Florida Health Care Association Kicks Off 2011 Annual Conference & Trade Show

Long term care providers gather in Orlando to address nursing home quality care, reimbursement and other trends in health care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2011
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or (850) 510-4389 cell; kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL  - Despite the uncertainty of today’s economy, long term care remains a necessity for the state’s growing aging population, and continuous education among long term care providers is important to a strengthened health care workforce. The Florida Health Care Association kicked off its 2011 Annual Conference & Trade Show at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek today, where nearly 1,000 long term care providers and those who support them have gathered for a comprehensive overview of long term care in today’s complex environments. State and nationally-recognized speakers will share insight on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement; innovative approaches to workforce operations and quality care improvements; trends in health care; assisted living and nursing home regulatory updates and federal and state legislative activities.

Notable speakers include Gov. Mark Parkinson, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living President & CEO; John Migliaccio, Director of Research with MetLife Mature Market Institute; Chris Crowley, co-author of the New York Times best-seller, “Younger Next Year”; Mary Tellis-Nayak, Vice President Quality Initiatives, My InnerView; Representative Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa); and Polly Weaver, Field Operations Bureau Chief, Agency for Health Care Administration. A 275+booth Trade Show will also give attendees a glimpse of today’s cutting-edge, long term care products and services.

The event will include the installation of FHCA’s 2011-12 Board of Directors and a presentation of FHCA’s annual achievement awards, including the Association’s highest honor, the Walter M. Johnson, Jr. Circle of Excellence Award. FHCA will also recognize this year’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrators of the Year, the Nursing Home Resident of the Year, Volunteers of the Year and the Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year.

For more information about the FHCA 2011 Annual Conference & Trade Show, visit the FHCA website at www.fhca.org. For information about obtaining a press pass, contact Kristen Knapp at (850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents over 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit www.fhca.org.

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