Building Indiana: May/June 2013

MAY/JUNE 2013

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The pulse on Indiana’s Healthcare Inside This Issue 32 | Making Health Care Affordable 34 | Hoosier Medicine 64 | Camping Tourism

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Northwest

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Honoring Safety Excellence

T

he CAF/NWIBRT Awards Banquet is always an inspiring ceremony. The evening fills award-winners and attendees with a sense of Indiana pride.

We’re proud that the construction and maintenance professionals in our region exemplify the best safety practices throughout the industry. Not only do these companies save an untold number of lives by implementing award-winning safety programs and preventative measures, they also maximize profitability by avoiding accidents and time lost to work-stopping setbacks.

It’s interesting to think about some of the history of workplace safety, especially the changes brought on by Unions. In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, the American workplace was an exceptionally dangerous environment. Workers faced hazards every day, but had to endure them in order to maintain their jobs and support their families. Fortunately, all of that began to change in the early 1900s when Unions and other regulatory commissions started to shake the system by putting in place safety standards designed to keep workers safe and productivity moving. Without those early pioneers of safety throughout the industry, labor positions in this country would be strikingly different than they are today.

We may take for granted the privilege of going home safely to our children at the end of each workday. We should recognize and appreciate the safety experts who make it a priority to keep everyone protected at the workplace. Whether it’s through new practices put to use on the job site, or new procedures being learned in the classroom, industry safety standards ensure countless people make it home to their families each night.

The safety practices in the construction industry relate to our everyday lives as well. At this point in the year, we should all be thinking about safety.

The summer season is approaching and more cars will be out on the road. More pedestrians participate in outdoor activities, so we encourage all of our readers to follow the example of our safety experts, and practice a bit more caution as you head to the beach this season.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1330 Arrowhead Court Crown Point, IN 46307 Publisher/Editor Andrea M. Pearman apearman@buildingindiana.com Director of Advertising Liza Hilliard lhilliard@buildingindiana.com Writer Nick Dmitrovich ndmitrovich@buildingindiana.com Creative Director Jen Labriola jlabriola@buildingindiana.com Graphic Designer Carlo Labriola clabriola@buildingindiana.com Accounting Jennifer Kasza jkasza@buildingindiana.com

Indianapolis Office Business Development Manager Lee Ann Richardson 888.226.0330

Warsaw Office Business Development Manager Julie Monteith 888.226.0330

Building Indiana News is published by Diversified Marketing Strategies, Inc.

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2009 Davey Awards 2006 Marcom Gold Award Winner Silver Award 2007 Marcom Gold Award Winner 2008 Marcom Gold Award Winner 2010 Marcom Gold Award Winner

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Andrea M. Pearman 2009 Small Business Journalist of the Year

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2011 Communicator Award for Print & Design Distinction

2009 Silver Award 2010 Gold Award

Copyright ©2013 Building Indiana News is published six times a year. Address correspondence to: 1330 Arrowhead Court, Crown Point, IN 46307. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. For general reprint information, contact Building Indiana News at apearman@buildingindiana.com. All opinions and views are solely those of the participants or editors and are not necessarily the views of magazine sponsors.

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Contents M AY/J U N E

2013

EVERY ISSUE

04 Publisher’s Desk 08 Contributors 09 Business Buzz 20 People News E X P E RT A DV I C E

24

State of the Industry Updates on the 2013 Indiana General Assembly

26 28 30

D E PA R T M E N T S

32

28

RULE OF LAW Malpractice Misconceptions

Mass Production Hoosier Medicine

36

CAF AWARDS

Honoring Construction

Excellence

6

42

Construction Healing the Mind, Body

and Spirit: St. Mary Medical

Center / Valparaiso WORKERS COMP Choosing Providers Wisely LIFELONG LEARNING Practice Makes Perfect GREEN & SUSTAINABLE Medical Waste Disposal

64

WELCOME CENTER Camping Tourism

66

Marketing

The Importance of Branding Economic Development

Caring for the Community

70 the last word

NWIBRT AWARDS

50

Methodist Hospital Southlake

68

Facts & Stats Healthcare Statistics

Honoring Safety Excellence

Upgrading Emergency Care

62

Construction

62

38

40

Small Business Spotlight Lookin’ Good Valpo

44

More Affordable

60

F E AT U R E S

The bottom line 2014: Hidden requirements of Health Care Reform

PHOTO FEATURE

Making Health Care

58

Safety Zone Invest in Communication

22 34

BEING PRODUCTIVE

Trends and Opportunities for NWI

68 www.buildingindiana.com

THE AMERICAN GROUP OF CONSTRUCTORS

FOUNDATION STONES Determination in our Commitment to Safety Pride in our Workmanship Trust in our Relationships Care in our Stewardship

“A sure foundation inspires confidence, encourages creative thinking, and enables us all to achieve wonderful things...”

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Contributors Karen Johnson Karen Johnson is the Director of Marketing and Worker’s Compensation at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute. She is also the President of the Northwest Chapter of IWCI (Indiana Worker’s Compensation Institute). She makes it her mission to promote and conduct programs of general education in worker’s compensation and related areas, assist members in improving their skills, and provide financial support for charitable organizations and educational institutions that benefit the area of worker’s compensation.

Jamie Newton Jamie Newton is the Communications Director of the Brown County, Indiana Conventions and Visitors Bureau. She is a 2006 graduate of Indiana University with a B.A. degree in Tourism Management and a 2009 graduate of Florida State University with a Masters in Theatre Management. She grew up in Bloomington, Indiana.

Sean Smith Sean Smith is the Business Development Manager for CertifiedSafety (Whiting). Smith is responsible for CertifiedSafety’s growth through strategic planning, market analysis/awareness, corporate sales and networking. Prior to joining CertifiedSafety, Smith served as Global Business Manager with Greene, Tweed & Co. Dewey Pearman Dewey Pearman serves as executive director for the Construction Advancement Foundation. He has a Master’s in Economics from Indiana State University. The foundation promotes the union construction industry of northwest Indiana by helping to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness via labor relations and government management, education,

training, safety and workforce development.

Randy Vale Randy Vale is Vice President with Braman Insurance Services. He graduated from Indiana University in 1987 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He began his insurance career in 1987 with Bankers Life and Casualty, joining the Braman Insurance Services in 1990. Randy specializes in Property and Casualty Insurance and Risk Management. He is also a member of the Construction Advancement Foundation.

Karen Lauerman Karen Lauerman is Director of Marketing and Communications for the Northwest Indiana Forum, the regional, economic development and business leadership organization for the region. With extensive nonprofit experience, she is responsible for communicating various Forum services and initiatives, creating exciting programs and events, and strategically positioning and promoting northwest Indiana for economic development. Prior to joining the Forum in July 2007, Lauerman was the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Dental Assisting National Board.

Pete Doherty Pete Doherty is owner of Doherty Images, LLC. He is an accomplished scenic photographer, in addition to providing commercial photography to a variety of northwest Indiana clients, including the Northwest Indiana Forum, Lakeshore Public Television and Purdue University Calumet.

Doherty retired from Citizens Financial Bank after 32 years of service. He is a graduate of Calumet College of St. Joseph with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Economics. In 1995, he was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Munster Chamber of Commerce. www.buildingindiana.com

MAIN BUZZ

PotashCorp Presents at the Northern Indiana Rail Conference

By Nick Dmitrovich

R

ecently, the “Junction 2013” Northern Indiana Rail Conference was held at the Dynasty Banquet Center in Hammond, Indiana. In attendance were numerous representatives from the Chicagoland and Indiana Rail Industry, global crop nutrient company PotashCorp, The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott. A presentation from PotashCorp detailed their new rail distribution center that will be completed in Hammond soon, and all of the prospective economic development that will come to Hammond as a result.

Dave Ryan, Executive Director of the Lakeshore Chamber, was the first to speak at the conference. “At a conference we had a few years back, there was a media comment that said ‘not much has happened in the rail industry lately.’ You’ll see today that a lot has changed and many things are happening here,” he said. Ryan also mentioned that the growth taking place in the Northwest Indiana rail industry will bring about corresponding growth in numerous other industries that will be taking advantage of the new logistic opportunities, the new careers, and the new partnerships. Ryan then introduced David Ostertag, Senior Director of Transportation and Distribution with PotashCorp.

“Potash is a global crop nutrient company,” Ostertag explained, “And we’re the largest fertilizer company in the world. We

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manufacture three crop nutrients: potash, phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers. What’s driving our business right now is global population growth, and increased demand for grain. What we want to do is increase the yield and fertilizer plays an important role in that growth.” He also stated that currently the company is spending $8.2 billion to expand its potash lines world-

The total project is going to cost $75 million, and will create 225 full-time construction jobs.

We feel Hammond is the right place for us to be in, and it’s good for the economic development of Hammond.”

- David Ostertag, Sr Director of Transportation and Distribution with PotashCorp

wide.

In Hammond, PotashCorp is constructing a 1000-car rail yard with a 130,000 short-ton capacity warehouse, Ostertag explained. “We’re very proud of this facility,” he said, “It’s a 95-acre site, two miles long, and can handle 120 carlong trains. It will have a locomotive repair shop, and office space. We want to make this location a ‘show piece.’ The big part

of the facility is the storage building – it’s larger than any warehouse we have outside our mine-sites. It will be very efficient and quick with loading/unloading trains.”

Potash is expanding its distribution network to handle the increased output from its mines. “We want to improve customer service,” Ostertag said. “The majority of our product comes through the Chicago hub – from Canada to Florida and all over the Midwest.”

“We spent two years evaluating sites,” Ostertag said. “We used consultants, and computer modeling. Hammond is a fantastic location; it’s a better way through Chicago for us. We have access to skilled labor here as well. The total project is going to cost $75 million, and will create 225 full-time construction jobs. We feel Hammond is the right place for us to be in, and it’s good for the economic development of Hammond.”

“We’ve been thinking a lot about increasing traffic and economic development along our railways,” Mayor McDermott said, “And we’re very happy that you’re all here today.”

Ostertag concluded his presentation with a few details about the timeframe of the project. He stated that the track was completed in 2012, and the warehouse will be finished 18-20 months from now. “The rail yard has been built,” Ostertag said, “We are extremely pleased with the results. This is an excellent match for us – a hidden gem.”

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Central Geico to Bring 1,200 Jobs to Carmel In March, the Geico insurance company announced plans to create a new customer service center in Carmel, Indiana that is expected to bring up to 1,200 jobs to the city. Geico will lease 109,000 square feet of space in a 320,000-square-foot building that is part of the Carmel campus for Technicolor USA Inc. The new office is expected to open by late April and will house insurance agents, training and supervisory teams, and other management and support staff.

Geico is based in Washington, D.C. and currently employs about 27,000 associates across the country. The company plans to begin hiring immediately, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. The company will invest millions of dollars to lease, renovate and equip the center, according to the IEDC.

Possible New Medical College Coming to Indiana The Indiana Osteopathic Association has been imagined

designing a college of osteopathic medicine for many years now, and this year that idea may become reality. Not long ago, the board of the Indiana Osteopathic Association, which represents approximately 800 osteopathic physicians in Indiana, voted in favor of a proposal submitted by Marian University.

This endorsement has cleared with way for Marian’s Board of Trustees to begin a feasibility/implementation study that includes accreditation milestones, curriculum design, facility construction, and faculty search.

Marian’s Board of Trustees will monitor and approve each step in the study process to achieve full accreditation by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. Estimates on the cost of development fell in at around $75 million, and the University’s proposal included a $30 million pledge from an anonymous donor.

Auto Parts Company Expanding in Columbus PMG Indiana Corporation, a subsidiary of PMG Group, announced plans today to expand its operations here in Columbus, Ind., creating up to 50 new jobs by 2014. The Füssen, Germany-headquartered company will invest $22.97 million to construct and equip a second manufacturing facility on its 40-acre campus in Columbus. The 36,000 square-foot facility,

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Ironworks Groundbreaking at Keystone Hendricks Commercial Properties, a real estate investment and development company, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Ironworks at Keystone, a $30 million mixed-use develop-

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ment at the southwest corner of Keystone Avenue and East 86th Street, in Indianapolis. Officials for the project stated that the 6.4-acre, five-story project will feature more than 36,000 square feet of commercial retail and restaurants on the ground floor, 120 residential apartments, an underground parking structure of approximately 150 spaces and approximately 350 surface parking spaces. The facility is planned to be open in late spring of 2014.

Hendricks’ local partners on this project include Shiel Sexton, Sitehawk Retail Real Estate, Buckingham Companies, Wooden & McLaughlin LLP, and Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. This is Hendricks’ first development in Indiana.

BUSINESS BUZZ

which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will accommodate two new manufacturing lines. In addition, a third line will be installed in an existing plant.

With more than 240 full-time Indiana employees, the company employs more than 1,250 associates worldwide. It plans to begin hiring additional production, manufacturing and logistics personnel in Columbus this summer.

New Zoo Exhibit Expected to Bring Dollars to Indy The Indianapolis Zoo believes the new International Orangutan Center will increase visitor attendance and bring dollars into Indy’s economy. Zoo officials believe the center will have a $132 million annual impact on Indiana’s economy. The attraction is one phase of the zoo’s $30 million “Saving the Orangutans” campaign. Tim Ardillo, the Indianapolis Zoo’s Director of Institutional Advancement, said the zoo has already raised $26.2 million so far. The orangutans are expected to move into the center later this year, and the exhibit will open May 2014.

Construction began on the $21.5 million center last August.

New Wishard Hospital Set To Open Construction on the new Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis is set to be completed in the final quarter of this year. The $754 million, 37-acre hospital complex will have 315 in-patient and 200 out-patient beds in addition a 2,400-car parking garage, a 90-bed treatment room emergency department, a women’s health clinic, a central energy plant and offices for faculty, research and administration functions.

The new hospital facility is also expected to foster further development in the surrounding areas. A residential project is proposed for the site of the old Fall Creek YMCA and apart

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BUSINESS BUZZ

ments are proposed by another developer for the old Bush Stadium. Wishard Hospital is also pursuing the goal of environmental sustainability through Silver certification, the third-highest level on the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating scale.

Mainstreet Property Group Growing Carmel Indiana Headquarters Mainstreet Property Group, LLC, a senior housing and care properties developer, announced plans in April to expand its headquarters in Carmel, IN, investing $800,000 to lease and supply 7,120 square feet of office space at Clay Terrace. The company expects to create up to 25 new jobs by 2015. The new office will include meeting space, space for children and and facilities designed to promote employee wellness efforts.

Mainstreet plans to relocate to the new location by the end of April. As of today, Mainstreet employs 20 individuals, and the company is planning to hire additional real estate development / management professionals later on in 2013.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation provided Mainstreet Property Group, LLC up to $325,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $20,000 in training grants. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning that the company is

not able to claim incentives until Hoosiers are hired. The city of Carmel is supporting the project.

Couple Makes Anonymous $1 Million Donation to Purdue Purdue University, West Lafayette, announced in April that an anonymous couple donated a $1 million gift to the university’s School of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine to continue to fund scholarships that the couple initiated in 2010.

The School of Nursing will use the funds to support scholarships for undergraduate students based on their academic achievements and financial need, and will be renewable if the student continues to meet all of the requirements.

The College of Veterinary Medicine scholarship is named in honor of the couple’s Dobermans, Aristotle and Beatrice Boilermaker Gold, and will also be based on a student’s academic achievements and financial need.

Ground Breaks on New Gordmans Distribution Center Executives from Gordmans, Inc. joined Lt. Governor Sue Ellpersmann in April for a groundbreaking ceremony of its new

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• Sisters of St. Francis

“Promoting Safety, Quality and Cost Effectiveness in the Construction Industry.”

Willis Shepherd, NWIBRT Executive Director The Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable (NWIBRT) is an independent, non-profit council of local firms committed to the improvement of construction and maintenance projects in Northwest Indiana.

Our purpose is to promote safety, quality and cost effectiveness by all parties associated with the local area construction industry.

For more information on becoming involved with NWIBRT, please visit nwibrt.org.

Health Services, Northern Indiana Region

• U.S. Steel, Gary Works • Valdes Engineering

Company

• Valparaiso University

Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable 219-325-0561 nwibrt.org.

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Indiana Educators Pledge to Promote Higher Education Sallie Mae, the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education, today signed a pledge to support an effort to help more workers in the state achieve college degrees.

Supported by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and led by WGU Indiana, the pledge commits employers, and other Indiana colleges and universities, to take action to increase degree attainment. The coalition seeks to engage 100 leaders in the state to sign the pledge by Governor Mike Pence’s 100th day in office.

As part of Sallie Mae’s comprehensive benefits program, the company provides tuition reimbursement to employees for job-related courses taken in pursuit of a degree or certificate program. Sallie Mae also encourages employees to save regularly for future college expenses by offering payroll deductions for 529 Plans. Since Sallie Mae is enrolled in the WGU corporate discount program, its employees benefit from reduced tuition rates at the university.

Indiana Healthcare Facilities Take Home Architecture Awards Axis Architecture & Interiors, BSA LifeStructures and krM Architecture+ received the top design awards – all for healthcare facilities – at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2013 Excellence Awards in April.

Axis received an honor award for the design of the People’s Health Network, which is in the heart of the Super Bowl Legacy project on the city’s near-east side. BSA LifeStructures also received an honor award for the renovation at St. Francis Health, which consolidated two campuses into one state-of-the-art facility. krM Architecture+ earned an award for interior architecture for their designs on the 4,500-square-foot simulation lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Northeast Indiana.

AIA Indianapolis hosts the biennial Excellence Awards to showcase the top designs of Central Indiana architects. AIA presented 16 awards Thursday at Indiana Landmarks Center.

For daily news from Central Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog.com and follow us on Twitter @BuildingIndiana.

BUSINESS BUZZ

distribution center to be built in Monrovia, a town southwest of Indianapolis. Gordmans is a national discounted apparel and home décor retailer, and in January the company announced that it will be investing $47.5 million to construct and equip a 545,000 square-foot distribution center in Hendricks County, creating up to 250 new jobs by 2017. This will be the company’s second distribution center in the Midwest.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Northwest Lake Station Holds Groundbreaking for New Water System Groundbreaking took place in March for Lake Station’s new Water Distribution System. Last year, the State of Indiana approved the City of Lake Station for an $11 million Indiana Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) low-interest loan to improve its aging water system, including the addition of a new 2.0 million gallon per day (MGD) drinking water treatment plant.

Over the years, the City’s of Lake Station’s Water Department has struggled with declining capacity, inadequate water storage, and water loss and water quality issues. In 2008, the City of Lake Station hired Indiana based engineering firm American Structurepoint to evaluate its existing water distribution system. American Structurepoint studied the City’s water system and identified the necessary improvements that would enable the City to expand capacity, make major infrastructure improvements and improve its water quality.

Amex Nooter Wins Two Safety Awards Amex Nooter, a full-service Mechanical and General Contractor with offices in Tinley Park, IL and Hammond, IN, was awarded two Safety Awards from the Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA). Amex Nooter won the 2012 Gold Award in recognition for achieving a 25% or greater reduction in OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate in 2012 as compared to the previous three years, and the 2012 Meritorious Performance Award in recognition for working without an OSHA Recordable Injury at TRMA Member plants in 2012.

TRMA provides quality safety and health training to Illinois area contractors including 4-hour Safety Orientation Program, Refresher Class and Site-Specific Safety Orientation to raise safety awareness and help eliminate on-the-job injuries. There are several other programs offered by TRMA that are beneficial to local plants and contractors.

Dawn Foods Consolidates Facilities.

Dawn Foods has broken ground on a new 115,000 square foot food distribution facility in AmeriPlex at the Crossroads, in Merrillville. Dawn’s new location consolidates their regional distribution facilities of Crown Point and Munster. The company will distribute more than 3,000 bakery related products. Van Drunen Farms of Momence, Illinois purchased Dawn’s Crown

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Point facility. Commercial In-Sites and Mohr Partners represented the real estate transactions.

The City of Hobart approved a one year extension on Hanson Logistics’ five-year tax abatement plan and granted permission for the company to move forward with an $11 million expansion to their facility in Hobart. Hanson is a Michiganbased refrigeration company. There are currently two Hanson Logistics plants in Hobart; a 135,000-square-foot building constructed in 2007 and a 60,000-square-foot building constructed in 2010. The newly approved building will be 90,000 square feet and would bring about an additional 10 to 12 employees.

Construction is scheduled to begin mid-April and the new facility should be up and running by September. $9 million is proposed for the building’s construction with an additional $2 million allocated for equipment.

WorkOne Access Point Opens April 15th at Starke County Library WorkOne announced that their Access Point at the Schricker Main Library, 152 W. Culver Road in Knox, will be available

La Porte Hospital Auxiliary gives $32,000 to Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary gave a monetary gift totaling $32,000 to Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital to improve the overall quality of healthcare provided to the community. The Auxiliary, in conjunction with the La Porte Hospital Foundation, gave the gifts through a philanthropic “wish list” generated by various departments within the hospital. Departments utilize the funds in purchasing clinical equipment and patient items. IU Health La Porte Surgery Services, for example, received a total of $13,000. Monies helped purchase video fiberoptic laryngoscope equipment, which produces magnified HD images to aid anesthesiologists while preparing patients for surgery.

The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary supports IU Health La Porte Hospital by providing volunteer services. The group

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Hobart Approves $11M Hanson Logistics Expansion

during normal library hours beginning Monday, April 15th.

The Access Point will have computers for customers to use for workforce services, such as employment searching, career and job planning, and registration on Indiana Career Connect (ICC).

A WorkOne staff member will be available to provide one-onone service by appointments only.

BUSINESS BUZZ

generates its charitable revenues from a variety of sources including the Wishing Well Gift Shop, located just off the hospital’s main lobby, and various fundraisers conducted within the hospital.

The philanthropic gifts help support the organization’s mission in making a positive difference in communities.

Occupational and Environmental Health Center is Now Franciscan WorkingWell

“Over 50 Years of Quality Service”

QUALITY INTEGRITY RELIABILITY • Industrial & Process Piping • Equipment Rigging & Setting • Special Alloy Welding

Franciscan St. James Health’s Occupational and Environmental Health Center became part of the Franciscan WorkingWell network of clinics, serving the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana on May 13. Broadening the WorkingWell network allows patients to choose between seven clinics, including the Franciscan WorkingWell location at the Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields campus of Franciscan St. James.

Franciscan WorkingWell offers businesses a full-range of healthcare services designed to help control medical costs while keeping employees healthy. As a single-source provider, Franciscan WorkingWell provides services ranging from wellness and education through rehabilitation assuring companies a more efficient continuum of care, better case management, a unified team of healthcare professionals and customized approach to your healthcare needs.

Franciscan WorkingWell is an affiliate of Franciscan Alliance with clinics located in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields in Illinois and Crown Point, Hammond, Michigan City, Munster and Valparaiso in Indiana.

For daily news from Northwest Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog.com and follow us on Twitter @BuildingIndiana.

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Memory Care Center Construction Begins in Mishawaka Dane Slabaugh, Principle and Managing Partner of True North Group, LLC, has finalized plans and broken ground on a state-ofthe-art memory care community concept, NorthWoods Village at Edison Lakes. Holladay Properties, Inc. of South Bend will be constructing the facility, which will be located at 1409 East Day Road, in Mishawaka. North Woods Village at Edison Lakes will

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provide the area with focused care and treatment to meet the

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increasing demand for those suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and related memory issues, according to

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Slabaugh. Operations for North Woods Village will be managed by www.buildingindiana.com

regional memory care specialist Randall Residence, based out

at the request of the Elkhart County Economic Development

of Lawton, Michigan. The facility is expected to create over 40

Corporation.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Grand Design RV Moves to Middlebury

For daily news from Northeast Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog. com and follow us on Twitter @BuildingIndiana.

Grand Design RV, LLC, a recreation vehicle (RV) developer and manufacturer, announced plans in April to locate its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Middlebury, Indiana, creating up to 500 new jobs by 2016. The company invested $11.1 million to purchase and equip four plants totaling more

South

than 400,000 square feet on a 67-acre campus. Grand Design expects its Middlebury campus to produce more than 1,750 units this year which will be shipped to more than 120 dealers across North America. Grand Design, which employs 115 associates in Middlebury, is currently hiring additional associates across the company, including manufacturing, distribution, administration and sales.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Grand Design RV, LLC up to $2,850,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of Middlebury supports the project

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Ground Breaks on Phoenix Group Facility in Columbus, Indiana Browning Investments, Inc. announced in April that construction has commenced on a 468,000 square foot, modern manufacturing and assembly facility for The Phoenix Group, to be located in the Woodside Northwest Park in Columbus, Indiana. The Phoenix Group manufactures and distributes a wide array of credit/debit card-reading products.

Browning Construction, in their role as Construction Manager, will build the $15.0 million facility. The building will include state-of-the-art features such as 32’ clear height, T5

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17

BUSINESS BUZZ

fluorescent lighting, and an ESFR sprinkler system. The Phoe-

first responders and their families from across the Kentucky

nix group expects to employ in excess of 50 employees at this

and Indiana area. The two organizations donated approximately

facility.

$100,000 in capital and labor to construct the center on the campus of local nonprofit Hero Reward, a two hundred acre fa-

University lands Multimillion Dollar Gift The University of Evansville received the largest single gift in the school’s 160-year history in April of 2013. William Ridgway passed away at the age of 92 and left behind $39 million to the university, bringing the total amount of contributions to the university over his lifetime to over $52 million. The finances will be used to support faculty members and projects in the school’s vision statement.

cility in Corydon, Indiana that offers outdoor excursion retreats for wounded veterans and their families at no charge. Hero Reward was founded in September of 2011 and hosts approximately fifty wounded heroes and their families each year.

The new 2,200 square foot, two story retreat center will expand the number of veterans served by providing four overnight separate guest quarters, as well as a handicap-accessible bathroom, new kitchen and wrap around porch, according to the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. Members of the UAW Local 862 from Kentucky Truck and Louisville Assembly Plants are expected to volunteer 800 hours to build the facility, which will be completed in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

Ford and United Auto Workers Local 862 Break Ground on New Retreat Center for Local Military/First Responders Ford and United Auto Workers Local 862 officials broke ground in April on a new retreat center which will provide overnight housing accommodations for wounded service members,

18

For daily news from Southern Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog.com and follow us on Twitter @BuildingIndiana.

Send us your news! We’re always eager to spread the good news about your company.

Send us your news: NDmitrovich@buildingindiana.com

www.buildingindiana.com

Moving forward. Making a difference.

Orthopedic and Spine Specialists Close to Home

Methodist Physician Group has assembled a remarkable team of orthopedic and spine specialists, right here in Northwest Indiana.

Together, these experienced, accomplished and compassionate physicians offer a wide range of The Region’s most advanced care in all areas of treatment, including spine care, total joint replacement, sports medicine and podiatric care. They offer the latest techniques, including non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment methods to help minimize your pain and maximize your quality of life.

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People News James Muhammad Appointed as President/CEO of Lakeshore Public Media

Craig Dwight named as Horizon Bank’s New Chairman

Ben Stuby Signs On as Project Engineer with The Hagerman Group

Craig Dwight, HoBen Stuby has rizon Bancorp’s recently joined chief executive The Hagerman officer and direcGroup, a contor, was named struction manlast week to be the new chairman and chief ex- agement firm, as a project enecutive officer, according to a gineer and is currently working news release from the company. on the Vita Nonwoven WareDwight will be replacing Robert house Expansion Project in Dabagia, who is retiring June 30, Fort Wayne. Ben has six years officials said. Dwight was also of experience in the constructhe chairman and the chief exection industry, primarily in the utive officer of Horizon Bank NA, which is a subsidiary of Horizon healthcare sector, and most reBancorp. Horizon Bancorp has cently design-build within the 30 locations in Northwest Indi- commercial / retail sector. Ben ana, central Indiana and Michi- has previously worked on projgan, according to the company’s ects such as the Tilted Kilt Pub Falk_StructureAnalysis_ad_Jan2010:FALKSPCSHHEET 1/13/10 1:30 PM Page 1 website. & Restaurant, in Indianapolis,

James Muhammad has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Lakeshore Public Media. Muhammar is a Peabody Awardwinning director of radio services for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, in Merrillville.

His career in broadcasting spans nearly 20 years. Lakeshore is operated by Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc., a nonprofit organization that manages WYIN-TV 56 and WLPR-FM 89.1.

IN, and Banner Desert Medical Center, Cardon Children’s Medical Center, in Mesa, AZ.

Shawn Kelly Appointed to Indiana Natural Resources Foundation D u n e l a n d Group is proud to announce that a member of its management team, Shawn Kelly, was appointed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.

A graduate of Purdue University, Kelly is also Chairman of the Construction Advancement Foundation.

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Photo Feature

Pictured are: (left to right): Back row: Melissa Neff, Lorelei Weimer, Kimberly Broader, Dana Rifai, Chelsea Whittington, Jo Ann Birdzell, Regina Biddings-Muro, O’Merrial Butchee, Rachel Saxon, Sean Kenyon, Tricia Hanrath, Theresa Valade, Maggie Spartz.

Front row: Denise Dillard, Nancy Adams, Tina Rongers, Earline Rogers, Monique Ruiz, Allyson Baughman, Jocelyn Hibshman, Cynthia Thompson.

Indiana State Senator Earline Rogers won the 2013 Influential Woman Award in the Government category.

Influential Women Awards Celebrates Leading Women

The Influential Women Awards Banquet celebrated and honored leading female professionals throughout eleven different industries.

The Influential Women Awards Banquet celebrated and honored leading female professionals throughout eleven different industries. In all, two women were selected from each category to be the Influential Woman of the Year and the Up and Coming Woman of the Year, for a total of 22 award winners.

Additionally, NIPSCO was named as the Empowering Business of the Year and attorney Cal Bellamy was named the Supporter of the Year.

Two award winners were selected to be the overall winners.

This years Up and Coming Woman of the Year was Tricia Hanrath, Safety Coordinator for Superior Construction, and the Influential Woman of the Year was Jo Ann Birdzel, Chief Executive Officer of St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago. Denise Dillard of Methodist Hospitals was named the 2013 Community Leader.

For a complete listing, please visit www.nwiwomen.com.

22 22

NIPSCO was named the Empowering Business of the Year at the Influential Women Awards Banquet. Pictured are (left to right): Don Babcock, Mike Finissi, Kimberly Broader, Marcia Powrozek-Hardison, Heather Acevedo, Trish Oram, Deb Owen, Crystal Williams-French, Diane Thalmann, and Michael Suggs.

www.buildingindiana.com www.buildingindiana.com

2013 MIDWEST SMOKEOUT Pictured is the main area of the Midwest Smoke Out. Various vendor booths can be seen, in addition to the gambling area and the stage.

The 2013 Midwest Smoke Out is the largest cigar event of its kind in the Midwest. A huge turnout of cigar aficionados, fine food and spirit connoisseurs, music lovers, and many others came out to have fun at one of Indiana’s largest parties of the year. The event was held at The Venue at Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino and featured fourteen different premium cigar vendors, numerous top-shelf craft beer, wine and spirit vendors, fine foods from some of Northwest Indiana’s best restaurants and many different types of luxury vendors.

“There’s something here for everyone,” said Andrea Pearman, Coordinator of the Midwest Smoke Out, “Each year this night gets bigger and bigger. Our cigar lovers appreciate the huge selection and the cigar-friendly environment that the Smoke Out brings, and our non-smokers love the amazing foods and different spirits to try out. We even have the game on the giant screens for the sports fans. What’s not to love?”

For more information on this event, visit: GIVE INTO www.midwestsmokeout.com.

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Cigar Rights of America, a national cigar advocacy organization, was one of the 2013 Midwest Smoke Out sponsors. Pictured are three representatives from Cigar Rights enjoying some fine cigars.

23 23

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Updates on the 2013 Indiana General Assembly Good News for the Indiana Construction Industry

By Dewey Pearman, Executive Director, Construction Advancement Foundation

T

he results of the recently completed 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly is generally good news for the Indiana construction industry. Legislation introduced early in the session represented both opportunities and threats to the construction sector. As a general observation I think it is fair to say that the industry didn’t get hurt much by this year’s legislative session, but wasn’t helped a great deal either. Here’s a brief run down of some of the highlights.

Going into the session, the industry faced two significant threats. One was the possible prohibition of project labor agreements (PLA’s) on public works proj24

ects. Many public works projects around the state are done under a PLA because PLA’s offer the public agency many advantages in getting their projects completed on schedule and at a competitive cost.

PLA’s ensure an adequate supply of skilled craft workers to complete the project consistent with work rules among all the crafts working on the project, and no work stoppage during the project. The use of this valuable tool was threatened with the introduction of several bills which would prohibit the use of PLA’s by government agencies. Fortunately, none of these bills received committee hearings and died in committee.

Another threat was the introduction of several bills to change or eliminate the common wage setting requirements

for public projects. Some of these bills proposed to increase the threshold cost below which projects would not need to have wages set. That level has already been increased significantly in the last few years from $150,000 in 2011 to $250,000 in 2012 and $350,000 in 2012. These increases have already resulted in the loss of business for local contractors. Like the PLA bill, none of these bills were given committee hearings and as a result died in committee.

A bill which had mixed results for Northwest Indiana was Senate Bill 585 authored by Senator Ed Charbonneau, of Valparaiso. As introduced, the bill contained a number of promising economic development opportunities for the region.

Two of those initiatives did survive as the www.buildingindiana.com

bill was sent to the “ As a general observation Governor for signature. One provision I think it is fair to say that directs the Northwest the industry didn’t get Indiana Regional Dehurt much by this year’s velopment Authority legislative session, but to study the need for a wasn’t helped a great medical trauma center deal either.” in Northwest Indiana - Dewey Pearman, Executive Director, and the feasibility of Construction Advancement Foundation developing an academic medical center in the region. The second provision directs a study committee on transportation and infrastructure to study the viability of a second port facility on Lake Michigan. While these projects are by no means certain, and if done would take many years to be realized, they do represent significant future construction projects for the region.

Another large economic development project was lost when a provision to fund the extension of commuter rail service in Lake County was stripped from the bill in the House of Representatives.

The funding mechanism, dedicating a portion of a Lake County option income tax to the project, would have leveraged hundreds of millions of federal transportation dollars for the construction of the extension. Extension of rail service to southern Lake County would stimulate substantial private commercial construction projects through transportation oriented developments along the rail line.

On another positive note, at least for those in the road and highway construction business, the budget bill, House Bill 1001, provides additional funding for road and highway improvements. The budget diverts one percent of the sales tax and use tax from the General Fund to the Motor Vehicle Highway Funds, resulting in over $100 million in additional funding to local governments each year. The budget creates the Major Moves 2020 Trust Fund, appropriating $200 million each year to be used for major highway expansion projects. It also removes expenses for operation of the Indiana State Police from the motor vehicle highway account, freeing up those dollars for use in road maintenance and construction.

A little heads up on a proposal which may surface in the 2014 Legislature. A hearing was conducted on a bill this year dealing with how state universities contract for construction services. House Bill 1217, authored by Representative Randy Truitt, of Lafayette, would have allowed state universities to circumvent much of Indiana’s public bid laws by allowing the universities to award a construction project to a construction manager who could also self perform portions of the work. The bill essentially tried to enable the universities to use a “construction manager at risk” delivery model. While many who testified on the bill did not object to the universities having another delivery system at their disposal, many voiced opposition to language in the bill which could result in a circumvention of aspects of the public bid laws. While the bill did not get a vote in committee, and so died, chances are good that Rep. Truitt will try to find more acceptable language over the summer and reintroduce it in 2014.

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Rule of Law

Malpractice Misconceptions

The Real Ways Malpractice Insurance Effects Medical Costs

By Nick Dmitrovich

M

any people believe that the high costs of medical malpractice insurance have a tremendous impact on health care’s bottom line, raising the cost of practicing medicine for doctors as well as the cost of receiving treatment for patients. In reality, malpractice insurance has a much more indirect impact on overall costs than people realize due to the fact that the actual price is not as high as it is often assumed.

Instead, what actually takes precedence in terms of raising costs is a concept known as “defensive medicine” in which physicians conduct an assortment of diagnostic procedures to reduce personal liability and occurrence of mistakes.

The American Association for Justice stated that, “Medical malpractice is actually a tiny percentage of health care costs, in part because medical malpractice claims are far less frequent than many people believe. In 2004, the Congressional Budget Office calculated malpractice costs amounted to, ‘less than 2 percent of overall health care spending. Thus, even a reduction of 25 percent to 30 percent in malpractice costs would lower health care costs by only about 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent, and the likely effect on health insurance premiums would be comparably small.’”

Indiana’s medical malpractice insurance rates are lower than the rates of surrounding states, according to the Indiana State Medical Association. ISMA stated, “In 2009, your Indiana medical malpractice insurance rates continued to be competitive with – and even better than – rates in other states. That’s apparent from a national publication, the Medical Liability Monitor, which each year researches and prints medical malpractice insurance rates for internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and general surgery in all 50 states. All 26

surrounding states have higher rates than Indiana.”

“Our competitive rates are mainly a result of Indiana’s strong medical malpractice act, the first in the country, dating back to 1975,” said ISMA Executive Vice President Jim McIntire. “The ISMA is committed to fighting any attempt to erode Indiana’s medical malpractice act to ensure that Hoosier physicians continue enjoying some of the lowest malpractice premiums in the nation, and thereby guaranteeing Hoosier patients will have access to an adequate supply of qualified physicians.”

With specific regard to Indiana, the average annual prices for malpractice insurance coverage vary greatly depending on the class of the physician being covered. There are nine different classes under Indiana law, referencing the individual specialties of the practicing physician and the type of services they render (listed as Class Zero through Class Eight). For example, a doctor with a listing as Class Zero would include practitioners that do not perform surgeries such as nutritionists, general preventative medicine practitioners, clinical pharmacologists, dermatologists and pathologists. Doctors listed in the upper classes like seven The Indiana Department of Insurance Medical Malpractice Division lists the average annual surcharges for malpractice insurance for each class.

It describes the rates as the following (published February 2013) in the chart to the right.

Class

Annual Rate

0

$1,828

1

$2,437

2

$3,412

3

$4,387

4

$5,483

5

$7,311

6

$10,967

7

$17,059

8

$20,715

www.buildingindiana.com

and eight are the type of physicians who often have to perform the most invasive and risky procedures such as Thoracic, Vascular/Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Traumatic, Neurologic, and Obstetric/ Gynecological.

While the price of coverage is considerably higher for the surgeons performing the more advanced procedures, the total cost only comprises a relatively small portion of the physician’s overhead. What actually drives the price of conducting business higher for doctors are additional diagnostic tests ordered to reduce liability – defensive medicine practices – in which a doctor is seeking to have as much documentation as possible to support the chosen course of treatment.

It is actually out of fear of having a malpractice suit that physicians seek to confirm their diagnoses in as many ways as possible. Dr. David Belk, an Internal Medicine practitioner, writes on his website, “The True Cost of Healthcare,” that doctors are warned about lawsuits as early on as med school. He wrote, “We heard about malpractice cases everywhere: from doctors who had been sued to expert witnesses who made their fortune testifying in multiple suits. There were a number of journals that would arrive in my mail each week presenting the latest cases in medical malpractice as vicarious lessons on how we could protect ourselves from a similar suit. In any bad outcome, the list of things for which we could be sued appeared endless.”

Richard A. McGrath, President and CEO of McGrath Insurance Group, Inc., authored an article entitled, “A Look at Contributing Factors to Rising Health Care Costs,” for an issue of The Sturbridge Times Magazine in which he explained how defensive medicine practices lead to wasteful use of resources and higher overall healthcare costs. He said, “It’s difficult to determine the impact of medical malpractice suits on the cost of healthcare, but it’s clear that tests and various medical procedures are sometimes ordered to ensure that if medical staff are later sued, they can document that they www.buildingindiana.com

did whatever they could to ensure proper care. While the cost of defensive medical practice is unknown, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP estimated in a 2006 study that 10 percent of the cost of medical care is a result of malpractice lawsuits and defensive healthcare.”

It becomes clear that while medical malpractice insurance premiums do indeed affect the annual bottom lines of practicing physicians and surgeons, the myth that these premiums are the single factor pushing health care costs higher every year is simply not a complete picture of the truth.

Behind the expensive premiums lies a physician’s desire to “cover all of his or her bases” in terms of being able to verify the chosen course of treatment, should it be called into question at a later time. Much like asking a question when you already know the answer, excessive diagnostic testing to validate results is a waste of expensive time and resources that, in conjunction with other expenses, pushes the price of health care higher and higher.

Talk is Cheap. Proof is Free.

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• Smaller scope, smaller reach • Approximately 30,000 readers each issue • Distributed on quarterly basis or less • No direct mail • Little to no online presence

We get you noticed by people who matter. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you! 219-226-0300 or lhilliard@thinkdiversified.com

27

Safety Zone

INVEST IN communication

By Sean Smith, Business Development, CertifiedSafety

A

lack of communication can be an ignition source for disaster. Most of us are very good at conversation but we often struggle to communicate clearly. There are hundreds of books and thousands of articles on how to communicate more effectively. But, in my mind, most miss one key point.

28

Perhaps the Nike tagline best summarizes my point. While most people talk about participating in sports or exercising more, Nike tells us to “just do it.” It’s the same with communication. We need to quit talking about it and “just do it.”

Why do we often talk without communicating effectively?

I asked my friends and colleagues this very question and the most common answer was, “a lack of time.”

Our industry demands that we do more with less so time www.buildingindiana.com

is always at a premium. We’re bombarded with emails, phone calls, meetings and deadlines so it’s easy for us to set some things aside. The flow of communication is one the first things to be ignored. But remember that a breakdown in communication is not an option. We are either going to create the time to communicate up front or we are going to be forced to spend much more time communicating later on—after things go wrong.

How many times have you said, “I wish I would have known that…” or, “Why are we just now finding out about this?” Have you had workers standing around doing nothing because you are not ready for them? Do you have units down and no workers ready to work? How many times have your leadership teams arrived on a project site to find there have been major changes to the work scope or they do not know the project’s critical path? How many workers are there on your project right now that don’t know, or are not clear about, your specific expectations? What are the costs related to these scenarios?

It’s easy to calculate the costs for workers being on site but not being able to work.

It’s also easy to calculate the cost of lost production for units being down longer than scheduled. However, it is not as easy to identify the cost of risk. Longer project duration increases risks to health and safety. When projects are delayed, crews have a tendency to hurry through work, thus increasing the risk of injury and/or rework.

When we close out a project and review all the final invoices, we won’t see a line item titled, “Miscommunication,” with an associated cost next to it. However, if the project goals related to safety, budget and schedule were not met, then chances are much of the overages can be linked directly to inadequate communication.

Communication is and should be viewed as an investment and not a tax on time. The dividends will show up in many forms including cost saving, less stress, lower risk and, of course, that resource we never have enough of…time.

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29

BOTTOM LINE

Hidden Requirements of Health Care Reform

By Randy C. Vale, President and Melissa J. Bernacky, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Braman Insurance Services

W

ith 2014 looming, business owners, agents, TPA’s and insurers are getting ready for changes ahead. Some are saying that the preparation needed in 2013 is going to make it a busy year, almost as busy as 2010 when the Affordable Care Act was passed and signed into law. But do you know all the changes that are forthcoming January 1st 2014? We’ve listed a few changes that you may not be aware of. Take the time now to ensure you are compliant and understand your responsibilities by reviewing the following requirements.

Ensuring Coverage for Individuals Participating in Clinical Trials Insurers will be prohibited from 30

dropping or limiting coverage because an individual chooses to participate in a clinical trial. This applies to all clinical trials that treat cancer or other lifethreatening diseases.

No Discrimination Due to PreExisting Conditions or Gender The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status. Insurers can no longer take away coverage because of a mistake on an application.

No Limits on Waiting Periods Health plans will not be able to apply any waiting periods that exceed 90 days

for full-time employees. A waiting period is defined as the period of time that must past before coverage for an employee or dependent who is otherwise eligible to enroll under the terms of the plan can become effective. Being eligible for coverage means having met the plan’s substantive eligibility conditions, such as being in an eligible class or obtaining a job-related licensure specified in the plan’s terms.

An employer with Variable Hour Employees will have a reasonable period of time to determine if the employee meets the plan’s eligibility condition as a full-time employee working 30 hours of service per week, which may include a measurement period of between 3 to 12 months after the employee’s hire date, called the “Initial” Measurement Period. For a Variable Hour Employee who is treated as a full-time employee, the Stability Period must be a period of at least six consecutive calendar www.buildingindiana.com

months that is no shorter in duration that the Initial Measurement Period and that begins after the Initial Measurement Period. Like Variable Hour Employees, further guidance on the types of employee categories can be found on the “IRS” website. (www.irs.gov) Deductible Cost-Sharing Limitation Group health plans may not impose annual deductibles greater than $2,000 single/$4,000 family for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2014, with these amounts indexed to the increase in U.S. health insurance premiums in subsequent years. Further guidance is necessary to clarify whether this restriction applies to all employers or only to small employers.

set forth by the government. The Affordable Care Act provides temporary “reinsurance” payments to help insurers who cover higher-risk populations caused by adverse selection thus cause adversely affect an insurer’s financial situation.

The fee applies for a limited time, lasting three benefit calendar years. The fee begins November 15, 2014 and will be $63 per participant (member) per year.

With respect to fully-insured policies providing major medical coverage, essentially a health insurance issuer must pay the reinsurance fee. For self-funded major medical plans, the fee will be

required to be paid by the plan sponsor.

A Busy Year These listed changes, in addition to others, could quite possibly make 2013 a busy year in terms of preparing for 2014 – but, as they say, knowledge is power.

Gaining a firm understanding of these items will put your company in the best possible position for making the necessary adjustments and be in full compliance with the new laws in the coming year.

No Discrimination Due to Pre-Existing Conditions or Gender.

Fees Imposed on Certain Plans and Insurers On December 6, 2012 the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) published the final regulations detailing how employers and insurers will calculate the new fee imposed under the Patient Protection and Affordability Act, now called Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) by regulators. Employers will face a new fee called the PatientCentered Outcomes Research trust fund fee (“PCORI fee”). The federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) conducts comparative effectiveness research of various medical interventions and publicly disseminates them.

The fee applies to insurance issuers with respect to fully insured health policies and to employers offering selffunded major medical plans. The PCORI fee applies to the first plan year which ends on or after October 1, 2012 and must be paid by July 31 annually.

Transitional Reinsurance Fee On Dec. 7, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published in the Federal Register proposed regulations regarding the “transitional reinsurance program” under the Affordable Care Act. In 2014, health insurance issuers in the individual and small group marketplace will be required to price health insurance with restrictions 31

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5/8/13 3:02 PM

BEING PRODUCTIVE

Making Health Care More Affordable Ten Things Companies Can Do To Lower Healthcare Costs

By Nick Dmitrovich

A

nnual healthcare expenses have a significant impact on the profitability of many companies.

Employers are actively seeking ways to reduce costs while still maintaining a quality healthcare plan for their employees. There are several valuable tips a company can take advantage of to lower these expenses without eliminating valuable coverage elements.

Take a proactive stance on preventative healthcare Companies can minimize healthcare costs by implementing wellness programs for their employees. The more people that stay healthy, the less money goes to medical costs and time off. There are many on-site consultants that can be contracted to help improve the overall wellness of a company, but much of the information can be obtained freely by anyone. Companies could designate a “wellness officer” to develop programs like fun dieting competitions, group exercising and other incentives designed to get employees into healthy lifestyles and, in turn, make fewer trips to the doctor’s office.

Encourage employees to get regular health screenings Regular health screenings provide employees with valuable information about opportunities for healthier lifestyles. Health screenings also highlight risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Much like any other problem in life, early detection and eliminating bad habits can lead to correcting the problem before it becomes serious. Preventative diagnosis could save the company quite a bit of 32

money by reducing the amount of time taken off.

Promote healthy lifestyles The two leading killers of Americans – by a substantial margin – are diseases brought on by tobacco use and obesity.

Almost every insurance company charges more money when it comes to coverage for tobacco users, and many are starting to charge higher premiums for individuals with a high body mass index (BMI). To combat these rising costs, many businesses have found ways to save money by offering incentives to employees to get healthier. For example, some businesses offer 50% payment for gym memberships which saves them money in the long run on health costs if employees take advantage of the offer and lose weight. Businesses are also offering reward incentives such as reduced premiums or deductibles to employees who participate in smoking cessation programs. On the flip side, there are also disincentives like higher premiums or deductibles for tobacco users.

Invest in wellness According to the Wellness Council of America and The Centers for Disease Control every dollar that an employer invests in wellness programs saves $3 in healthcare costs. The majority of healthcare costs for employers are related to employee lifestyle choices, so making investments in programs designed to change these choices can save the company money in the long run. Wellness and fitness programs do not have to feel like torture – there are dozens of programs designed to be fun and exciting for participants. One simple example would be to get employees active by creating

fun events like games or sporting events that not only help people lose weight but also foster healthy competition and teambuilding strategies.

Provide vaccination opportunities Keeping your employees healthy and productive is essential for keeping your business running at its highest level.

Employers could contact a healthcare representative to visit their business and supply flu vaccines in an effort to reduce the number of sick days taken during flu season, or they could finance the vaccinations through a local pharmacy or clinic that employees can visit. Since the average cost of a flu vaccination is about $20, the company would be saving quite a bit of money by purchasing vaccinations rather than paying for full days of missed work.

Take steps to reduce injury in the work place Implementing safety procedures costs relatively little beyond obtaining the knowledge of how to put them in place.

These initiatives can provide considerable savings in terms of keeping employees out of the hospital. While this may seem like an obvious choice, many companies do not realize just how much a workplace injury affects their bottom line in terms of loss of productivity, costs of emergency care and loss of safety ratings. Taking steps to reduce workplace accidents will always save your company money.

Shop Around When selecting a health coverage plan for your business, shop around as much as possible to pinpoint the best options.

Developing a firm knowledge base about www.buildingindiana.com

the options available to your company is essential for trimming out the coverage items that are not absolutely necessary.

Companies should browse through a wide range of carriers when shopping for the lowest available rates, review various options with the company’s management and human resource departments, and ask insurance representatives as many questions as possible to form a firm knowledge base.

Combine efforts with other businesses Though it may seem an arduous task to reach out to other businesses in your company’s community, there is potential for savings with large-group plans. The concept is obvious – the more individuals pooling together for coverage, the more you’ll save. In today’s world, many businesses are banding together to form associated healthcare plans (often called AHP’s) which are often able to save businesses considerable amounts of money through the discounts that large

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participation brings. While investigating this option, companies should seek out AHP’s that may already exist in their area.

Consider using a Health Reimbursement Account A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is an advantageous way employers can save on the cost of healthcare. HRA plans are employer-funded medical reimbursement accounts that reimburse employees for out of pocket medical expenses and premiums. In this situation, the employer sets aside a certain dollar amount of pre-tax dollars for employees to pay for health care expenses annually, in turn generating savings in overall health benefits. The advantages for the employer come when an HRA is offered along with a high-deductable health plan that results in reduced premiums. The savings from the reduced premiums can be used to fund the HRA. All employer contributions to the HRA fund are sanctioned by the IRS to be 100% tax deductible to the employer and tax-free to the employee.

Review your healthcare coverage annually There is very little incentive for businesses to remain with their healthcare provider for the long haul. Reviewing your healthcare policy annually and researching other options can often lead to newfound savings options. Businesses should not be afraid to consider all of their options each year and select the most affordable option for their coverage. Gathering quotes costs nothing, and your company may discover a better option is available to you.

It’s important to note that these listed steps are certainly not the only options available to companies seeking to reduce their healthcare costs – there are literally dozens more options out there. Careful consideration needs to be taken when analyzing the needs of the policy holders to find the most affordable and appropriate option for the company. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to researching savings on healthcare. However, there are numerous options that businesses will find applicable to their situation.

33

MASS PRODUCTION

The Impact of Indiana’s Pharmaceutical Output

By Nick Dmitrovich

G

iven Indiana’s reputation as a top steel and agricultural producer in the United States, many people overlook the fact that there are other incredibly vital exports that the Hoosier state also manufactures.

Indiana has a very diverse pharmaceutical industry that produces medicines used worldwide by people of all ages. The spectrum of Hoosier medicines quite broad, ranging from life-saving insulin for diabetics to new innovations in pharmaceuticals designed to combat abuse and misuse.

Indiana’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer is Eli Lilly and Company.

Lilly is one of the top insulin producers in the world; producing nine different types of medicine for diabetics. With markets in 125 countries, it is safe to say that the volume of insulin produced by Indianapolis-based Lilly and Co. saves 34

countless lives worldwide every year.

Founded in 1876, Lilly has a long history as one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Currently Lilly boasts manufacturing plants in 13 countries, conducts clinical research in 55 countries, and employs 38,000 people worldwide. In addition to the impact that Lilly has on the world, it has an even bigger impact in Indiana. In 2012, the company made $27.8 million in donations to Indiana organizations, and Lilly employees gave more than $14.3 million in charitable donations. With 11,000 employees across the state, the population of Lilly employees comprises a sizeable portion

of Indiana’s economy.

Insulin is not the only drug that Lilly produces. They also manufacture: • Cardiovascular Drugs • Bone / Muscle and Joint Medications • Neruoscientific Medicines • Men’s Health Medications • Endocrine System Medications Beyond the global conglomerate that is Eli Lilly, there are several other lesser-known paramedical manufacturers operating in Indiana. These companies are more specialized in their respective fields, designing products to meet very specific needs. Though these companies are not as widespread as Lilly, their medicines affect people’s lives in some very important ways.

The In Touch Pharmaceutical Company, based in Valparaiso, Indiana, takes care of a specific niche market with their long-term care programs designed to www.buildingindiana.com

reduce costs for patients. The company has implemented practices to closely monitor patients’ dosing cycles in an effort to reduce medication wastes – in turn, saving both the patient and the medical facility money. In Touch also helps the Department of Corrections by implementing programs in correctional facilities designed to balance cost and care while evaluating prescribing patterns to “improve efficiency among an everchanging population of inmates.”

In Touch implemented a seven-day (or less) dispensing system that helps patients keep track of their medications in a simple and organized way, and also helps medical professionals dispense the medications in an effective way. These, in addition to the other services that In Touch offers, serve as a comprehensive program used by pharmaceutical professionals that helps improve ease of access and provide reductions in costs and waste – saving the State of Indiana time and money by reducing the occurrence of errors.

Another Hoosier paramedical

company is developing new products that will ultimately assist the state on its war on illegal drugs and help insure patients do not abuse/misuse drugs in the first place.

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. operates a research and development center in Culver, Indiana. Acura is a specialty pharmaceutical company that designs medications intended to prevent misuse/ abuse by imploring Aversion and Impede Technologies. One of their products is a pseudoephedrine-based nasal decongestant called Nexafed.

Pseudoephedrine is a chemical that is highly sought after by illegal drug manufacturers for the production of methamphetamine. Nexafed uses Impede technology to disrupt the extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine.

Similarly, Acura produces Oxecta, a schedule II narcotic containing oxycodone HCL that is intended to help manage chronic to severe pain. Using Aversion technology, Oxecta is designed to prevent

misuse and abuse by the patients to whom it is prescribed. The company also has numerous other Aversion products in development that are meant to combat the problem of prescription drug overdoses, and deaths. In the long run, less addiction will equal lower costs of providing healthcare to addicted patients and less incarceration for drug related offences.

Eli Lilly, In Touch, and Acura, are only a few examples of the Indiana companies that improve quality of life for millions of people all over the world through their medicines and treatment options. Without these companies, and others like them throughout the state, people’s lives would be dramatically altered by the absence of the life-saving medicines that they produce.

So the next time that a non-Hoosier makes fun of Indiana by saying we only export corn – tell them that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Tell them that without Indiana, an untold number of people would have to suffer without proper treatment and medication.

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35

Small Business Spotlight

Lookin’ Good, Valpo Regional Development Company’s 504 Loan Program is Helping Small Business in Valparaiso Invest in Renovations

By Nick Dmitrovich

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said, “We see ourselves as a partner with the small businesses. The investments these companies make into the downtown Valparaiso area is encouraging, and positively impacts the community as a whole. This is a very optimistic program for all involved, as the benefits are shared by every party.

any business owners have projects they would like to complete around their establishment that have to remain on the back-burner due to finances.

Though most businesses would benefit from a renovation or Cole C. Doolittle, President of Waste Revelation, “The loan some new technology, many simply cannot fit these items program allowed for a portion of our building expenses to be into their budget. The Regional Development Company (RDC) placed on a 20-year fixed rate loan instead of an adjustable of Valparaiso has a unique opportunity for business owners rate, which is not typical to commercial property over that that makes growth and expansion easy – the US Small Busiterm. With reasonable rates in the present and concerns of ness Administration’s 504 Loan Program. This program is a inflation for the future, it was a situation that I was willing to long-term financing tool for economic development within a invest into due to reduced risk.” community; it provides businesses with He discussed how his company’s long-term, fixed-rate financing for major renovations are helping to add to the fixed assets, such as land, buildings and “We have had several small overall quality of the neighboring comlarge equipment. businesses that have used the munity. “We are growing and the locaBusinesses can take advantage of RDC’s loan program to purchase tion allows for expansion of our work. this program for numerous different eliand renovate older buildings in This equates to an office setup that can gible projects including: the purchase of the downtown area of Valparaiso house jobs. In addition, I feel the office land and existing buildings, construction is one of the nicer locations in downof new facilities, (including infrastructure – these sites have made a town Valparaiso for office space. Emcosts, utilities, parking lots), landscapcontribution to the improvement ployee moral also is improved with the ing and professional fees, modernization, of the community.” improved work environment,” he said. renovation or conversion of existing facil- Nicole Zell, Vice President of “We are continuing to target new growth ities, expansion of existing facilities, and Lending, RDC with our waste and recycling consulting the purchase of machinery or equipment services.” with a useful life of 10 years of more. In Domenica Hartman, of Hartman downtown Valparaiso, four businesses & Hartman PC, said, “Our company, Hartman Global IP Law, have used the 504 program to help complete their projects: used the SBA 504 loan program to purchase an office building Waste Revelation, Pikk’s Tavern, Hartman and Hartman PC, and expand our practice. The program was extremely helpful and Vogelsang Asset Management. in that it lowered our amount required for the down payment “We have had several small businesses that have used the allowing us to keep more capital on hand for renovations and RDC’s loan program to purchase and renovate older buildings furniture, etc. In addition, we received a locked-in low interest in the downtown area of Valparaiso – these sites have made a rate for the life of the loan. Our company has been in business contribution to the improvement of the community,” said Nicover twenty years and we intend to keep growing and movcole Zell, Vice President of Lending with the RDC. ing in a positive direction. We are a small Intellectual PropErica Passauer, President & Executive Director of the RDC, 36

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Rex Richards, President of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and member of the RDC’s Board of Directors, commented on how the investments these four companies have made contributed to the Valparaiso community. “They’re a major draw to the community,” he said. “Fine dining brought people down town to shop and eat. Vogelsang is a long-time established business in Valpo. They had been leasing space down in Eastport, and wanted to make an investment downtown in something locally owned, to add to the property value. All four of these business services working with the RDC are important. Dining is important to the downtown area; as we have one of the two finest downtowns of Northern Indiana, the other being Crown Point.”

“The advantage for the legal offices is they have the courthouse here in downtown Valpo. It brings in many attorneys, and they have their business services are located there. This has created a critical mass and flow of activity in the community. Lincolnway, part of the Lincoln highway system, moves from the East to the west of the community. Valparaiso University is on the east end of Town, you have the city hall on Lincolnway, the court house, and the county administration building block is also downtown. Business services and restaurants increase investments in downtown,” Richards said.

Richards elaborated on the advantages of taking an old building and renovating it, rather than building a completely new one. He explained that when companies renovate a building, it tends to be more affordable due to the fact that the infrastructure is already in existence. “This provides convenience,” Richards said, “Downtown Valparaiso has a strong economic area. There are residences within a block of the downtown area, a shopping facility – again, all of this is adding to the convenience of the location and accessibility to their facilities. People like it because they can walk to the restaurant or shop and handle all their business needs within a close area.”

He added, “The city of Valpo, has a façade program too which they use to assist businesses. Every year, they budget dollars for the program and they are utilized very quickly.

There is a higher demand than resources available.” The façade program provides dollars to businesses that are looking to re-face their storefronts or buildings – enhancing the attractiveness of the location. Dollars are allocated to businesses that apply, and often there are more businesses applying for the program than the city is able to provide.

The potential benefits for a company that decides to partner with a small business lender like the RDC are numerous, Richards explained. “As a board member with the RDC I work closely with the local banking community. There is a fixed rate for 20 years on a commercial loan, in terms of real estate,” he said, “Businesses can lock into a loan for a long period of time and it’s a win-win-win for the bank, the RDC, and the community. In my opinion, the RDC is a great economic development

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The average Indiana life expectancy for males is 75.0 years, 80.3 years for females.

The national averages are similar at 76.0 years for males and 81.2 years for females.

Healthcare

(Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts 2007.)

Indiana’s Elkhart, Lagrange, Allen, Adams, Marion and Daviess Counties all have significantly higher General Fertility Rates than the rest of the state.

The Leading Causes of Death for Adult Indiana Residents are as follows…

13,373 ..........................................13,138

Heart Disease ..........................

Cancer

Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases .............

3,795

3,077 Accidents ........................................ 2,511 Alzheimer’s Disease .................. 1,937 Stroke ...........................................

1.13%

2.1%

1.85%

2.29%

2.35%

2.36%

3.98%

8.19%

14.8%

Breakdown of Occupations in the Indiana Health Care Industry 2012

46.6%

Lake County and Marion County have the highest rates of Preterm Infant Births in the State.

Registered Nurse: 45.6% Licensed Pract. Nurse: 14.8% Physician: 8.19% Pharmacist: 3.98% Resp. Care Practitioner: 2.36% Dental Hygienist: 2.35% Physical Therapist: 2.29% Dentist: 1.85% Clinical Social Worker: 2.1% Social Worker: 1.13%

Nearly 3.0 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2011, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 100 equivalent fulltime workers, according to estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(Males and females combined. Source: Indiana Department of Health, 2010 Mortality Report, run in 2012)

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39

CONSTRUCTION FEATURE

Upgrading

Emergency Care Methodist Hospital’s New Southlake Campus Emergency Department

By Nick Dmitrovich METHODIST HOSPITAL SOUTHLAKE CAMPUS CONTRACTOR / SUBCONTRACTOR LIST BSA LifeStructures Engineering Hasse Constuction General Contractor ZLS Construction Carpentry Contenential Electric Electric Mechanical Concepts HVAC and Plumbing RV Sutton Excavation and site utilities

I

n March, Methodist Hospitals hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Emergency Department at the Southlake Campus in Merrillville, Indiana. Construction began on the $8-million dollar facility in February of 2012, and the recently completed project is the first major component of Methodist’s “large-scale and long-term” plans to expand and upgrade its Northlake and Southlake Campuses, according to Ian McFadden, President and CEO of Methodist Hospitals. Throughout the entire period of construction, the Emergency Department’s doors remained open to patients seeking immediate medical care.

Hasse Construction Company, Inc. was faced with the challenge of completing a remodeling project on an open and operating emergency department. “Any time you’re taking on an emergency department, there’s going to be challenges,” said John Hasse, Construction Manager with Hasse Construction. “The project has to keep moving. Work taking place in a functioning hospital presents certain core issues such as cleanliness, minimizing the dust generated by construction, and things of that nature. But this project was very rewarding for us, we were proud to have worked on it.”

The new expansion was instigated by a growing need for services and an increase in patient visits to the Southlake Campus. “In 2012, our emergency departments had more than 60,000 patient visits. It is critical that we provide a workplace that lives up to the same high

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standards as our team, and that can comfortably and efficiently accommodate the volume of patients that come through our doors,” McFadden said.

He went on to describe what the new emergency department will feature, saying, “This new $8-million dollar facility is a part of our commitment to change the way emergency medicine is practiced in Northwest Indiana. It will provide expanded space and improved workflow for our physicians and nurses, greater privacy for our patients, and upgraded technology to facilitate the lifesaving work that takes place in our emergency departments each and every day. Our new emergency department has a total size of about 21,000 square feet; nearly double that of our old ED. This additional space allows us to have more exam rooms – 23 in the new space - and to double our space for trauma patients.”

“We will also construct a 12-bed clinical decision unit, for patients who need 24-hour observation but do not require admission to the hospital. This unit will be located in the space now occupied by our temporary ED and will open in the fall of 2013,” McFadden said. It was noted that the trauma rooms are now large enough to conduct surgery within, and the rooms will no longer have curtains dividing patients, but doors to increase privacy.

McFadden said that Methodist’s partners on the project were Hasse Construction and BSA LifeStructures. Hasse Construction Company’s President, William Hasse, said that 37,000 man-hours went into the new facility’s construction process.

William Braman, Chairman of the Methodist Board of Directors, said, “Methodist Hospitals has made a commitment to providing the very best in programs, technology and facilities for the people of Northwest Indiana, and nowhere is this commitment more important than in trauma and critical care. Situated as we are in close proximity to heavy industry, major transportation arteries, mass transit lines and major urban areas, there is a critical and ongoing need for expert, easily accessible emergency services in Northwest Indiana.”

“Methodist Hospitals has long been known as the premier provider of emergency services in this region and we are in the process of pursuing trauma center status,” Braman added. “We employ a staff of skilled and experienced emergency physicians, nurses, technicians and support staff that provides the very best care around-theclock every day of the year.”

Elements of the new emergency department also include:

•

Direct access for ambulances to get patients into the trauma rooms as quickly as possible

•

Efficient lobby design that allows patients to be greeted and evaluated immediately, routing them to the most appropriate care quickly

•

Technological advances including computers in each exam room and a state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring system that feeds into the patient’s electronic medical records

•

Strategic planning was implemented in the building’s design, so that lab, radiology, X-ray facilities, and other departments are situated near the emergency department to streamline patient services

•

The new emergency department will be the only facility in the Region with indoor hazmat showers

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41

Construction Feature

Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit St. Mary Medical Center Opens New Valparaiso Health Center

By Nick Dmitrovich Valparaiso Health Center Contractors: Berglund Construction Foundation, Site Prep & Shell Hasse Construction Interior Build Out Walker Construction Concrete Thyssen Krupp Elevators Cummins Power Natural Gas Generator Universal Shielding MRI Shielding Huggett-Betten Corp Drywall Kwiatkowski Masonry Masonry GE Marshall Excavation Excavation Prism Painting Co. Painting Babilla Roofing Roofing J&S Metal Door Doors Walker Construction Design Alliance Architects

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I

n February, St. Mary Medical Center’s new Valparaiso Health Center opened its doors to the public and officially began its mission to care for Valparaiso’s medical needs.

The $18 million, 56,000-square-foot outpatient center is located just east of Indiana 49, and St. Mary’s officials stated that the new building “reflects the expansion of services needed to meet the healthcare needs of Northwest Indiana’s growing communities.”

All of the steel used in the construction of the new facility was USA produced in Northwest Indiana. Development of the building created 50 construction jobs for over a year, and there are approximately 100 people employed at the health center through physician offices, and health center staff and professionals. Dave Otte, VP of Engineering and Support Services, said that St. Mary’s did receive some tax incentives to locate in Valparaiso, but ultimately chose the site for several other reasons. “We did receive some TIF financing, but we chose Valparaiso because it is a friendly, growing community,” he said.

Hasse Construction Company, Inc. was the lead contractor on the project. “It’s always a pleasure to bring a new facility like this to life,” said John Hasse, Construction Manager with Hasse Construction. “We’re proud to be union contractors, and proud to have brought quality expertise to the St. Mary’s project.”

“The opening of our Valparaiso Health Center is so exciting for St. Mary Medical Center because the community supported our efforts to bring our reputation for high quality and service excellence to Valparaiso,” said Janice Ryba, CEO of St. Mary Medical Center.

“We know we can make a difference in their lives to keep them healthy with a team of skilled staff and physicians. It’s a Health Cen-

ter with a central theme - healing of the mind, body, and spirit is our recipe for success.”

“The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive so far,” said Mary Fetsch, St. Mary Medical Center’s Marketing and Community Relations Director.

St. Mary’s aims to make the new Valparaiso Health Center a “one-stop shop” for its patients, with an Immediate Care Center that will be open seven days a week and will be equipped with eight exam rooms that contain a full assortment of diagnostic services. It will also have a Women’s Diagnostic Center that will offer the latest 3D digital mammography, with same day results, in addition to bone densitometry and breast ultrasound diagnostic support.

“The new 3D mammography technology available at the Valparaiso Health Center complements the traditional 2D scans, giving us the ability to see masses and distortions associated with cancers much more clearly than with 2D alone,” said Charisa Spoo, DO, Dedicated Breast Radiologist at the Women’s Diagnostic Center of St. Mary Medical Center. “The process gives us a much more complete picture of the internal architecture of the breast.”

The Valparaiso Health Center will also have a wide variety of physician practices covering everything from family medicine, to weight loss services, women’s care, orthopedics and functional medicine, as well as specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, neurology, general surgery, oncology, plastic surgery, pain management, weight-loss and bariatric medicine, as well as integrative medicine, and more. St. Mary’s announced that the site will feature “a full, clinical laboratory, advanced diagnostic imaging, including the latest MRI, CT, digital X-ray, EKG, echocardiograms, and ultrasound, as well as outpatient rehabilitation.”

“We serve a significant number of patients www.buildingindiana.com

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ultrasound services.”

The second element the public wanted was a health center that was easily accessed.

The property that the Valparaiso Health Center sits on was selected specifically to meet this request. “We spent several months reviewing sites in the Valparaiso community, but IN-49 was always our preferred location. IN-49 is identified as the health care corridor for Porter County. The site offered easy access, as well as an opportunity for future expansion of health-related services in the future,” Ryba said. “The site we selected is easily accessible to Valparaiso and surrounding communities. In addition, the goal was to provide many of the most frequently requested outpatient services in one location.”

The final element that the public requested was physician expertise, arguably the most important element of any medical center. “We have engaged a committed group of skilled, board-certified physicians - some employed by our Community Care Network as well as independent practitioners providing primary care and specialty services,” Ryba said. “These include OB/GYN, internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, cardiology, functional medicine, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pulmonology, podiatry, general surgery, oncology, bariatric services, and plastic surgery at one location.”

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from the Valparaiso area, and this new outpatient center brings together our quality services in another convenient, readily accessible location,” Ryba said. “The new Valparaiso Health Center is an extension of the high quality, patient-centered medical services available through our hospital, and it’s an important link in our ability to help build healthier communities.”

Ryba went on to discuss the purpose and need for the new facility, saying that community input was a major factor in the design and decision-making process.

“We conducted focus group meetings with residents to determine what they needed related to health care services. With their feedback and perspective, we were convinced we could bring another option to the community focusing on a high level of quality and patient-oriented service excellence,” she said. “We worked with our clinicians as well as business St. Mary’s aims and community leaders to make the new to ensure we Valparaiso Health would have Center a a meaningful “one-stop shop” presence and for its patients, plant roots with an that would benefit the Immediate Care residents of Center that will the entire Valbe open seven paraiso and days a week.

Porter County communities.”

Three primary design elements stood out to St. Mary’s after they had gathered data from the public: the community wanted a state-of-the-art facility with easy access and physician expertise.

With regard to the public’s desire for a state-of-the-art facility, the new Valparaiso Health Center most certainly employs new technology. Ryba detailed much of the new equipment. She said, “The Valparaiso Health Center has the newest technology in CT scanning; a wide bore MRI that provides a shorter time frame to complete a study and is comfortable enough to accommodate patients who become anxious during such a procedure; digital X-ray technology for quick, precise results to a physician in an electronic format; 3-D mammography to detect and diagnose the slightest breast abnormalities; bone density exams; on-site clinical laboratory services, physical therapy, and

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43

Top Safety Professionals and Companies Celebrated at Awards Night

By Nick Dmitrovich

T

he safety specialists whose practices bring countless Hoosier workers home safe to their families each night were honored at a special awards banquet hosted by the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable (NWIBRT) at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, IN on Thursday, May 16. NWIBRT is an organization committed to the improvement of construction and maintenance projects throughout Northwest Indiana; its members consist of leaders from some of the regions largest and most prominent companies.

The NWIBRT Safety Awards night was held in conjunction with the Construction Advancement Foundation’s Awards Banquet which honored the top construction projects and firms over the previous year. In total, NWIBRT presented 58 awards throughout the evening, recognizing the companies and individuals that exhibited the most outstanding safety practices throughout the year.

“The annual CAF/NWIBRT Awards

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Ceremony is a very important event for the contractor companies and the safety professionals that support them. This event gives company owners and managers an opportunity to see how their performance compares to that of their com-

petitors. It also re-enforces how much emphasis the owner companies place on safety and the expectation for contractors to continuously improve. The banquet is also an event where safety professionals are shown appreciation and

ACMS Group, Inc. received an Achievement in Safety Award. Pictured are (l to r): Bo DePaoli, NWIBRT Chairman Joe Coar, Jim DePaoli, Karen Robinson and Jeff Schutz.

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recognition by their peers throughout the industry,” said Rick culture.” Dan Sopczak, Executive Vice President with Superior Foor, Chairman of the NWIBRT Safety Subcommittee and TAR added, “Safety is a core value of our company and it’s someHSSE Specialist with BP. thing that we take very seriously.”

“I can’t emphasize enough how proud I am of the dedicaJustin Rich, Safety Manager with The American Group of tion these companies and safety professionConstructors (TAG), spoke about how it felt to “I can’t emphasize enough als exhibit to ensure their employees go have his company honored with an Excellence how proud I am of the home safe every day,” Foor added. in Safety Award. He said, “On behalf of everydedication these companies The title of Contractor of the Year was one at TAG, this means a lot. The guys strive and safety professionals awarded to Superior Construction. Addiin the field to do what they’re supposed to do, exhibit to ensure their tionally, Superior Construction was honored employees go home safe and to do the right thing all the time in the safwith an Excellence in Safety Award. Tom Ow- every day.” est way possible.” ens, Superior Construction Safety Director, John Wysockey, Vice President with Rick Foor, Chairman of the NWIBRT said, “We’ve got a lot of people working for Thatcher Foundations, described what receivSafety Subcommittee and TAR HSSE us that have done an outstanding job this Specialist with BP. ing the Achievement in Safety Award meant year. We’ve achieved about five-and-a-half to his company. “A safety award is as good a months now without a recordable incident, thing as we can get. If we’re not safe, we’re not with over a million work hours, and we’ve got over 19 million in business. Being safe is the most important thing that we work-hours over at BP without a lost-time incident. So we’re can do, and it’s a constant focus for us that’s morning, noon doing very good and everybody’s behind the whole safety and night. Actually, sometimes in the middle of the night when

NWIBRT Safety Award Recipients Contractor of the Year: •

Superior Construction Co., Inc.

Excellence in Safety Award Winners: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ambitech Engineering Corporation Amex Nooter, LLC Atlantic Plant Services, Inc. CertifiedSafety CET Incorporated Cornerstone Electrical Consultants, Inc. Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying Interstate Environmental Services, Inc. Manta Industrial Meade Industries Middough Inc. R.J. Mycka, Inc. Solid Platforms, Inc. Superior Construction Co., Inc. The American Group of Constructors, Inc. Pangere Corporation Total Safety U.S., Inc.

Achievement in Safety Award Winners: • • • • •

ACMS Group, Inc. AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc. Code Red Safety Correct Construction, Inc. Hasse Construction Co., Inc.

www.buildingindiana.com

• • •

Morrison Construction Company Sargent Electric Company Thatcher Foundations, Inc.

Recognition for Safety Award Winners: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

BMW Constructors, Inc. BRAND Energy & Infrastructure Services EMCOR Hyre Electric Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc. KM Plant Services, Inc. Hayes Mechanical Korellis Roofing, Inc. Kvaerner North American Construction Inc. M&O Environmental Company M&O Insulation Company Nooter Construction Tranco Industrial Services, Inc. Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC

Innovation Award: •

Solid Platforms, Incorporated

Life Saver Award: •

Steve Cowsert, Sargent Electric Co.

Roger Walters Memorial Award: •

Tom Owens, Superior Construction Co., Inc.

45

Amex Nooter, LLC earned an Excellence in Safety Award.

Pictured are (l to r): NWIBRT’s Joe Coar and Ryan Winkelman.

CertifiedSafety earned an Excellence in Safety Award. Pictured is (l to r) NWIBRT Chairman Joe Coar presenting the award to Trampas Martin of CertifiedSafety.

Interstate Environmental Services, Inc. received an Excellence in Safety Award. Pictured is (l to r) NWIBRT’s Joe Coar presenting the award to David Schutkovske, VP with Interstate.

The Life Saver Award was given to Steve Cowsert of the Sargent Electric Company. Pictured is NWIBRT Chairman Joe Coar presenting the award to Cowsert.

Tranco Industrial Services, Inc. was given a Recognition Award.

Pictured are (l to r): NWIBRT’s Joe Coar, Tim Beck, VP, and Bill Lucaitis, President of Tranco.

R.J. Mycka, Inc. earned an Excellence in Safety Award. Pictured is (l to r) NWIBRT’s Joe Coar presenting the award to R.J. Mycka.

46

www.buildingindiana.com

Superior Construction Company, Inc. won an Excellence in Safety Award and the NWIBRT Contractor of the Year Award. Pictured are (l to r) Gary Wasemann, Tom Owens, NWIBRT’s Joe Coar, Dan Sopczak, Steve Fernandez, Ed Smith and Tricia Hanrath.

EMCOR Hyre Electric earned a Recognition Award for Safety. Pictured is NWIBRT Chairman Joe Coar (left) presenting the award to Tom Coulter, Quality & Safety Manager with EMCOR.

Ambitech Engineering Corporation won an Excellence in Safety Award. Pictured are (l to r) Don Francher, NWIBRT’s Joe Coar, Joe Idaszak and Mike Krupa.

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you’re sleeping you think about it. We have to have all our people thinking that way because one mistake, one brief mistake, an eye blink, in this dangerous business can put us into a safety issue that we cannot afford,” he said.

The Roger Walters Memorial Award was given to Tom Owens, Safety Director with Superior Construction. This award was created in honor of Roger Walters; an individual that was dedicated to the importance of upholding safety standards and procedures, and leading by example, throughout his career. Each year, this award is presented to the safety representative that has demonstrated extraordinary contributions to the safety of the workers in Northwest Indiana.

Owens has served as Safety Director for Superior for the last 24 years, and before that he worked as a field carpenter for 25 years. Recognizing a lack of safety literature in the industry, Owens authored and published safety meeting outlines for construction workers which emphasized field safety, and safety maintenance logbooks which are still in distribution today. He has also helped

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48

create safety management policies for companies and student programs.

Owens said, “Thanks to everyone involved who thought me worthy of this award. This is very special for me, because I was blessed to know and work with Roger Walters. He was a great guy, and an excellent safety professional. I was proud to have known him, and proud to say I was his friend.”

The Life Saver Award was earned by Steve Cowsert of the Sargent Electric Company. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life without regard for his/her own personal safety.

“Being nominated for this award was quite a surprise,” Cowsert said. “I feel kind of conflicted about receiving the award to be honest. At Sargent, we’re always taught to check, call and care. And I got lucky I guess.

When you drill something in your mind long enough it comes back to you when you need it most.”

He went on to describe a bit about the ordeal that earned him the award, and saved a man’s life. “We were working out in our yard at US Steel Corporation in Gary and we had just performed a task and the man I saved, Keith, went down unexpectedly. He fell, and was having a massive stroke or heart attack. I checked the area, we called for an ambulance, and I cleared his airway and made sure he stayed alive until the ambulance got there. He’s doing well now, he has a defibrillator and a pacemaker, if anything like this happens again the defib takes over.”

Bill Lucaitis, President of Tranco Industrial Services, spoke about his company receiving the Safety Recognition Award. “It shows our customers that we’re committed to safety from the top down. Safety is critical in our operations, we work in extremely dangerous places around steel mills, power plants, and other heavy industries where our employees could be put in danger or our customers employees could be put in danger with the work we do. So all risks have to be pre-assessed and everyone has to work in a safe manner.”

Tim Beck, Vice President of Tranco, www.buildingindiana.com

said, “This is just a good indication of the dedication that all of our employees have to safety, and the commitment that our customers have to it as well.

This year’s Innovation Award recipient was Solid Platforms, Incorporated. The Innovation Award honors a company that has utilized a new, creative, or unique way to accomplish a task on a jobsite in a manner that has a significant impact on the total project. Solid Platforms was issued the award for its development of new anti-fall technology for scaffolding. The benefits of the system were cited as: reducing due to repetitious tie-offs, engineered anchorage point capable of sustaining tensile load, documented increased productivity due to reduced erect/dismantle labor, falls reduced to two feet or less while reducing the arresting force on the employee.

For more photos and information about the 2013 CAF/NWIBRT Awards Banquet, please visit www.nwibrt.org/awards/.

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Honoring CONSTRUCTION

Excellence

By Nick Dmitrovich

I

ndiana’s leading construction firms were honored for all of their achievements over the past year in a special awards banquet hosted by the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, IN on Thursday, May 16. The CAF represents Northwest Indiana Union Contractors and works to promote the interests of the union construction industry through labor relations management, government relations, safety, training, education and workforce development.

The CAF Awards Banquet was held in conjunction with the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable’s Safety Awards, making for an evening of industry excellence. Nine different prestigious awards were distributed by the CAF to construction firms that displayed exemplary efforts in their projects over the previous year.

Dewey Pearman, Executive Director of the Construction Advancement Foundation, said, “We’ve come here to celebrate the success of the Northwest Indiana construction industry over the past year. Tonight we recognize outstanding achievements in safety, quality and value. All of you here have helped deliver to our customers.” Scott Vidimos, of Vidimos, Inc., delivered an opening invocation.

Shawn Kelly, of Duneland Group, Inc., and also Elected President of CAF, was one of the presenters. He announced that T.J. Ferrantella, President of Engineered Constructors, Inc., won the Excellence in Professional Development Award.

Kelly said, “Last year, the CAF instituted a new award, the 50

Construction Projects and Companies Celebrated at CAF Awards

‘Excellence in Professional Development Award.’ This award recognizes a company that’s taking a proactive role in improving the quality of their workforce through education and training. ” Kelly explained the efforts earned Ferrantella the award. He said, “In 2010, Ferrantella was instrumental in establishing the NWIBRT Supervisory Training Program. This is a very comprehensive program tailored specifically for Superintendents and counts for 1160 hours of professional development instruction per person. To date, 74 individuals attended the STP classes, and 18 individuals have completed

Hasse Construction won the Commercial Contractor of the Year Award. Pictured is CAF’s Shawn Kelly (left) presenting the award to Bill Hasse. www.buildingindiana.com

all 10 class modules. Over the past several years, Ferrantella himself has been a volunteer instructor in over five of those classes.”

John Hasse, Vice President of Hasse Construction, and Jason Shoff and Duc Tran with Safety Kleen, accepted the award for Industrial/Capital Project of the year for the $15 million Safety Clean Blend Plant expansion project that took place last year. “This was a project to bring in-house blending for lube oils to the existing refinery in East Chicago,” said Shoff.

John Hasse said, “Hasse Construction’s had a long relationship with Safety Kleen.

This was a very instrumental job for us, and for them of course with the opening of the new blending plant. It was a good experience for us, good teamwork, and we all were happy with the result.”

The Public Works Project of the Year was accepted by Rich Piazza of SEH Inc., Fred Armstrong, Project Manager with Hasse Construction, and Richard Szany, Finance Director for the Hammond Port Authority, for the George Lake Trail Pedestrian Bridge project.

This bridge project connects pedestrians to the George Lake Trail and the Whiting Lakefront Park Trail over Indianapolis Boulevard.

“The project consisted of two bridge overpasses over New York Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard for a bike trail that connects the Whiting Bike Path to the Hammond Bike Path,” Armstrong explained.

“We’re proud to be a part of this project because it’s a signature piece for the community. It shows what happens when the RDA and the communities come together and put their money into a building project that will be worthy of our

www.buildingindiana.com

Professional Development Award T.J. Ferrantella Engineered Constructors, Inc.

CAF 2013 Project of the Year Winners

Maintenance/Service Contract Work ACMS Group, Inc. Central Hudson Gas, Electric and National Grid Industrial/Capital Project Hasse Construction Co., Inc. Safety-Kleen Commercial Project Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC Franciscan St. Anthony Health (Michigan City) Chesterton Health & Emergency Center (Chesterton) Public Works Hasse Construction Co., Inc. City of Hammond

CAF 2013 Contractor of the Year Winners Commercial Contractor Hasse Construction Co., Inc. Industrial Contractor Hasse Construction Co., Inc. Professional & Engineering Services Contractor Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying Specialty Contractor Pangere Corporation

future and the families of the future.”

Piazza said, “The award for the company shows our dedication to the cities of Hammond and Whiting by connecting the two cities. It’s part of an overall grant from the Regional Development Authority and shows progress in the area.” Szany added, “It’s a great opportunity for the residents of Hammond and Whiting to have and use the new bike trail and see all that the South Shore has to offer.”

Jim DePaoli, President of the ACMS Group, Inc., spoke about his company winning the Maintenance and Service Contract Work Project of the Year Award for the Central Hudson Gas, Electric and National Grid Project. “We were called out when Hurricane Sandy came through to help manage and find people to go in there and reinstall the electrical light poles and power lines wherever they had fallen down,” DePaoli said. “We were out there for roughly three-and-a-half weeks. When we responded, we were out there within 24 hours. Our clients were totally enthused with our ability to respond as we did and they were very happy with the way we responded. We worked around the clock, 24 hours for those weeks to get power 51

back on to the neighborhoods that were out of power. This has been an immensely good thing for the company. We’ve gotten very good reviews from the owners.”

Bill Rathjen, Corporate Vice President with Pangere Corporation, spoke about what it meant to his company to receive the award for Specialty Contractor of the Year. “This justifies the actions of the employees of the company, they work pretty hard all year and it this really justifies what they’ve done.”

Presenting sponsors ACMS Group, Inc., AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc. Solid Platforms, Inc., Superior Construction Co., Inc. The American Group of Constructors Franciscan Alliance / WorkingWell.

Platinum Building Indiana and DLZ.

Bar Sponsors AMEX Nooter, LLC, BMW Constructors, Inc., Mersino,Policy Analytics, LLC, Safety-Kleen.

Gold Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers, ArcelorMittal BP, Community Hosptials Occupational Health, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, KM Plant Services, Kvaerner NAC, MC Industrial, NIPSCO, P&C Trucking, The Pangere Corporation, Safety Management Group,Sargent Electric Company, Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC, & Tranco Industrial Services, Inc.

Silver Sponsors Hasse Construction earned the Public Works Project of the Year Award. Pictured are (l to r): Rick Szany, with the Hammond Port Authority, Rich Piazza of SEH Inc., CAF’s Shawn Kelly, and Fred Armstrong, Project Manager with Hasse.

Ambitech Engineering Corporation, Hoeppner, Wagner, Evans, LLP, Korellis Roofing, Inc., Manta Industrial, Morrison Construction Company.

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ACMS Group, Inc. won the award for Maintenance/Service Contract Work Project of the Year. Pictured are (l to r): Bo DePaoli, CAF’s Shawn Kelly, Jim DePaoli, Karen Robinson and Jeff Schutz.

Pangere Corporation won Specialty Contractor of the Year.

Pictured are (l to r) Back: Jeff Scheub, Mike MacDonald, CAF’s Shawn Kelly, Bill Rathjen, Steve Pierce, Don Ellingsen. Front: Felix Duron, Paul Maywald, Bruce Wright, Antonio Coss-y-Leon.

Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying won the award for Professional and Engineering Services Contractor of the Year. Pictured are (l to r): Michael Young, Mike Falk, CAF’s Shawn Kelly, Dorothy Falk, Nancy Hake and Jeff Nix.

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Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC won the award for Commercial Project of the Year. Pictured are (l to r): Back Row: Matt Weller, Bill Bevins, CAF’s Shawn Kelly, John Gilmore, Joe Coar. Front: Jeff Chapman, Steve McGill

HOURS WORKED SAFELY !

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Hasse Construction also won Industrial Contractor of the year.

Pictured is CAF’s Shawn Kelly (left), presenting the award to John Hasse. www.buildingindiana.com

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53

WORKERS COMP

Choosing Wisely Selecting a Worker’s Compensation Insurance Provider for Your Business

By Karen Johnson, President, Northwest Chapter of the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Institute, and Director of Marketing & Worker’s Compensation, Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute

D

espite a company’s best efforts to maintain safety and create a safe working environment, accidents do happen. The idea of worker’s compensation is fairly simple: the employer pays for worker’s compensation insurance to ensure the business is covered for workrelated accidents. The state of Indiana requires that all employees be covered by their employers, no matter the size of the business. By purchasing a worker’s compensation insurance policy the employer is able to protect their employees by providing medical benefits and/or TTD (temporary total disability) payments that would arise from an accident during the course of their employment.

Worker’s compensation insurance doesn’t have to be a puzzle. Many options 54

should be considered when choosing a carrier to cover employees. Of course the best way to lower cost is to prevent accidents before they happen. Some worker’s compensation insurance companies offer employee health and safety training or workplace safety assessments that can be valuable to employers wanting to train their staff in safer workplace practices.

Safety training tailored to the needs of the company is an important factor in how your insurance should be structured. Obviously an office worker would be trained differently than a large industrial site employee.

Another aspect to consider is how helpful and readily available the insurance company is. Prompt service is important because the employer is paying to cover their employees, and quality service can ultimately determine the employer’s willingness to remain partnered with that worker’s compensation provider. An insurance company’s reputation can be driven by the quality of service they provide, which should be part of the selection

process. Of course, the overall cost of the insurance policy is probably one of the most important items to consider when deciding which company/policy to select.

Employers are concerned with the bottom line of running a business so they should be of the value they get for the premium paid. Employers should consider the costversus-benefit analysis and of what value it provides the company. The decision has to be made: Does it make sense to pay more for a policy to have better coverage, or can a less expensive policy still work for the company?

The goal of the employer and the worker’s compensation insurance carrier is to return the injured worker back to the workforce as quickly and as safely as possible. In the state of Indiana, the employer directs which worker’s compensation company an employee will be receiving treatment through, and that can ultimately impact how quickly an injured worker returns back to work. The worker’s compensation insurance company can work directly with the employer to determine www.buildingindiana.com

a provider who will treat the injury. This is a key factor in getting a patient to MMI (maximum medical improvement).

Employers and insurance companies need to make informed decisions when choosing who will treat the injured employee. These discussions between the insurance company and the insured need to take place prior to any work injuries occurring to ensure there is a plan set in place as to how injuries will be handled.

Choosing an experienced physician who is knowledgeable in Indiana worker’s compensation laws is vital. A physician wellversed in worker’s compensation issues can impact the cost to the insurance company and the employer by safely returning the injured worker to the workforce in a timely manner. Of course, the longer an injured employee is off, the more costly it is for the employer. Decreases in production and needs for temporary replacements can drain a company’s bottom line.

Picking an insurance company to cover employees can be a challenge. Check with an experienced insurance professional for advice on what worker’s compensation options are available. Employers can compare different coverage options between insurance companies that include cost and reputation of the insurance carrier as well as superior service.

Under the Worker’s Compensation Act of the State of Indiana, employers are required to provide insurance coverage for injured employees and provide treatment for them to get them back to work as soon as possible. Proper coverage can protect both the employer and the employee from expenses due to work accidents.

Thorough research when choosing a company to cover valued employees can be the difference between success and failure. Unfortunately, accidents do happen at work. But being prepared and informed of worker’s compensation insurance options and providers can reduce the stress on a business dealing with a work-related injury. By providing proper worker’s compensation insurance coverage, employers and employees alike will benefit by offering comprehensive treatment and reimbursement for lost wages and minimal time off. www.buildingindiana.com

Items to Consider When Selecting a Worker’s Compensation Insurer • • • • •

What does the company offer?

Do they provide any workplace safety training?

Is the training tailored to the needs of your company?

Does the insurer have prompt customer service?

Consider the needs of your company – Does it make sense to pay more for a policy to have better coverage, or can a less expensive policy still work for the company?

•

Research all options, and be informed!

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LIFELONG LEARNING

Practice Makes Perfect Ways Indiana’s Medical Professionals Continue to Learn

care professionals and health care facilities are continually educating staff from physicians to nurses to ancillary personnel he field of medicine is always evolving. New medical such as pharmacy, respiratory, radiology, laboratory and the practices and methods are developed every week across therapies (physical and speech). There is a financial impact the world. Doctors and nurses must frequently acquire on the hospitals to keep staff current with new equipment and new skills to better care for their patients; it is easy to understand procedures as well as keeping current training up to date. In order why medical professionals do not stop their education with to continue to provide the superior care that Franciscan Alliance graduation from med school. It’s a lifelong process that will is known for, it is essential that we maintain a well-educated and never truly end. The state of Indiana has specific requirements current staff.”

Hodges also spoke about the educational opportunities for continuing education based on the type of medical profession being practiced, and a multitude of listed programs that will satisfy that area hospitals provide to their staff, and the advantages that are created for both the those requirements.

“We also have our own medical technology student and the hospital. “The From a business perspective, continuing program, which serves as a feeder to Alverno Educational Services department education for medical Clinical Labs. These students gain clinical skills and of Franciscan St. Margaret Health provides classes to keep staff professionals has an competencies while at Franciscan Alliance and keep current in BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, impact on Indiana’s bottom line. Doctors our staff engaged in the best practices of their field. EFM, TNCC, ENP, Basic EKG, 12 Lead EKG, and a comprehensive and other healthcare It is a win-win for student and the hospital.” critical care orientation program,” professionals are investing their finances - Ina Hodges, Northern Indiana Region Director of Clinical Hodges said.

“Franciscan Alliance also in continued education Education, Franciscan Alliance is a partner in education with a programs, thus adding to the economic growth of Indiana institutions, and it means that wide variety of schools of higher education such as Midwestern medical professionals are making themselves more marketable University for Medical Education of medical students, residents by enhancing their skill sets and rising above the competition, and fellows and with Indiana University Northwest for radiology thus adding to the economic growth of Indiana’s healthcare technicians and Moraine Valley and Ivy Tech for respiratory therapists, Purdue University for pharmacy students and industry.

Ina Hodges, Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region multiple universities for physical therapy, occupational therapy Director of Clinical Education, spoke about the most important and speech students.

Hodges added, “We also have our own medical technology aspects of continuing education for medical professionals in terms of the financial impact it has on hospitals. Hodges said, program, which serves as a feeder to Alverno Clinical Labs. These “Health care and technology are changing at a rapid pace. Health students gain clinical skills and competencies while at Franciscan

By Nick Dmitrovich

T

56

www.buildingindiana.com

Alliance and keep our staff engaged in the best practices of their field. It is a win-win for student and the hospital.”

The subject of continuing education for individuals in the medical field comes up most often when the individual is going through licensing and renewal processes.

The state requirements for acquiring new knowledge differ greatly by profession and range from simply taking a few online classes each year to actively enrolling in traditional college courses.

The state’s licensure website explains that each specific profession has a section of listed approved courses that will satisfy the requirements posted by the state. Many medical professionals utilize organizations like the American Medical Association, national organizations specific to each profession (such as the American Optometric Association, and the American Dental Association), medical courses offered through the United States Department of Education, the Council of Post-Secondary Education, and numerous others. Many of the

www.buildingindiana.com

courses are available to complete though online correspondence, but Indiana is increasingly implementing a minimum number of in-person requirements for several courses of study that follow traditional classroom/seminar settings.

Additionally, professionals can enroll in online or on-site courses through Indiana’s colleges and universities. The Indiana University School of Medicine has an entire division devoted to continued education that can benefit students at any stage in their career, from undergrads to grads, to post-doctorate continued learning.

The Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA) lists numerous approved programs for continuing education courses for nurses. Though Indiana doesn’t expressly require continuing education for nurses, many of them learn a great deal throughout their daily schedules while at work. Nurses seeking advancement to different careers in the medical field would still need continued education to get there. Examples of the programs cited

by the ISNA are: • Indiana Healthcare Leadership Conference, through the Indiana State Department of Health • Purdue University Calumet offers several approved courses: • Taking the Next Step: Giving Life to the Evidence • Partners in Care: Patients, Providers and the Evidence • Comprehensive Systematic Review • Evidence Implementation Fellowship • Faith Community Nursing, Primary Health Ministry, through the University of Indianapolis • Tying Up Loose Ends, through Marian University These programs come in addition to the numerous national programs available for nurses to continue developing their skills. Individual curriculum mapping would be specific to the professional, of course, due to the fact that Indiana does not have specific requirements for nurses.

Selected programs are designed to help nurses further their career goals.

57

GREEN & SUSTAINABLE

Where does it all go?

The reality about medical waste disposal

By Nick Dmitrovich

M

any individuals wonder what happens with medical/surgical items after they are used during a visit to the doctor’s office. Questions arise as to how these items are handled, and properly disposed of. Today’s current policies on the handling of wastes generated by medical facilities were first implemented with the “Medical Waste Tracking Act” that was passed in 1988.

After a shocking incident when quantities of medical waste materials washed up on the shore of several beaches along the East Coast, Congress opted to amend the “Solid Waste Disposal Act” to include medical waste policies detailing tracking, use and proper disposal.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, components of the 1988 amendments included: • Defining what medical wastes were, and determining which ones would be subject to regulations • Establishing standards for separation, packaging, labeling and marking, and storage of the defined items • Creating a tracking system that follows items throughout their use and disposal • Establishing record keeping requirements and penalties for mismanagement In addition to federal procedures for proper handling and disposal of medical waste, each state has its own policies in place. Indiana requires that all infectious waste or pathological waste (blood or other tissue) be “treated on-site or transported off site for effective treatment” if it is stored in an unsecure area. If the facility can secure the medical waste in a 58

manner that is “designed and maintained to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons,” then it may remain stored for treatment at a later time.

Many Indiana hospitals have their own medical waste disposal/incineration processes. There are also several private companies that handle the disposal of medical waste that are used by medical facilities. American Medical Waste Professionals (AMPRO) in Elkhart services over 1300 customers in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan and is identified as the only infectious waste disposal facility in North Central Indiana. Nancy Carter, owner of AMPRO, said, “We are the largest independent processor of medical waste in Indiana, handling more than 1.2 million pounds of waste a year. We have five fulltime employees and two part-time, all of which are Hoosiers.”

MedPro Disposal has several locations in Indiana as well and offers a wide array of services covering sharps and waste removal/disposal along with expired prescription drug disposal. Businesses like these, and others across Indiana, help to insure that the federal and state level regulations are met and the public is protected from biohazard and infectious materials.

Under the federal legislation, the EPA defined items such as blood-soaked bandages (or any other bloody items), culture dishes and other glassware, discarded surgical gloves, discarded surgical instruments, discarded needles (referred to as “medical sharps”), cultures, stocks, swabs used to inoculate cultures, removed body organs (such as tonsils, appendices, limbs), discarded lancets, and many other items generated by medical facilities as pieces of medical waste that need to be tracked and handled in specific ways. The EPA determined that the www.buildingindiana.com

greatest risk for contracting infections diseases through contact with medical waste actually befell the medical professionals handling the waste items at their point of creation. Germs naturally die over time, so they present a lesser risk for the general public to contract diseases through contact with medical waste items that are several weeks old.

When it comes to the actual process of disposal, different items are handled in different ways. Medical sharps require special consideration, because sharp items can poke through a trash bag and may pose a danger to any housekeepers, janitorial staff or waste disposal professionals handling the bags. Sharps may potentially spread HIV, Hepatitis and other diseases to anyone who could accidently be injured by them. Doctor’s offices have special plastic containers, often containing a vibrant orange bag labeled “Hazardous Materials.” Those containers are used specifically for medical sharps and the disposal of needles.

Once the sharps are bagged and segregated into their specific container, there are several options for properly disposing of them. Doctor’s offices and private citizens that need to take injections at home can utilize drop-off collection sites, special waste pickup services, mail-back programs, syringe exchange programs, or home/office needle destruction devices.

After removal, the needle is often melted down and destroyed and the plastic parts of the syringe and plug are thrown away or recycled.

The vast majority of the remaining medical waste is incinerated in hospitals.

Medical facilities that do not have a medical waste incinerator (MWI) on site will often drop off or ship their waste to the nearest facility with an MWI. The EPA stated that, “Currently, over 90% of potentially infectious medical waste is incinerated.”

The actual incineration process is also regulated with specific details in place to control the level of emissions. The EPA has these guidelines divided into two categories: emissions standards to use in developing plans to reduce air pollution from MWI’s built on or before June 20, 1996; and final air emission standards for MWI’s built after June 20, 1996. The EPA states that, “These guidelines and standards will sub-

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stantially reduce MWI emissions. The EPA estimates that mercury emission will decline by 94%, particulate matter by 90%, hydrogen chloride by 98%, and dioxin by 95%.”

And yes, if you were wondering what happens to removed tumors, organs that can’t be used for donation and amputated limbs, those are incinerated as well.

The safety practices of proper medical waste handling and removal instilled by the Environmental Protection Agency serve to protect countless medical professionals and regular citizens from contamination and infection resulting from contact with dangerous medical waste items. Without practices like these in place, the entire field of medicine would be much more dangerous for medical professionals, not to mention the dramatic impact it would have on ordinary people coming to hospitals to receive treatment, and the environmental impact. Thankfully, medical waste washing up along the shore has become a thing of the past.

Monday, July 22, 2013 White Hawk Country Club Crown Point • 9am Shotgun Start

Largest Construction Golf Outing in Northwest Indiana • Networking • Door Prizes • Giveaways • Laughs • Open Bar This event will sell out, reserve your spot today

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 219.226.0300 nwibrt.org/golf-outing 59

WELCOME CENTER

By Jamie Newton, Communications Director, Brown County Conventions and Visitors Bureau

L

ast year, nearly one million dollars were spent by visitors on camping in just the Brown County State Park Campground alone. The county boasts a total of five campgrounds offering electric sites, primitive camping, and horse sites.

Among these sites is Bill Monroe’s Music Park and Campground, a popular venue for grand events like the Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, the longest running bluegrass festival in the nation.

Brown County, Indiana is a beautiful area that has grown significantly in the last few years in outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors. With at least 90 percent of its area covered in forest, including portions of the Hoosier National Forest, Yellowwood State Forest, and all of 60

Brown County State Park, Brown County is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. It offers a variety of activities such as biking, hiking, running, ziplining, horseback riding, bird watching, fishing, and canoeing.

opportunity to sleep under the stars in a place where you can see the sky, hear the birds chirping, smell the fresh air and hear the embers of the fire crackle is an experience that many love and crave. It can be hard to find in many other Indiana

The gorgeous palette of fall foliage in September and October is a popular time for visitors to camp among the beauty, and each year most of the lodging in the area, including the campgrounds, are at maximum capacity.

Brown County’s major market and moneymaker is tourism. There are no factories or major corporations. We have a number of small, locally owned businesses. Without tourism, this area would be very different. Relying on visitors to stay, eat, shop, and play yearround is a must.

Camping in Brown County is a given, and a tradition among some families. The

cities, and it doesn’t take long for someone to get hooked on Brown County. We’ve found that many people also come back at various times of the year to either camp or stay in other lodging accommodations in the area and continue to be a longtime visitor. As a result, our visitors flock from all over Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri and create quite an impact on the economy in Brown County.

During the Bluegrass Festival, the campground is packed to capacity for the full eight days of the event. The campground has 300 electric sites sold at about $25 a spot and 400 primitive sites sold at $15 a spot. Over eight days, that www.buildingindiana.com

amounts to $108,000 in just camping revenue. In addition, those County Breakdown that brought in 470 people to Brown County that leave the festival to shop for groceries and treasures, to eat for one weekend in October last year, that’s over $150,000 spent at restaurants, and to visit the local attractions keep the dollars in camping dollars. That doesn’t include the dollars spent at local traveling into Brown County’s economy. restaurants, such as local microbrewery Big Woods Brewery and The increasing popularity of mountain bike trails in Muddy Boots Café, the local shops, snacks, or grocery stores.

Brown County has also added to camping tourism. In And like many of us do, we always forget something! Thankfully 2009, Brown County trails were local stores like the Brown County IGA named some of the best in the and Bear Hardware save the day. With an nation, and in 2011, Brown estimated five to six mountain bike events County State Park trails each year, there’s plenty of opportunity In 2011, Brown County State received an EPIC status by for tourism dollars to flow through the Park trails received an EPIC the International Mountain county.

Bicycling Association Brown County continues to grow status by the International (IMBA). The EPIC status with more recreation opportunities.

Mountain Bicycling is an honor, as it is given More mountain bike trails are being Association.

Previously in to only the most finely built in the Brown County State Park 2009, the trails were named constructed and scenic and new businesses catering to the trail systems in the outdoor market are popping up more best in the nation world.

Mountain and more. Every year, new events come bikers are avid on board and expand the opportunities campers, and their standard for visitors to enjoy the great outdoors stay is four days. With an average spot costing around in Brown County. The combination of all these features brings $23, that’s only $92 for the trip. more visitors to the area and fills up both our campgrounds When you take into account the high-quality events and our lodging accommodations at different times of the year, that bring in over 400 participants, like the annual Brown consistently impacting the economy of our beautiful county.

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MARKETING

I’ve Seen That Before!

The Importance of Branding

By Nick Dmitrovich Designing the right logo and the right branding style appropriate for your business can significantly enhance your visibility and customer awareness. Picture the “golden arches” logo and the red/white/ yellow color scheme for the international fast food chain McDonald’s and you know exactly what kind of an impact the right symbol can have on a company.

McDonald’s doesn’t even have to display their name in its advertisements, on many advertisements they simply show their logo. Today there’s even a video trivia game available for mobile devices where players have to correctly identify which logo belongs to which company.

In the business world, branding is more important than ever if companies want to make a name for themselves and stand out from the crowd.

The American Marketing Association defines branding as “a customer experience represented by a collection of images and ideas; often, it refers to a symbol such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme.” They go on to explain that branding often has its own unique “personality” that is designed to evoke a specific feeling from the customer.

“Brand recognition and other reactions 62

are created by the accumulation of experiences with the specific product or service, both directly relating to its use, and through the influence of advertising, design, and media commentary,” the AMA states.

“Branding is important because you want to create a look that allows people to recognize and remember your business,”

“It’s all about getting your name out there – and keeping it out there – in a recognizable and identifiable way so that over time your customers develop a personal feeling toward your company.

You want people to remember you, and branding is one of the best ways to do it.”

- Liza Hilliard, Advertising Director with Diversified Marketing Strategies

said Amber Price, freelance Graphic Designer. “The design should be cohesive; you want everything to share the same theme. Implementing a branding guide

ensures that the style a company selects is carried through all of the advertisements and various media in the right way.”

Carlo Labriola, also a Graphic Designer with Diversified Marketing’s Construction Directory, commented on the importance of recognizing your target audience and creating your branding package to be specifically aimed towards it. “Consider your target audience as you’re beginning to formulate your branding ideas,” he said. “Make sure your image is geared toward them. If your product is aimed at, let’s say, construction professionals, create your look to be appropriate to your client base using recognizable colors, pictures and graphics. They should be able to look at it and say, ‘Yes, that’s for us.’”

AllBusiness and Forbes posted a checklist called “Branding Right” for companies that are reviewing their branding portfolio. They listed several ways to achieve what they described as a company’s “consciousness, image, and awareness.” Important items to note are: • Think critically – Your brand should elicit attention from the public continually and should reflect something your audience is seeking that they will not find through your competitors.

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•

• • •

Stick with your brand – There will come a point when you start feeling bored with your brand or logo, but it is important to remember that this is the point when your brand is most likely beginning to sink in with your client base.

Recognize that you can’t please everyone – It’s better to focus on your client base or niche market than to try to appeal to everybody.

Know thyself – Understand your strengths and weaknesses through close analysis of what your company does best.

Commit – Develop your branding and stick with it. Treat all of the functions of your company as important aspects of your brand.

Other important items to include are web pages that maintain your design, adding email signatures that reflect your company’s image, and carrying your image across all ads, cards, etc.

The true purpose for designing a brand for your company is to be remembered by the consumers in a way that reflects your product.

Consider the Apple logo used in the marketing campaign for Apple Inc. It’s simple and clean. Customers recognize the logo every time they see it, and the design reflects the product of the company - user-friendly, modern technology. The logo also serves the secondary function of backing the promises made by the company, in that they deliver simple and efficient devices.

“Branding for a company like Disney is huge. When I began working for Disney Cruise Line, I was introduced to a large binder of just branding guidelines. Keeping not only the ships branding, but also character integrity was important.” Jennifer Labriola, a Creative Director that has worked for high-profile branding companies such as Disney Cruise Line and Horseshoe Casino.

“Besides print branding, Disney goes as far as branding their ‘Cast Members’ or employees. The Disney look, for employees, is a clean whole-some look.” Labriola says. “No tattoos showing, your nails are kept to a certain length, and no crazy hair styles are among The Disney Look booklet all employees receive.”

“Disney has their look down to a science. It’s amazing and impressive that a company that large can maintain their look across the globe,” she says.

The value of a well-branded advertising campaign is always a good investment for your business. In today’s economy, many small business owners are reluctant to spend their finances on advertising out of fear that they will not see a return. However, a recent study detailed in Forbes Magazine explained that most asset managers planned small increases in their marketing budgets even when the economy was at its lower points. The study also found that investing in branding was rated the highest priority among any marketing-related category to invest in. Industry leaders realize that branding is an investment in the company’s future. It ensures continued business from their client base through familiarity, recognition and continued exposure.

“Developing a branding campaign is an excellent decision to make for your company,” said Liza Hilliard, Advertising Director with Diversified Marketing Strategies. “It’s all about getting your name out there – and keeping it out there – in a recognizable and identifiable way so that over time your customers develop a personal feeling toward your company. You want people to remember you, and branding is one of the best ways to do it.”

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EVENT

LAKESHORE CHAMBER GOLF OUTING 17th Annual Golf Outing www.lakeshorechamber.com NWIBRT GOLF OUTING Bigger and better than ever in 2013!

Last year’s event broke White Hawk’s record for attendees at an event! This year will be even better! nwibrt.org/golf-outing NWIBRT SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS FAMILY SAFETY DAY This day will embrace the safety culture we work in everyday.

nwibrt.org/railcats AIST GOLF OUTING Midwest Chapter.

aist.org/mc_midwest.htm NIPSCO PORTER COUNTY SAFETY DAYS Gas, Line & Meter departments participate in safety education.

For exhibitor information call 219-226-0300.

AIST MIDWEST CHAPTER VENDOR FAIR Free buffet dinner, cash bar, no ticket required, spouses welcome. Over 96 exhibitors.

VENUE

Lost Marsh

DATE & TIME

July 10, 2013

Hammond IN White Hawk Country Club

July 22, 2013 8:00 A.M.

Crown Point, IN Southshore August 4, RailCats 2013 Stadium 2:10 P.M. One Stadium Plaza, Gary, IN White Hawk Country Club

August 15, 2013

Crown Point, IN Porter County Fair Grounds

September 10-11, 2013

7:00-12:30 Valpoaraiso, P.M. IN Each Day Radisson September Star Plaza 17, 2013 Hotel 3:00-8:00 Merrillville, P.M. IN

aist.org/mc_midwest.htm THE BIG SCHMOOZE Shake hands, exchange cards, & SCHMOOZE at this networkingfocused fundraising kick-off for the Lake Area United Way & United Way of Porter County.

Avalon Manor

September 19, 2013

Merrillville, 5:00–8:00 IN P.M.

thebigschmooze.com FRANCISCAN ST. JAMES HEALTH GALA The annual black tie gala benefits Franciscan St. James health commitment to enhance technology or other programs and services of the hospital.

Chicago November 2, Oak 2013 Brook Hills Marriott Chicago, IL

www.franciscanalliance.org

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Caring for the Community Hospitals Provide More Than Just Medical Care

By Nick Dmitrovich

H

ospitals across the state of Indiana keep their communities healthy, fit, and employed. Beyond these tremendous impacts, hospitals are also centers of commerce that augment the economic development of their surrounding areas by bringing dollars into the community in a variety of ways. In 2007, the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) published a report titled the “Indiana Hospitals Community Benefit Report” that detailed the vital contributions hospitals make to the entire economic spectrum.

“Hospitals track the current and emerging needs of their communities and develop local solutions for local health problems,” the IHA report stated. “They provide free screenings and education.

Hospitals invest in and partner with schools and universities to train medical personnel. They financially support the recruitment of physicians to rural areas where they are in short supply. Hospitals provide services such as EMS and burn units at a tremendous financial loss.

Whether it is providing free care, health education, or training future health professionals, your community hospital uses its resources to fulfill its mission.”

A survey of Indiana Hospitals conducted just before the IHA report was published found that hospitals, “provided over $1 billion in community benefits to Hoosiers over a 12-month period.” The survey gathered data from 94 different hospitals over a 12-month period and defined “community benefits” as “services and programs that meet communities’ needs and for which hospitals do not receive payments.” Some examples of these benefits include free patient care, community health improvement programs, medical research and education.

To take this contribution to the community even further, hospitals throughout Indiana paid an estimated $15 million in property taxes during the surveyed year.

In Indiana, nearly 50% of property tax dol64

lars go to schools (44.18%) and libraries (4.53%), meaning that hospitals directly contributed $7.5 million to those institutions during a 12-month period through their paid tax dollars.

The IHA report states that Indiana hospitals treated 2.2 million patients who came to the hospital for emergency procedures. By law, hospitals are required to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay, often at a loss to the hospital if the patient is unable to cover their incurred medical expenses. In a sense, this is one of the greatest contributions that hospitals provide, costing them millions of dollars in “bad debt” every year. The trade-off in this instance is that not-for-profit hospitals receive tax benefits from the government throughout the year.

“Community benefit is essentially a ‘social contract’ between hospitals and the local/state government.

In exchange for providing free care, absorbing losses associated with serving Medicaid patients, and providing other needed community health benefits, the not-for-profit hospitals receive some tax exemptions which help offset those losses and pay for uninsured care. This social contract works for Indiana and its diverse communities,” the IHA report stated.

Hospitals also provide local solutions to local problems. Each county in Indiana has a unique demographic and unique health concerns. Hospitals partner with local churches, businesses, YMCAs, food banks, 4-H clubs, law enforcement agencies, and many other organizations to combat these individual problems. Examples of these part-

nerships include organizing community safety programs such as providing bike helmets and car-seat inspections, establishing support groups for cancer patients, new parent groups or alcoholics anonymous seminars, providing education on how to live with complex medical problems like diabetes and asthma, contributions to emergency medical services and fire departments, and many, other functions designed to improve the quality of life for Indiana residents.

The implications of programs like these have a far reaching impact across the state that is often not attributed to hospitals themselves. It is easy to notice when a hospital saves a life in an emergency room, but not as obvious when a life is

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saved through safety education or instances like a child car-seat inspection that corrects a dangerous problem. In that regard, it is impossible to say exactly how many Hoosier lives Indiana hospitals save, but these programs are quite possibly the greatest contribution that hospitals make.

Beyond the social impact of hospitals, they also stimulate revenue by providing jobs. The healthcare industry is growing at a stronger rate than ever before, according to the IHA. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported that Registered Nursing is the number-one growth occupation in Indiana.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of today, more than a quarter million people are employed in the healthcare industry in Indiana. “The payroll of Indiana’s hospitals in 2005 was about $4.6 billion. That generates another $5.9 billion in payroll in other community jobs,” a 2006 American Hospital Association survey said. Those dollar amounts are actually much higher today due to the fact that the healthcare employment roster is much higher now than it was in 2005.

Indirectly, hospitals also bring dollars to the community in the form of tourism revenue when patients have to travel to receive treatment. For example, some types of therapy do not require the patient to stay at the hospital during the course of treatment; therefore an individual that does not reside locally would have to find lodging nearby. Dollars are also spent by friends and family members that come from out of town to visit loved ones while they are hospitalized.

Hospitals form a cornerstone of Indiana’s economy, bringing dollars into the communities that surround them and employing Hoosiers in higher numbers than ever before. Beyond just the financial impact though, hospitals provide numerous programs designed to enhance the quality of life for the people in those communities. No single individual or organization benefits from all this – it’s a benefit that is shared by all.

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The report detailed a specific breakdown of the dollar amounts generated for communities by hospitals as follows: Charity Care:

$390,824,000

Less: Hospital Care for Indigent Payments:

($31,143,000)

Net Charity Care =

$359,681,000

Medicaid Underpayments:

$830,018,000

Less: Upper Payment Limit Program Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital

($216,286,000)

Program Payments, Net

($117,939,000)

Net Medicaid Underpayments

+$495,793,000

Community Activity Expenses

+$232,459,000

Net Community Benefit (at actual cost)

$1,087,933,000

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The Last Word Trends and Opportunities for NWI

By Karen Lauerman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Northwest Indiana Forum

O

earnings top the list; while manufacturing more with less, streamlining operations n April 29th the Regional Council and durable goods manufacturing are the of Economists released the resulted in an extremely modest decrease major industries for Pulaski and Stark in employment (.8%) out of the recession, most recent Northwest Indiana Regional Trends and Opportunities demonstrating that things are moving in a respectively.

The success in attracting new Report. The 2013 edition of the report positive direction. companies over the last two years revolved Private sector sales (the dollar value of focused on the Regional Recovery from around our mainstays of manufacturing all sales in the region) climbed $2 billion the Great Recession. The good news is and transportation/distribution/logistics, (fourth quarter, 2012), from $41 billion to that Northwest Indiana fared far better followed by information technology/ $43 billion, at the end of the third quarter than the state and national averages, due in part to our core industries and the in 2011. With household earnings rising data and customer support centers, food processing and healthcare. And the 35% over the last reporting decade (2001growth in healthcare. number of leads received by the Northwest 2011) for a total of $19.2 billion based only Continuing to report on key indicators Indiana Forum in these categories support allows us to measure our improvements, on those who work in the region. the results of the indicators report.

Not surprisingly, the average wage identify trends and look for opportunities One of the most interesting revelations to grow and diversify our regional remained consistent between the two reporting periods, with the average is the outstanding need for skilled, economy. This project is a partnership certificate or associate degree of university economists careers with attrition in the representing Ivy Tech, Indiana Even though employers learned how to do more workforce. These are good University Northwest, Purdue with less, streamlining operations resulted in an paying jobs, and many are in Calumet, Purdue North Central, extremely modest decrease in employment (.8%) demand. According to the data, Valparaiso University and the out of the recession, demonstrating that things are an operating engineer with business community represented moving in a positive direction. license and certification earns by the Northwest Indiana Forum Regional Economic Development Organization, NIPSCO, Center for Workforce Innovations and the NWI Small Business Development Center.

But what did the numbers really show?

First and foremost, they showed a growth in our Gross Regional Product (GRP). GRP is the sum of all of the economic activity in the seven county (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Newton, Jasper and Pulaski) region. This includes consumer spending, business investment, government spending and net exports. The total GRP was $33,250,000,000 (2011 data) up from $29,350,000,000 (2008 data).

This means that though the downturn affected Northwest Indiana, the current numbers show production is up and growing in Northwest Indiana. Even though employers learned how to do

employer enterprise earnings (average company profit per employee) dropping significantly lower during the recession— an upside down economy.

In its simplest form, companies were not making the level of income necessary to further invest in expansions or new operations and growth. They were, however, able to maintain employment levels during that time frame. As companies recover and bottom lines improve as the current report reflects, the opportunities will as well.

The largest industry in Lake and Porter Counties continues to be primary metal manufacturing, while in LaPorte hospitals lead the way. In the more rural counties of Jasper and Newton, farm

an average salary of near $70,000 while a personal financial advisor with a Bachelor’s degree earns $50,794.

We must further the notion that these career paths are “not your parent’s or grandparent’s” jobs. Those days are gone.

Now the task is to integrate these paths into our high schools and post-secondary institutions for those students and individuals suited to these fields.

While the numbers are excellent indicators of movement forward and economic recovery, there is still much to be done. The Northwest Indiana Forum and its partners working together in Northwest Indiana position our region to attract and retain business, investment and jobs; market our many assets; and take advantage of our prime location on the right side of Chicago.

The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the authors. We welcome your response.

If you are interested in writing an opinion piece, send an e-mail to editor@buildingindiananews.com.

66

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