Aureus Group

Aureus Medical Renews Joint Commission Certification

(Aureus Medical Group)

August 2, 2010

Aureus Medical Group, one of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the nation, is proud to announce that it has renewed its certification with the Joint Commission, earning a Gold Seal of Approval(TM). Aureus Medical is an affiliate of C&A Industries, parent company of Aureus Group.

An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits and more than 17,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.

As part of certification protocol, Aureus Medical underwent unannounced onsite inspection/review of processes, procedures, and competencies of healthcare staff as they relate to the Joint Commission standards for company leadership, human resources and information management, customer service, and performance improvement.

Onsite evaluations are conducted every two years with comprehensive online audits taking place in the off years. Monthly quality monitoring data is required to be submitted to the Joint Commission on an ongoing basis.

"We are very pleased to, once again, be recognized by the Joint Commission with the Gold Seal of Approval," said Craig Wolf, Vice President, Aureus Medical Group. "As one of the top staffing firms in the country, certification signifies our commitment to the highest level of standards in the healthcare staffing industry and our unwavering dedication to our clients, employees, and patient care."

Aureus Medical was one of the first healthcare staffing firms in the nation to become Joint Commission certified in 2005 and has successfully renewed its certification continually since that time.

Companies must be careful to make right decisions during hiring process

(Aureus Group and Celebrity Staff)

Midlands Business Journal, June 25, 2010

Companies must act cautiously when making hiring decisions because the wrong decision could potentially be very costly. Most companies don't calculate the direct and indirect costs of hiring or replacing employees, said Chris Carlson, regional manager of Aureus Group, a division of C&A Industries. A company has many methods of recruiting top talent, said Elizabeth Ambri, branch manager of Celebrity Staff in Lincoln. Making a bad employment decision costs employers money, Carlson said. Direct costs include advertising a job, staff expenses, relocation expenses and internal referral bonuses. Indirect costs include time spent on hiring. "Some new hires are bad fits," Carlson said. "Mistakes happen. Spotting mistakes early saves time and money." A new hire who does not ask questions throws up a red flag, Carlson said. Not asking questions may mean the person does not understand the job, does not know who to ask or may not care if the task is done well. The most important part of hiring is to understand what is needed before recruiting starts, Carlson said. This will help employers understand the target candidate pool and create a plan. Companies that do the best job of finding top talent keep their talent pool full and never stop recruiting, Celebrity Staff's Ambri said. Some of the best methods for finding top talent include attending networking events, talking to customers and other agencies in the industry, friends, family, using outside recruiters, and creating buzz on social networking sites. More companies are using sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and My Space to recruit, as it is an effective way to get the word out about a company, Ambri said. Retaining top talent requires being a great company, she said. "Employees are wanting to work for great companies," Ambri said. "In return, companies need to take the time to communicate with their employees."

Employment firms help companies seeking workers, those in search of jobs

Midlands Business Journal, May 14, 2010

Employment firms can be valuable aids for people looking for jobs and for the companies looking for employees. Employment firms invest a lot of time in educating candidates that it places in jobs, said Chris Carlson, regional manager at Aureus Group. According to Carlson, employment firms can offer leads, develop resources, provide tips on how to write resumes and interview coaching. "We invest a lot of time educating candidates on the reality of market salaries, demanded skills, and career planning," she said. "Employment firms are hired to find the best talent available so it's critical to keep skills current and continue the journey of professional development." The key to understanding a successful match is having a true understanding of the role, how it impacts the company's overall mission and aligns with the career goals of the employee, Carlson said. To achieve this, an objective assessment of an organization's culture, retention rates, job descriptions, compensation, interviewing and performance expectations are needed. Businesses use employment firms to provide expertise in the marketplace and find hidden talent sources, Carlson said. Companies want an unbiased picture of the employment landscape, and employment firms are not vulnerable to the pressures of internal politics and cultural dimensions. Prospective employees looking at using an employment firm should research it and choose one that specializes in their areas of expertise, Carlson said.

C&A Industries Named Among Best Omaha Employers for Second Consecutive Year

(C&A Industries, Inc.)

Omaha Magazine, January 6, 2010

C&A Industries, Inc., parent company to a portfolio of leading staffing and recruiting firms, has been named among the top employers in Omaha by Omaha Magazine for the second consecutive year.

The announcement is featured in the magazine's January/February 2010 "Best of Omaha" issue.

"This is very exciting for C&A, to have been recognized not only this year but for two years in a row," said Scot Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, C&A Industries. "Whether in prosperous or challenging times, our mission is to be the staffing provider and employer of choice. To be named as among Omaha's best employers says a great deal about C&A."

Since 1992, Omaha Magazine has been awarding, based on public vote, the "Best of" in a wide variety of categories, including restaurants, arts & culture, retail, and more.

Omaha Magazine is a regional lifestyle publication that serves a readership of more than 100,000. For more than 20 years, Omaha Magazine brings its readers captivating stories on area politics, home and garden, leisure life, food and dining, style, the arts, entertainment and travel, as well as service articles and compelling features on the area's most interesting people and places.

Detailed Record Keeping, Professional Advice Can Help During Tax Season

Midlands Business Journal, October 9, 2009

Be prepared, keep detailed records, and be aware of tax laws which may help you ameliorate losses in an economically turbulent year as you look ahead to the coming tax season. The tax season can be stressful in small business offices of accounting departments of large companies, but learning from past experiences can help you lower the level of jitters as crunch time approaches, said Chris Carlson, regional manager at Aureus Group. "You must take a proactive stance to manage human capital effectively during this time," she said. "Use your prior year's experiences to plan for this year," she said. "This sounds simple, but it's something that is not always done effectively." Budgetary constraints in a volatile economy make it difficult for some companies to hire consultants or temporary workers to help out, she said. "Do a quick assessment of the talent you have on staff," she said. "There may be someone from another department who can help with tax preparation." Your experienced employees may be able to do short tax training courses for newer staff, she said. "Allowing flexible work arrangements can be helpful when your employees are being asked to do a lot of extra things." Carlson said. A company that finds it more economical to hire outside help temporarily might consider the value of using retired professionals or other accounting students, she said.