Annual Fund-raiser for JCH&L Auxiliary

FAIRBURY — The Spring Salad Festival of the Jefferson Community Health & Life Auxiliary will be held on Thursday, May 16, at the Fairbury Elks Lodge. The Salad Festival is a fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary which has been a community event since 1965.

“The Salad Festival has a long history in our community, and has been a wonderful fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary,” said Lana Likens, director of public relations at Jefferson Community Health & Life. “It is also something that has provided wonderful food and fellowship, and our community has enjoyed.”

The salad festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets will be $6 in advance, and $6.50 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Fairbury Chamber, Jefferson County Extension, Heartland Bank, American National Bank, Union Bank and Jefferson Community Health & Life.

The Spring Salad Festival is the main fund-raising event of the auxiliary. The auxiliary provides scholarships to students entering medical fields, provides Christmas gifts for residents of the Gardenside long-term care at Jefferson Community Health & Life, and provides volunteer help at JCH&L in a variety of projects.

Anyone interested in more information about the auxiliary or the salad festival should contact Lana Likens at (402) 729-6855.

Know Your Numbers by Getting a Complete Blood Profile for a Discounted Rate

Complete blood profiles will be offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life at a discounted rate weekday mornings April 29-May 3.

Blood profiles appointments will be offered each morning at the outpatient clinic area at Jefferson Community Health Center, 2200 H St. The screening will be available by appointment only. A limited number of appointments will be available. Please make your appointment early! Fasting is required prior to the blood screening. Confidential reports will be mailed to participants.

The complete blood profile will cost $45 and includes:

• Comprehensive Metabolic Profile and Lipid Profile – This group of tests tells about heart, liver, kidney and sugar levels in the blood. The cholesterol is fractionated into low- and high-density levels, and gives the person’s coronary heart disease risk.
• T4 — Basic screen for thyroid function.
• Hemagram – This is a blood count telling the number of white blood cells and red blood cells. It also tells the hemoglobin level.

The PSA screening is not available with this screening.

The profile report includes explanations of each factor which may be considered higher or lower than normal. Anyone with concerns about their screening results is encouraged to schedule an appointment with their personal family physician to discuss the results.

Since this is not a physician-ordered exam, it is not covered by Medicare or other insurance, and results are not sent to a physician. Payment will be collected at time of service. Cash and checks will be accepted for payment.

This screening is private pay only. If you want a complete blood profile which would be covered under an insurance preventative care option, you must have a physician-ordered screening, separate from this event.

The $45 rate is a considerable savings to patients compared to the regular costs of this type of complete blood profile, said Lab Manager Dan Reikofski.

To make an appointment for the blood profile, call Jefferson Community Health & Life Outpatient Services at (402) 729-6851.

Measles – a disease previously declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 – is back, and on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control, during the month of January, 79 cases of measles were confirmed in 10 states. These include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. While there are currently no cases in Nebraska, the CDC still recommends that anyone not vaccinated get vaccinated as soon as possible.

According to the CDC, measles spreads when a person that is infected breathes, coughs or sneezes. It is highly contagious, and can be spread just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, and up to 2 hours after they leave. Almost anyone who has not had the MMR vaccination will get measles if they are exposed, and once an unimmunized person gets measles, it is easily spread.

Measles can be serious in all age groups. However the CDC states, children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are more likely to suffer from measles complications such as ear infections leading to permanent hearing loss, pneumonia (infection of the lungs,) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain.)

Children typically receive their first MMR (which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella) dose between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. The CDC states that the MMR vaccine is very safe and about 97% effective at preventing measles.

The CDC recommends that teens and adults make sure they are up to date on their MMR vaccination, and if you do not have evidence of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella (such as vaccination records,) you should talk with your doctor about getting vaccinated.

More information can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html

Thanks to cooperation between Jefferson Community Health & Life, Globe Rexall Pharmacy in Fairbury, and the Country Store in Plymouth, patients of JCH&L Plymouth Clinic can pick up prescriptions at the Country Store in Plymouth.

JCH&L Plymouth Clinic opened in September, and offers family medical services on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Plymouth. If a patient is prescribed a medication, they will be asked if they would like to use Globe Rexall Pharmacy and have the prescription delivered to the Country Store later in the day. Prescriptions are typically delivered in the early evening.

“It is always the patient’s option to have a prescription filled at their pharmacy of choice. For many Plymouth area patients this is a convenient option and saves them travel time,” said Chad Jurgens, JCH&L CEO. “We are pleased at the cooperation between JHC&L, Globe Rexall and the Country Store which makes this possible.”

Appointments at JCH&L Plymouth Clinic can be made Monday through Friday by calling 402-729-6888. Appointments are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.