Illinois Healthcare

Located in Springfield, Illinois, The Illinois Healthcare Association was founded in 1950 and has become the largest long-term care association in the state. An 11-member Board of Directors leads the Illinois Healthcare Association, which is a non-profit organization made up of over 500 licensed and certified long-term care facilities and programs throughout the state.

The Illinois Healthcare Association’s mission statement is “to lead in advocacy and education for our members.” They also have a vision statement, which includes that “with one voice,” they will secure a fully funded reimbursement system, create a common sense regulatory environment, and provide valued services to their members. Their philosophy and code ethics is based on the idea that it is a basic human right to have accessible quality health care.

Members of the Illinois Healthcare Association include proprietary and non-proprietary facilities, which represent skilled, intermediate care, developmentally disabled, skilled pediatric, assisted living and sheltered care levels of care. They provide total health to more than 31,000 people.

Illinois Healthcare Association members deliver responsive health care, while residential or other related services. They promote the highest service standard in facilities and programs for the elderly and physically and mentally challenged. The Illinois Healthcare Association communicates regularly with regulatory and legislative entities, works with other health and social service agencies, provides members with timely and ongoing information, comprehensive government relations services, communications expertise, community relations programs and continuing educational opportunities.

While the 11-member Board of Directors who were elected by the association’s membership govern the Illinois Healthcare Association, an Executive Director oversees a staff responsible for implementing board and committee directives.

Though a statewide association, the Illinois Healthcare Association keeps a strong national presence in order to provide members with up-to-date relevant information. Their dedicated staff work on public policy, state and federal legislative, regulatory and judicial initiatives.

Full Illinois Healthcare Association members include geriatric, DD services, and skilled pediatric facilities, CILAs, assisted living and shared housing establishments, and SLFs. Other members include vendors, suppliers, and long-term health insurance professionals and individuals not working in long-term care facilities. Members tend to be divided up into 6 geographic regions.

There are more than a few benefits to being an Illinois Healthcare Association member.

A wide variety of education sessions for all disciplines are offered, along with CEUs for administrators and social workers. Most seminars are held at 3 sites throughout the state. There’s also a rigorous review course held on a quarterly basis to help prepare for the nursing home administrator licensure examination.

For networking and recreational purposes, social and entertainment events occur where the state’s top volunteers, nurses, administrators and RSDs, and legislators are recognized. An in-depth electronic newsletter called Members Only keeps members updated on national long-term, care news, association news, regulatory news, and clinical and legal updates. A companion newsletter, Vendors Only, is available specifically for associate and professional members. Member and legislative alerts are sent to inform members of late-breaking news and the Illinois Healthcare Association publishes a comprehensive membership directory and buyers guide.