A ribbon cutting and open house will be held for the new JCH&L Fairbury Clinic, 2200 H St., on Thursday, June 30. Activities will begin with a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. The open house will go through 8 p.m. and will offer tours, door prizes, give aways and treats. Everyone is welcome to attend.

JCH&L Fairbury Clinic opened in its new location on Monday, May 16.

The $8.4 million project attached JCH&L Fairbury Clinic to the west side of the health center. It features enhanced handicapped accessibility and infection prevention. Ashley Norden, clinic administrator, said the new facility helps provide better service to patients and makes it easier with larger rooms and wider hallways. It provides a negative pressure area and other infection prevention enhancements. Team work spaces will assist staff in cooperating in patient care, and technology improvements will assist with the new electronic health record.

The new construction also includes a new pediatric therapy area and a new human resources office area.

Patients park in the parking lot north of the new clinic and enter and exit at the main entrance. A circle drive at the main entrance allows for easy drop off and pick up. The main entrance provides access to the clinic, health center services, and fitness center.

Construction began with groundbreaking in October 2020. The community has provided more than $100,000 in fund-raising support for the project.

No decisions have been made yet on the future use of the former clinic building.

FAIRBURY – Jefferson Community Health & Life Gardenside has once again received a 5 Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Gardenside has been a 5-star facility since the program began in 2008.

Nursing Home Compare and the star rating system allow consumers to compare information about nursing homes. It contains quality of care, staffing and survey information for all 15,000 plus Medicare- and Medicaid-participating nursing homes. Facilities are assigned star ratings from a high of 5 stars to a low of 1 star based on health inspection surveys, staffing information and quality of care measures. The ratings are publicly available on the agency’s Nursing Home Compare website at  www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare.

“We are pleased to remain a 5-Star facility, even though we know it becomes more difficult each year to receive the top rating,” said Laura DeBoer, RN, director of nursing at JCH&L Gardenside. “All of our staff members work very hard to provide the best quality of care for our residents. We are pleased to know that our care for our residents is reflected in our ratings through Nursing Home Compare.”

JCH&L Gardenside has been providing long-term care to area residents since 1963. Currently, Gardenside is licensed for 40 beds, and has one Hospice room available. Gardenside has an aviary and a variety of activities in which residents can participate including organized activities in the evenings and on weekends.

Gardenside prides itself on having a homelike environment, and being a small, family-oriented care facility. Three enclosed courtyards provide outdoor space for residents and their families to enjoy.

“What really sets us apart and makes our facility special is our wonderful staff,” DeBoer said. “Their hard work, dedication and care for our residents truly makes us a five-star facility.”

COVID-19 has been difficult for Gardenside residents. Since the start of the pandemic, only 8 Gardenside residents have tested positive for COVID-19. The last positive test for a resident was in January 2022. Gardenside continues to take appropriate precautions as necessary and as recommended by CDC, CMS and ICAP. Visitation is allowed, and while appointments are recommended they are not required. For more information on visitation guidelines, see our website at JCHealthandLife.org/locations/Gardenside or call 402-729-5220. Visitors are required to enter using Door 31, and must pass a screening and be masked during their visit.

JCH&L CEO Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, CHFP, FACHE, said he is very proud of the Gardenside’s care and commitment.

“I’m proud of our outstanding Gardenside team and the quality of care we continue to offer to our residents. The continued 5-star rating is a testament to our quality program especially during this historic pandemic. It really shows our commitment to our residents and community,” Kline said.

The Nursing Home Compare statistics can be accessed by going to www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare and selecting Gardenside LTC-JCHC.