Centegra Health System ended up 28th on the nationwide list of the 2008 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50. The announcement was made yesterday by AARP CEO Bill Novelli.

AARP The Magazine will feature the 2008 Best Employers in its November-December issue, due to be delivered this week.

The Best Employers winners, and the winners of a separate AARP International Innovative Employer Award, will be honored at a dinner on October 7 in Chicago.

Key areas of consideration for the award include:

recruiting practices, opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and pension benefits; retiree work opportunities, and training and development.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in Chicago and Hanson Professional Services of Springfiled were the only other Illinois organizations to make the top 50 list.

There is one interesting part about the recognition. Centegra is listed as being in Crystal Lake, where it has a presence, but not one of its two hospitals.