JCH&L Receives Award from Chartis Center for Rural Health

/by

Performance Leadership Award Recognizes Quality

As part of the National Rural Health Day celebration, Jefferson Community Health & Life announced it has been recognized with a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (e.g., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes and Patient Perspective.

“Quality has been a top priority for JCH&L for many years,” said Bill Welch, JCH&L interim CEO.  “This recognition affirms the commitment of JCH&L’s staff, physicians and board to providing excellent quality care.”

JCH&L was among 28 Nebraska hospitals recognized for quality.

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. INDEX data is trusted and relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across several areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“The Performance Leadership Awards capture the commitment, diligence, and innovation with which America’s rural hospitals approach the delivery of care within their communities,” said Troy Brown, Network Consultant, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “It’s a tremendous honor to be able to recognize the efforts of this year’s award winners and celebrate their achievement as part of National Rural Health Day.”

Performance Leadership Award recipients are rural hospitals ranking in the 75th percentile or above in the INDEX performance pillars for Quality, Outcomes, and/or Patient Perspective.

Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for quality and patient perspective in 2023, 2022, 2021; quality in 2020; for quality, outcomes and patient perspective in 2019, 2018, and 2017; the Performance Leadership award for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016; named as a Top 100 critical access hospital for 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2014; named as a Top 20 critical access hospital for quality in 2020 and Top 20 overall in 2018; and named a HEALTHSTRONG hospital in 2015.

“JCH&L’s mission is to inspire healthy living by providing exceptional health and life services for every person, every time. This recognition recognizes our commitment to our patients and to our community,” Welch said.

National Rural Health Day Celebrates the Power of Rural

/by

Jefferson Community Health & Life celebrates the Power of Rural on National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 21.  The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day. Please thank a health care worker for their dedication in keeping exceptional care close to home.

National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit of that prevails in rural America. But it also provides an opportunity to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face – and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is one of 1,368 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States, and 62 Critical Access Hospitals in the state of Nebraska. The Critical Access Hospital designation is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. Critical Access Hospitals receive cost-based Medicare reimbursement. Jefferson Community Health Center became a Critical Access Hospital in 2000.

“Critical Access Hospital status helps us to offer services which might otherwise be less affordable because of fewer patients needing the services,” said Bill Welch, JCH&L interim CEO.

Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic is one of 126 Rural Health Clinics in the state and 5,356 in the United States.

The Rural Health Clinic (RHC) program is intended to increase access to primary care services for patients in rural communities. They are required to use a team approach of physicians working with non-physician providers such as nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) to provide services.

Health care organizations are important for rural communities – not only for accessibility and availability of health care, but also for economic development. Jefferson Community Health & Life is one of many health care providers in Jefferson County, and is the largest health care employer, with more than 250 staff members. JCH&L is consistently one of the top three employers in Jefferson County. Each year JCH&L pays its staff more than $20 million in salary and benefits.

“The jobs at JCH&L require a wide variety of skills, training and education,” Welch said. said.

JCH&L’s primary service area is Jefferson County, with 7,054, residents as of 2023. Patients also come from surrounding counties in Nebraska and Kansas.

Rural communities also have unique healthcare needs. Rural communities must address accessibility, provider shortages, the needs of an aging population, increasing chronic conditions, and largest percentages of uninsured and underinsured citizens, says the National Rural Health Association.

Jefferson Community Health & Life operates a 17-bed, acute-care Critical Access Hospital in Fairbury, Neb., offering inpatient and outpatient services, including surgery, therapy, screenings, and 24-hour emergency services. Jefferson Community Health & Life offers additional health and life services, including Fairbury Clinic (primary and family care), Burkley Fitness Center, Gardenside (long-term care), and Home Health services. In addition, Jefferson Community Health & Life supports numerous education programs and support groups. JCH&L has offered services to residents of Jefferson County and the surrounding area since 1963, and continues to grow and change as the area’s needs change.

“We strive to fulfil our vision of being a trusted partner for a lifetime of health,” Welch said. “We are proud to give area residents the opportunity to receive quality healthcare in a convenient location with professional and compassionate staff. Our area residents have much to celebrate on National Rural Health Day.”

Grief Support Series Planned by Cottonwood Hospice

/by

Cottonwood Hospice will hold a Grief Support Group Series Nov. 19-Jan. 28, 2025, at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Conference room, 2200 H St.

Sessions will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. every other Tuesday starting Nov. 19. Sessions are set for Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 17, Dec. 31, Jan. 14 and Jan. 28.

There is no cost, and the sessions are open to anyone who has lost a loved one in the past year.

Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes. Please call Cottonwood Hospice at 402-228-8501.

Reindeer Fun Walk to be Held Dec. 6

/by

A Reindeer Fun Walk will be held Dec. 6 by Jefferson Community Health & Life Burkley Fitness Center during the Fairbury Chamber of Commerce Miracle on the Square.

The Reindeer Fun Walk is for all ages, and gives individuals and families a chance to get into the holiday spirit with a walk around the courthouse square.

Registration free is $5 per person. Each participant received a set of blinking reindeer antlers.

Pre-registration is encouraged at the Burkley Fitness Center. Walk-ins are welcome, but there is no guarantee of antlers.

Check in begins at the corner of Fifth and E streets at 5 p.m. The walk begins at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the Burkley Fitness Center at 402-729-6139.

It’s Not Too Late for Medicare D Review

/by

It’s not too late for a review of Medicare D options available this fall. Medicare D open enrollment is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. This is the time that participants can review Medicare D plans available and change plans as needed. There have been several changes to plans for 2025, so it is a good idea to review coverage to make sure each participant has the best coverage for them for the next year.

Two certified SHIP counselors at JCH&L, Lori Ohlde, RN, and Deb Sutton, RN, will meet with participants for a free unbiased review of their Medicare D options.

Appointments are required by calling 402-587-5184 and leaving a message with their name and a phone number where they can be reached. Appointments are only being made through this number.

Participants must bring with them to the appointment their complete list of prescription medications including dosage and how often they take it. They will also be asked to bring their Medicare card or Medicare number, and login credentials if they already have a Medicare online account.

JCH&L Concrete Repair Work Began Tuesday

/by

Concrete repair work at Jefferson Community Health & Life began on Tuesday. Work by Lottman Concrete has begun at the Outpatient and ER entrance. The entrance will remain open, but there will be portions of the sidewalk and driveway blocked at various times.

There will be no service disruptions. Any patient or customer who needs assistance should call 402-729-6851 during daytime hours or 402-729-3351 for ER assistance in evening or overnight hours.

“We apologize for any inconvenience. It is important for the safety of our patients, customers and staff that we repair the concrete areas where there are potential trip hazards. We thank everyone for their patience. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need assistance,” said Bill Welch, interim CEO.

The project will continue around the JCH&L campus.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet Nov. 14

/by

The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 4:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program will be a video on “Making Visits Valuable – Part 2” by Teepa Snow.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the signage to “Caregiver’s Support.”

The Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room.

The support group is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.  The group provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease and learn from other’s experiences. There is no cost, and no pre-registration required.

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

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