JCH&L Receives National Recognition for Performance Leadership

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Honored for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective

November 16, 2017 – Today, on National Rural Health Day, Jefferson Community Health & Life announced it has been recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective, reflecting top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the nation.

“This recognition affirms that our emphasis on quality, performance and satisfaction are making a difference to the community we serve. It is because of the work and care of our staff, physicians and board, and the support of our community that we are able to meet and surpass the benchmarks for recognition,” said Chad Jurgens, JCHC chief executive officer.

The rankings are determined each year using iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Analytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indicators relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEX captures performance metrics for all rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Leveraging data from public data sources, INDEX aggregates data from more than 50 individual metrics into three major categories and eight pillars to derive a single strength overall rating for each facility.

“On this important day, as we celebrate the power of rural, it’s great to recognize these top performers who are excelling in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, or operating at a lower cost than their peers,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “These leaders serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities as they strive to achieve similar results and provide a blueprint for how to successfully run a hospital and serve their communities amidst today’s uncertainty and mounting pressures.”

Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016, named as a Top 100 critical access hospital for 2014, 2015 and 2017; and named a HEALTHSTRONG hospital in 2015.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group to Meet Nov. 27

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will meet on Monday, Nov. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be a video on Celebrating the Holidays by Teepa Snow.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the lobby signage to “Hospital.” The meeting rooms will be to the left. The Small Conference Room is the second door.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Community Health & Life.  It is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no cost, and no pre-registration.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits Dec. 11

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FAIRBURY – Giving blood is giving a gift of life. Nebraska Community Bloodbank is Jefferson Community Health & Life’s bloodbank, and the two organizations partner for blood drives in Fairbury to save lives.

 

The next blood drive will be held on Monday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nebraska Community Bloodbank bloodmobile in the JCH&L parking lot (on the H street side of the building.) All types are needed. All presenting donors will be automatically entered to win Nebraska College Basketball tickets.

 

To make an appointment, call Jean Smith at JCH&L at 402-729-6851, the Nebraska Community Bloodbank at 1-877-486-9414 or visit NCBB.org and use sponsor code JCHC.

 

About Nebraska Community Blood Bank

Since 1968 Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been committed to connecting people and saving lives. Nebraska Community Blood Bank supplies lifesaving blood to healthcare facilities in six counties throughout eastern Nebraska. For more information, call 1-877-486-9414 or visit NCBB.org.

November Health Today: Living Dynamically With Diabetes

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FAIRBURY – The November Health Today Program will feature Living Dynamically with Diabetes by Jill Duis RN, certified diabetes educator at Jefferson Community Health & Life. November is National Diabetes Month.

The session will be held at 12:20 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, in the Large Conference Room at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

Health Today is a free monthly health education session offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life in a lunch-time session. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, or are welcome to purchase lunch in the JCHC cafeteria, which is located near the Conference Rooms.

JCH&L works with a wide variety of professionals who bring educational programs on health-related topics each month. Please note that the day of the week for the session will vary.

Reservations are not required. The program is FREE. The only cost for participants would be lunch, if they choose to purchase it. Participants are also welcome to carry in their lunch.

Anyone who would like to be on a mailing list to directly receive notices about the monthly sessions or anyone with questions about the program should contact Likens at (402) 729-6855.

Don’t Make A Medicare Part D Mistake

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Letting your Medicare Part D drug insurance automatically roll over from year to year could cost you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in unnecessary costs. Jefferson Community Health & Life is sponsoring “Pick the Right Medicare Drug Plan” on Thursday, Nov. 16 in Fairbury.

Medicare uses competition between insurance companies to reduce the price of prescription drug insurance. Individuals with Medicare can learn how to avoid excessive prescription costs at a free enrollment event by Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). Appointments are required.  To schedule an appointment time, call Lori DeBoer at Jefferson Community Health & Life at (402) 729-3351.

“Every year Medicare drug plans change prices, drugs covered, even the pharmacies where you get the biggest discount. That is why it is so important for people to compare drug plans every year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7,” said SHIIP-certified Medicare counselor Lori DeBoer. “With open enrollment just around the corner, it is time for people to start thinking about how to get the best drug coverage at the lowest price.”

SHIIP is part of a national network funded by Medicare, which offers unbiased counseling and information about Medicare. SHIIP does not sell or promote any insurance products. For information about Medicare, contact SHIIP at (800) 234-7119.

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About Nebraska SHIIP

Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling and education to help seniors and people with disabilities make informed decisions about health insurance. Services are provided statewide by 350 certified volunteers. Nebraska SHIIP is coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Insurance and is federally-funded.

2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE