forty-seven of the 70 companies received the same designation last year. For 21 companies that made the 2010 list, it was their first time taking part in the evaluation.

The program honors the top companies in the state, as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. Winners were selected from two categories: small to medium-sized companies of between 25 and 249 employees (in Indiana or total nationally if there is a parent company) and large-sized companies consisting of 250 or more employees (in Indiana or total nationally if there is a parent company). Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 25 full-time employees are in Indiana.

The Best Companies Group, which handled the selection process, oversees similar programs in 19 other states.

“These 70 companies are among the state’s first-rate employers who take pride in creating an environment that allows workers to feel respected and be productive; they also recognize how this then helps the company be successful and reach its goals,” offers Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

“Considering the tough economic times of the past year-plus, it was especially encouraging to see so many Hoosier companies fitting the criteria, as well as so many new companies taking part in the evaluation. That confidential feedback from employees is invaluable and really the most important aspect of the process.”

The actual rankings of the top Hoosier companies will be announced at the Best Places to Work awards dinner on May 6 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. Winners will also be recognized via a special section of the Indiana Chamber’s bimonthly BizVoice® magazine and through Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick – both of which reach statewide audiences. The 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana awards dinner is open to the public. Individual tickets and tables are available at http://www.indianachamber.com/.

Additionally, earlier in the day, a session on what makes a company a Best Place to Work will be featured as part of the Indiana Chamber’s 46th Annual Human Resources Conference. To register to attend this HR session, visit http://www.indianachamber.com/.

All companies that participated in the 2010 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.
For more information on the Indiana Chamber’s Best Places to Work program, go to http://www.bestplacestoworkin.com/.

Best Places to Work in Indiana program sponsors for 2010: Blue Chip Casino; Castle Wealth Advisors, LLC; Crowe Horwath LLP; Image Air Charter; Mussett, Nicholas & Associates; Saint Clair Press; Tilson HR; and Trilogy Health Services. Additional industry-exclusive sponsorships are still available. E-mail jwagner@indianachamber.com for more details.

The 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies listed in alphabetical order, no ranking:
Large Companies (250 or more employees)

AIT LaboratoriesIndianapolis
American Structurepoint, Inc.
IndianapolisAprimo, Inc. Indianapolis
Ash Brokerage CorporationFort Wayne
Blue & Co., LLCCarmelBrotherhood Mutual Insurance CompanyFort Wayne
Centier BankMerrillville
Clark Memorial HospitalJeffersonville
Colliers Turley Martin TuckerIndianapolisColumbus
Regional HospitalColumbus
Crowe Horwath LLPIndianapolis
Draper, Inc.Spiceland
Edward JonesPlainfield
ExactTargetIndianapolis
Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corp.Fort Wayne
Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PCIndianapolis
Hancock Regional HospitalGreenfield
Harrison CollegeIndianapolis
Hendricks Regional HealthDanville
Hilliard LyonsEvansville
Hosparus Inc.New Albany
Ice Miller LLPIndianapolis
Interactive Intelligence, Inc.Indianapolis
Katz, Sapper & MillerIndianapolis
KPMG LLPIndianapolis
M&I BankIndianapolis
Microsoft CorporationIndianapolis
Ogletree Deakins Law FirmIndianapolis
OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc.Indianapolis
Parkview HealthFort WayneRCICarmel
RW ArmstrongIndianapolisSchneck Medical CenterSeymourS
hiel Sexton Company, Inc.Indianapolis
St. Joseph HospitalKokomo
St. Vincent Health, Corporate CenterIndianapolis
Teachers Credit UnionSouth Bend
The Capital Group Companies, IncIndianapolis
Trilogy Health Services, LLCPetersburg
Turner Construction Company of Indiana, LLC
IndianapolisUnion Hospital, Inc.Terre Haute
WestPoint Financial GroupIndianapolis

Small to Medium-sized Companies (25-249 employees)
Company Location
Allegient, LLCIndianapolis
Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLPEvansville
Benefit Associates Inc.Indianapolis
Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, Inc.Evansville
Bingham McHale LLPIndianapolis
Communications Products, Inc.Indianapolis
Contact by DesignBloomington
Design Collaborative, Inc.Fort Wayne
Eli Lilly Federal Credit UnionIndianapolis
Employment Plus, Inc.Bloomington
Energy Systems Group LLCNewburgh
First Harrison BankCorydon
Fusion Alliance, IncIndianapolis
Gordon MarketingNoblesville
Harding Poorman Group, Inc.Indianapolis
IndesignIndianapolisIndiana Organ Procurement Organization Indianapolis
International Medical Group, Inc.Indianapolis
J.C. Hart Company, Inc.Carmel
Krieg DeVault LLPIndianapolis
Matrix Integration, LLCJasper
Milestone Contractors, LP
IndianapolisMJ Insurance, IncIndianapolis
Public Safety MedicalIndianapolisSchmidt AssociatesIndianapolis
Software Engineering ProfessionalsCarmel
Somerset CPAsIndianapolisUnited ConsultingIndianapolis

Source: Indiana Chamber of Commerce

IHCA Launches New Administrator Training Tool

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
A new online training and certification program is now available for administrators in the health care field. The Indiana Health Care Association says the program is the only state certified online preceptor training course, created with the goal of providing administrators the highest quality training possible. The program offers audio, animation and in-course quizzes and will be worth six continuing education credits for administrators.

IHCA Launches Online Preceptor Course for Nursing Home Administrators

Indianapolis, IN- Today the Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA) launched the only state certified online preceptor training course. A first-of-its-kind, the online training and certification includes audio, animation and in-course quizzes to insure administrators receive the highest quality training possible.

IHCA President Stephen Smith lauded the program noting, "administrators utilizing this dynamic new product will retain knowledge they gain much better, and thus be able to apply it to the workplace in a more effective manner while saving time and money."

Smith added, “it is also our hope more administrators will become preceptors through our program allowing for more administrators in training.”

The online program offers 24/7 accessibility providing convenience for administrators needing to take the course on their own schedule. In addition, the program’s certification is valid statewide, and has been approved for six continuing education credits. Administrators will need to complete the course every five years to maintain their certification.

IHCA strives to offer its members affordable and exceptional training and education programs that minimize or reduce training costs. By partnering with Hopkins Associates and Upstairs Solutions, IHCA is able to better train the long term care workforce.

“This course is written with the busy administrator in mind and includes tips on how to draw from your own experience. Content is both comprehensive and practical and includes specific guidance on how to teach your AIT,” said Elaine Hopkins of Hopkins Associates.

Hopkins Associates assembled a development team comprised of individuals who are both experienced practitioners and professional educators. The result is an eight-module online training course with content that is both comprehensive and clear in demonstrating the practical application. The eight-module course incorporates subject areas including, but not limited to, Medical Director, MDS staff, Aspects of Aging, Marketing & Sales, Insurance, Legal Aspects, Public Relations, Corporate Compliance, HIPAA, Abuse Prohibition, Resident Rights, Standards of Competent Practice, and Differentiating Leadership, Management and Supervision.

Upstairs Solutions is providing web-based learning management services and hosting the courses in their high-availability data center. Participants will have secure individual accounts, take online exams after each module, and may print certificates of completion immediately upon completing the training, offering fast turnaround. IHCA staff will be able to track and report on student progress, and Upstairs Solutions will provide any needed technical support.

”This program is a significant addition to the online curricula available for nursing home administrators,” said Tamar Abell, Principal and co-founder of Upstairs Solutions. “We are delighted to help IHCA bring it to life and support them in this innovative project.”

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About the Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA)
The Indiana Health Care Association is Indiana's largest trade association and advocate representing proprietary, not-for-profit and hospital-based nursing home and assisted living communities, adult foster care and adult day services. IHCA's 264 member facilities care for more than 25,000 of Indiana's geriatric and developmentally disabled citizens, the majority of whom are low-income Medicaid recipients. To learn more about IHCA, visit http://www.ihca.org/.

About Hopkins Associates
Hopkins Associates is a training and consulting group founded in Evansville, Indiana, in 1993 and currently based in Canton, Ohio. The company has logged over 200,000 training hours in more than 70 companies for some 6,000 participants. Extensive work has been in the banking and health care environments as well as educational, retail and manufacturing settings. The company website is http://www.hopkinsassociates.com/ .

About Upstairs Solutions
Upstairs Solutions assists senior facilities with compliance and excellence in staff training, continually raising the bar in senior care quality. UpstairsSolutions.com currently offers more than 100 online learning modules for the elder care community as well as a sophisticated learning management system to help track employee training. Two nursing home administrators formed Upstairs Solutions originally to train their own staffs, and today the fast-growing company provides e-Learning to facilities nationwide. To learn more please visit http://www.upstairssolutions.com/

Major Health Care Hurdle Possibly Cleared

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

Ice Miller LLP Partner Kevin Woodhouse outlines why a deal on the "Cadillac" tax is a significant step in the health care debate.

A partner in Ice Miller LLP's health care practice says an apparent deal on a "Cadillac" tax for high-cost insurance plans could move federal lawmakers closer to a final bill on health care reform. Kevin Woodhouse tells Inside INdiana Business the agreement involves an exemption for union members' negotiated health plans until 2017 or 2018. He says an announcement on the deal could come at any time.

The tax, which is only included in the bill that passed the Senate, and other issues surrounding the national health care reform debate will be examined Thursday during a forum being held by Ice Miller and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Woodhouse says several matters, including abortion, still have not been resolved.
He believes federal lawmakers could still have a compromise between the Senate and House health care bills in place by President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on January 27.
The effort could be complicated by today's special election in Massachusetts to replace Senator Edward Kennedy. Democrats could lose their majority in the Senate, if the party's candidate does not win.

That could lead to Republicans trying to block passage of a health care reform bill in the Senate.
Source: Inside INdiana Business, Ice Miller LLP

Kindred Healthcare to Build in Westfield

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE:KND) today announced plans for a replacement hospital, the opening of a new hospital, development of six new hospital-based subacute units and a new transitional care center in several of its key markets in Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, Indiana and Washington. Once completed, these projects will expand the Company’s capacity to provide a continuum of post-acute care by approximately 130 long-term acute care (“LTAC”) hospital beds, approximately 150 subacute beds and approximately 150 skilled nursing beds. In addition, the Company announced development plans for its Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice business in Ohio and Massachusetts.

“These projects reflect our commitment to continuing to develop high quality, cost-effective healthcare services in markets that we believe can benefit from the continuum of post-acute care services and clinical expertise provided by Kindred Healthcare”

Houston, Texas
The Company has signed a letter of intent to lease a new freestanding 72-bed LTAC hospital in the Houston market. This hospital will replace the existing Kindred Hospital Bay Area. The Company plans to convert the current Kindred Hospital Bay Area into a subacute facility pending certain regulatory approvals and renovations. The new Kindred Hospital Bay Area will feature all private rooms and a 12-bed intensive care unit as well as a large procedure/treatment room. Pending state approval, the Company anticipates opening the new hospital in the second quarter of 2010. In addition, the Company plans to develop a 28-bed co-located hospital-based subacute unit at its 110-bed Kindred Hospital Houston, which is located in the Houston Medical Center. Following the opening of these facilities, the Company will have three hospitals and two subacute units in the Houston market.

Dallas, Texas
The Company plans to develop a 32-bed co-located hospital-based subacute unit in its existing Kindred Hospital Dallas. The Company anticipates opening this subacute unit in the third quarter of 2011 pending certain regulatory and other approvals. Following the completion of this project, the Company will operate six hospitals and one co-located hospital-based subacute unit in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Melbourne, Florida
The Company has opened Kindred Hospital Melbourne, a 60-bed freestanding hospital in Melbourne, Florida. This is the Company’s tenth LTAC hospital in Florida.

Southern California
The Company has opened a 38-bed co-located hospital-based subacute unit within its Kindred Hospital Brea. The Company currently operates seven hospitals and one nursing and rehabilitation center in the Los Angeles-Orange County-Riverside market.

Cleveland, Ohio
The Company has entered into an agreement to acquire 108 skilled nursing beds from a regional healthcare provider, pending certain regulatory approvals. Pending certain regulatory approvals, the Company plans to transfer 30 of these skilled nursing beds to The Greens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and 30 skilled nursing beds to an existing co-located hospital-based subacute unit at its Kindred Hospital Cleveland. The Company currently operates two LTAC hospitals, two nursing and rehabilitation centers, one co-located hospital-based subacute unit and an assisted living facility in the Cleveland market.

Indianapolis, Indiana
The Company intends to open a new 120-bed Transitional Care Center (licensed for skilled nursing care) in Westfield, Indiana, north of Indianapolis. The center will specialize in intensive short-term rehabilitation therapy. Pending certain regulatory approvals, the Company anticipates groundbreaking in the first quarter of 2010 and opening in the first quarter of 2011. The Company currently operates two LTAC hospitals, six nursing and rehabilitation centers and one hospice location in the Indianapolis market.

Seattle, Washington
The Company plans to convert a previously closed nursing and rehabilitation center in downtown Seattle into a 50-bed LTAC hospital to be renamed Kindred Hospital Seattle at First Hill that also will include a 30-bed co-located hospital-based subacute unit offering transitional care services. The Company expects to open this facility by the third quarter of 2011 after completion of renovations and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The Company also plans to reconfigure its existing 80-bed Kindred Hospital Seattle into a 30-bed LTAC hospital with a 30-bed co-located hospital-based subacute unit and rename it Kindred Hospital Seattle at Northgate. The Company expects to complete this conversion by the fourth quarter of 2010 after completion of renovations and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The Company currently operates two additional nursing and rehabilitation centers in the Seattle market.

Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice
The Company also announced that Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice has acquired the assets of Acclaim Hospice and Palliative Care with locations in the Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, areas. These locations continue to operate under the Acclaim name and generated revenues of approximately $9 million in 2009.

In addition, Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice is developing a new location in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. The Company expects to begin serving patients in this market by March 1, 2010. After the opening of the Boston location, Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice will serve five markets – Boston, Columbus, Dayton, Denver and Indianapolis.

Management Commentary
“These projects reflect our commitment to continuing to develop high quality, cost-effective healthcare services in markets that we believe can benefit from the continuum of post-acute care services and clinical expertise provided by Kindred Healthcare,” said Paul J. Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “These markets are ideal settings in which to expand our service lines, commit capital to our cluster market strategy, and benefit from the increasing collaboration between our Health Services Division, Hospital Division and Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Services. Our cluster market strategy is providing us with new opportunities to share best clinical practices, reduce costs and offer a continuum of care that is beneficial to patients and families and attractive to third party payors.”

New Investor Presentation
In advance of the Company’s previously announced participation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 13, 2010, the Company has posted a new investor presentation on its website, which is available at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=129959&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=2660607.

About Kindred Healthcare
Kindred Healthcare, Inc. is a healthcare services company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, with annual revenues of over $4 billion and approximately 54,800 employees in 41 states. At September 30, 2009, Kindred through its subsidiaries provided healthcare services in 654 locations, including 82 long-term acute care hospitals, 222 skilled nursing centers and a contract rehabilitation services business, Peoplefirst rehabilitation services, which served 350 non-affiliated facilities. Ranked first in Fortune magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies “Health Care: Medical Facilities” category, Kindred’s mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve. For more information, go to www.kindredhealthcare.com.
Source: Kindred Healthcare Inc.