February 2021 | JC Health and Life

Blood Profiles to be Offered at JCH&L

February 22, 2021/by Lana Likens

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 March 29-April 9.

Blood profiles appointments will be offered weekdays at the outpatient clinic area at Jefferson Community Health Center, 2200 H St; and Thursday, April 8, at JCH&L Plymouth Clinic, 316 N. Madison Ave., Suite 200, Plymouth.

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. All participants will be provided their confidential screening results.

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.

This year there are also two optional additions to the test: a PSA (prostate-specific antigen test) for men for $10; and Hemoglobin A1C, which measures average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months, for $10.

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.

JCH&L COVID Vaccination Clinics Continue Weekly

February 11, 2021/by Lana Likens

Jefferson Community Health & Life is holding weekly COVID vaccination clinics, and is currently scheduling area residents who are age 80 and older for vaccinations.

If you are a resident of Jefferson County who is 75 and older and would like the COVID vaccination and have not yet been called to schedule OR if you are a Fairbury clinic patient who is 75 or older who did not receive a flyer or who hasn’t been called yet, please call JCH&L at 402-587-5188. Please leave us a message with your name, birthdate and telephone number. JCH&L will call those interested in order of age as vaccine is available.

When calling for scheduling, each patient will be asked questions about their health status and will be given vaccine clinic information. The scheduler will schedule first and second doses of the vaccine, which are 28 days apart. JCH&L is limited to 100 vaccinations per week, and vaccinations will be given by appointment only. JCH&L is following the guidelines from Public Health Solutions and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“We are grateful for the partnership of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church which is allowing us to use their location for our weekly vaccine clinics,” said Amber Brunow, infection preventionist. “The church gives us excellent accessibility, and a place for those receiving vaccinations to be dropped off and picked up.”

Fairbury Clinic physicians support vaccination of their patients. They have instructed schedulers to ask health questions, and if any concerns arise they will provide further instructions.

Some vaccine information:
*This will be the Moderna vaccine. It requires 2 doses 28 days apart.

*The most commonly reported side effects are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever. More people experience these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose.

*A full fact sheet on the vaccine is available at https://www.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/recipients/

*You should not get this vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine, or to a previous dose of this vaccine

*You may not have had any other vaccination of any type for the 14 days prior to receiving this vaccine.

Vaccine clinics will be scheduled in the future for those who are 65 -74 and for those who have underlying health conditions.

Public Health Solutions will offer community clinics at a later date.

JCH&L Holds Annual Meeting

February 2, 2021/by Lana Likens

2020 was an unusual year, but successful in spite of COVID-19

The Jefferson Community Health & Life board of directors held the organization’s annual membership meeting for fiscal 2020 on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Two board members were elected to serve on the board: Trevor Steinmeyer, for his second term; and Glenda Austin, for her first term, taking the spot left by Brian Scheele. Steinmeyer is employed by Flood Communications at Ol’ Red 99.5 radio in Fairbury. Glenda is an owner and agent of Shelter Insurance in Fairbury. Board members are elected from among members of the corporation and may serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.

Linda Bauer, board chairman, thanked the administration, medical staff, board members and staff for their efforts and excellent care. She gave a number of highlights of the year, as listed for the membership in a report from Dr. Burke Kline, DHA, chief executive officer. Dr. Kline has been CEO since June.

Highlights included JCH&L being named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital for Quality; being named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital for the sixth time in six years; being recognized for a Performance Leadership award; and having Gardenside recognized as a 5-Star facility. In staff news, Kensly Williams PA-C joined the staff in February 2020. Rebecca Stroklund, D.O., joined the staff in January 2021. Ashley Norden was named clinic administrator in May and earned her Rural Health Clinic professional certification in November. Doug Ruzicka, PA-C, retired in January after 40 years in Fairbury. New services included the addition of nephrologist Jeffrey T. Marple, MD, by telehealth; Casey Bowen, MD, dermatologist; Wendy Reeves, OB-GYN; Aaron Ward, MD, diabetes specialist by telehealth; and Lauren Cox, ODT, OTR/L, with JCH&L Sport Medicine and Rehab Services adding pediatric occupational therapy services. Rebecca Bowen, MD, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery specialist, replaced Dr. H. Russell Semm, who retired; and Joni Tilford, MD, medical oncologist, replaced Dr. Alan Berg, who retired.

Chance Klasek, CFO, reported that both revenues and expenses were up in fiscal 2020, with the year ending on a total margin of 14.1 percent. It was one of JCH&L’s best years financially.

Anyone who has donated $100 or more to Jefferson Community Health & Life is a member of the private not-for-profit corporation.

At the regular monthly board meeting which followed the annual meeting, officers were elected for 2020. Officers are: Trevor Steinmeyer, chairman; Brian Blobaum, vice chairman; and Sheri Schultis, secretary-treasurer.

JCH&L Vaccination Clinics Begin on Friday, Feb. 5

February 1, 2021/by Lana Likens

Jefferson Community Health & Life has begun calling patients to schedule COVID vaccinations, starting with Fairbury Clinic patients who are over 90. JCH&L is limited to 100 vaccinations per week, and vaccinations will be given by appointment only. JCH&L is following the guidelines from Public Health Solutions and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“We will receive a limited number of vaccinations each week, and will need to make sure we have the right number of patients scheduled each week to utilize all vaccine available to us,” said Amber Brunow, infection preventionist.

Fairbury Clinic patients who are 75 and older have been mailed flyers with information about the clinics and the vaccine. Patients will be called in order of age. Each patient will be asked questions about their health status and will be given vaccine clinic information. The scheduler will schedule first and second doses of the vaccine, which are 28 days apart.

Fairbury Clinic patients who did not receive a flyer or other Jefferson County residents who are 90 or older and are interested in receiving the vaccine may call 402-587-5188. This special vaccination line will be answered by a voice mail. Please leave your name, phone number and birth date if you are interested in receiving the vaccine. You will receive a return call to determine eligibility and schedule.