JCH&L Home Health Offices Move

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FAIRBURY – JCH&L Home Health offices have moved to what will now be named the JCH&L North Building (the former Fairbury Clinic) at 825 22nd St. The offices were formerly located in Cedarwood assisted living.

JCH&L Home Health provides services for those who need the skilled services of a nurse or therapist. Home health is patient-centered, and goals might include recovery from an illness, healing of wounds, getting a patient back on their feet and moving again, keeping them out of the hospital, or assistance with certain procedures or treatments. JCH&L Home Health offers skilled nursing service; physical, occupational and speech therapy; and bath aide services. If there is a medical need, any or all of these services could be available. Education of the family and caregivers is also an important factor.

“Our goal is for patients and families to gain independence,” said Home Health Director Lori Ohlde, RN.

Home health continues to provide and set up Life Assist USA personal medical alert units. Please call for more information.

Home Health services have expanded over the years, and currently includes a director (who is an RN), two full-time nurses and a full-time aide.

The home health staff is committed to continuing the quality of care and the caring services that JCH&L Home Health offers, and caring for each patient’s individualized needs.

In order to receive home health care, a patient must have a medical need and a physician’s order. Home health care may be ordered by any physician. Home health may be paid through Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance. For Medicare to approve home health care, the patient must be homebound, not by choice, but by necessity. Other insurance providers might cover certain circumstances where the patient is not homebound, but requires skilled nursing care for a specific period of time. But there must always be a medical need.

The agency is Medicare and Medicaid certified in Nebraska, and focuses primarily on patients who live in Jefferson County or near Jefferson County.

For more information on home health services, contact JCH&L Home Health at (402) 729-6857.

Immunization Clinic Has New Location

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FAIRBURY – The Blue Valley Community Action Immunization Clinic held in Fairbury will have a new location as of the Sept. 22 clinic. The Immunization Clinic will now be held at the JCH&L North Building, 825 22nd St. Those utilizing the clinic are asked to use the west door on the south side of the building, which will be marked.

Blue Valley Community Action and Jefferson Community Heath & Life have partnered for immunization clinics in Fairbury for many years.

Clinics are available for both insured and uninsured. Private insurance plans are accepted through the private vaccine program. Those who have Medicaid, no insurance or are under-insured are vaccinated through the VFC (Vaccines for Children) state program. Those receiving vaccines are asked to bring vaccine cards to each appointment.

Clinics are held in Fairbury on the second Tuesday of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and on the fourth Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. In December, the Fairbury immunization clinic is held on the second Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. All clinics are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 402-587-1589.

“We appreciate the long-standing partnership with Blue Valley Community Action Partnership which allows immunization clinics to be held in Fairbury,” said Erin Starr, chief nursing officer at Jefferson Community Health & Life. “Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is so important to the health of our community.”

Learn the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

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FAIRBURY – “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s” is a free program to be offered by the Alzheimer’s Association on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m. The program will be held in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room. Please use the main entrance (accessed from H Street.)

Statistics show that many Jefferson County families are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.  This is a FREE informational and educational session open to anyone interested in or affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. It will cover what to watch for in yourself and others, the difference between normal aging and Alzheimer’s Disease, common warning signs, the importance of early detection and the benefits of diagnosis, and resources which are available. Refreshments will be provided.

The group will also discuss whether there is interest in starting a support group again in Jefferson County for caregivers who are coping with Alzheimer’s Disease. Anyone who is interested in a support group but unable to attend should call Lana Likens at (402) 729-6855 to express your interest in a support group.

For more information on the meeting, please contact Lana Likens at (402) 729-6855. Additional information on Alzheimer’s Disease is available at www.alz.org/Nebraska. You can also find additional programs on line at alz.org/CRF.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7 Helpline available. If you have questions or concerns about Alzheimer’s, call 800-272-3900.

Additional Oncologist to Provide Service at JCH&L

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Matthew Shupe, DO, began providing monthly oncology and hematology care at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury in August. Dr. Shupe is a board-certified medical oncologist with Nebraska Hematology-Oncology PC of Lincoln. Dr. Shupe will hold clinics on the fourth Thursday of each month.

Dr. Joni Tilford, board-certified oncologist with Cancer Partners of Nebraska, also comes to JCH&L monthly. Dr. Tilford will continue to hold clinics on the third Wednesday of each month.

“We are excited to be able to provide our patients with two oncologists from two excellent practices to care for their needs,” said Erin Starr, JCH&L chief nursing officer.

Dr. Shupe completed his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. His residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology-oncology were completed at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to joining Nebraska Hematology-Oncology in Lincoln, Dr. Shupe was in full-time practice at the Callahan Cancer Center at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Dr. Shupe served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and the Air Force, and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as Assistant Professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences at F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland; as a locum tenens physician at both Sanford Medical Hematology/Oncology clinic in Aberdeen, S.D., and Callahan Cancer Center; and as staff physician and chief of Joint Hematology/Oncology Infusion Clinic at David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Shupe join our growing specialty clinic services,” said Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, CHFP, FACHE, CEO at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

Heather Parde RN, oncology nurse at JCH&L since 2021, received her ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate earlier this year. This course equips her with the tools she needs to safely administer chemotherapy and immunotherapy to our patients with cancer, while providing the type of quality care demanded by JCH&L.

JCH&L has a variety of ancillary services available, including lab, radiology, respiration therapy and surgery. JCH&L can take orders for services – including chemotherapy and ancillary services – from any physician or oncologist.

Referrals are required for oncology specialty appointments.

For more information, contact JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851.

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