MUNDELEIN, Ill., June 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- They are the unsung heroes of the nursing home industry – caring, feeding, bathing and dressing millions of our nation's elderly. Yet, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), the group that will be most in demand as the population continues to age, is beset with high turnover and in need of greater recognition and educational opportunities. To address these issues, Medline announced today an exclusive partnership with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) to reduce the turnover rate and improve job satisfaction among CNAs in an effort to improve the quality of patient care.
In the partnership, Medline and NAHCA will collaborate on several initiatives, including 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 marketing and communications campaign to raise awareness of NAHCA and its benefits.
"If you've ever had a loved one in a nursing home, you know how critically important nursing assistants are to the care of your mom or dad," said Tim Dundon, president of long-term care sales for Medline. "Like any profession, CNAs require the resources, education and encouragement to do their job at a consistently high level. That is why we are partnering with NAHCA to support CNAs and recognize the important role they play in caring for the elderly and sick."
Current research indicates that job satisfaction directly correlates to personal and professional satisfaction. Through advocacy, education and recognition, nursing assistants would possess higher job satisfaction and self esteem, which results in less turnover and enhanced quality of life among nursing home residents. It is for these reasons that Medline is forming this new partnership with NAHCA, according to Dundon.
"CNAs are the backbone of our nation's elderly care and this new partnership with Medline will help spread the word among health care providers and industry leaders of the importance of our association not only to the professional development of CNAs but to the quality of care of the residents," said Lori Porter, co-founder and chief executive officer of NAHCA. "Medline is much more than the leading supplier to the long-term care industry. They are educating and motivating caregivers to provide quality care. With their help, we can guarantee quality of care is being provided by ensuring that administration and frontline caregivers are working together 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 36,000 caregivers representing over 800 nursing homes in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Based in Joplin, Mo., 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
As the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of health care products, Medline manufactures and distributes more than 125,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, physician offices, home care dealers and retailers. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 1,100 dedicated sales representatives to support its broad product line and cost management services. For more information about Medline, visit www.medline.com.
John Marks (847) 643-3309 Ann Fahey-Widman, (847) 643-3011
jmarks@medline.com afahey@medline.com
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