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/