JCH&L Important Part of Community

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During National Hospital Week, May 7-12, Jefferson Community Health & Life thanks the many individuals who contribute to the excellence of health care in our community.

Jefferson Community Health & Life – in 60th year of providing health care to residents of Jefferson County and the surrounding area — is one of Jefferson County’s largest employers with more than 260 full- and part-time employees. Annual payroll of the health center is about $$13.6 million. JCH&L employs staff from Jefferson County and all of the surrounding counties.

JCH&L appreciates the community support which is shown through use of its services, as well as donations to the non-profit charity.

JCH&L provides a wide range of health care services, including emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, family medicine, visiting specialists, home health, occupational health and long-term care services.

JCH&L also provides a variety of health education and outreach services – health education opportunities, community health programs, a community fitness center, health fairs, speakers on health issues, support groups, screenings, and more.  JCH&L also provides donations for many area activities, events and programs. In fiscal 2021, JCH&L provided more than $1.8 million in donations and support, in addition to $130,000 in charity care to area residents. Staff members also volunteer in many area organizations and for events.

“Jefferson Community Health & Life is committed to providing quality health care to our area residents,” said JCH&L CEO Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, CHFP, FACHE. “We also take pride in being an active member of our community.”

More information about Jefferson Community Health & Life is available by going to its website at JCHealthandLife.org.

JCH&L Gardenside Earns 5 Star Rating Again

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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. Gardenside continues to take appropriate precautions as necessary and as recommended by CDC, CMS and ICAP. Visitation is allowed, although depending on our county’s COVID transmission status and Gardenside’s status visitors may be asked to mask or take additional precautions. For more information on visitation guidelines, see our website at JCHealthandLife.org/locations/Gardenside or call 402-729-5220. Visitors may enter using Door 31 or the JCH&L main entrance.

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.

Grief Support Series Planned by Cottonwood Hospice

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Cottonwood Hospice will hold a Grief Support Group June 13-Aug. 22 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 June 13. Sessions are set for June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8 and 22.

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.

Gardenside Recognized for Vaccine Status

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The Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program (ICAP) has recognized  JCH&L Gardenside with Gold Status for having more than 90 percent of residents fully vaccinated. A certificate was presented showing Gardenside as one of the six long-term care facilities in the state with more than 90 percent of residents fully vaccinated.

Director of Nursing Laura DeBoer, RN, said: “All of our elders were more than willing to take their COVID series and boosters. Most felt it was their ‘duty’ to get these vaccines to protect themselves, and others. One gentlemen said ‘Why wouldn’t I get it?’ We discussed the COVID vaccine in our resident council and our elders wanted to live around others who were fully vaccinated as well. Moving forward, we made it an admission criteria that all new admissions needed to be fully vaccinated with boosters.”

The long-term care wall of honor can be found here:

LTC Vaccine Wall of Honor

JCH&L Earns Award from Bryan Health Connect

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Jefferson Community Health & Life was honored with the Bryan Health Connect PHO (Physician Hospital Organization) Health Care Quality Improvement Leader Award at the Bryan Health Connect Annual Membership Conference  Awards Banquet on April 12.

Bryan Health Connect (BHC) encouraged member organizations to display storyboards (posters) about their recent quality improvement projects and successes. The posters are an integral part of the conference, providing an opportunity for organizations to share their improvement strategies and celebrate their successes with other attendees, as the posters are displayed during BHC annual Membership Conference.

Poster submissions by PHO member organizations are eligible to receive PHO Health Care Quality Improvement Leader Award. ACO member organizations are eligible to receive ACO Top Performer Award and ACO Health Care Quality Improvement Leader Award. Award recipients are selected based on voting by the Bryan Health Connect team and the members of the PHO and ACO Boards.

JCH&L received the PHO Healthcare Quality Improvement Leader Award based on a storyboard created by JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Nurse Manager Jenn Mau, RN, MSN, CRHCP. Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic identified people living with diabetes as a large population in our community and we wanted to define quality care for them.  One aspect of quality care for diabetics is measuring an A1C annually, at a minimum.  This poster shows the progression of this.

JCH&L Offers Apprenticeship Program

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A new program offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life gives area residents a chance to receive a degree in a new career with financial assistance, and commit to working at JCH&L.

The JCH&L Apprenticeship Program seeks apprentices for careers in nursing, radiology, laboratory, speech therapy and possibly other health care careers. For those accepted into the program and completing courses toward a degree, JCH&L will cover up to 100 percent of school tuition, books, and fees after other scholarships are applied.

“We feel it is very important for us to ‘grow our own’ future workers in much-needed areas in healthcare,” said Sandy Bauer, director human resources at JCH&L.

To be eligible, a person must have graduated from high school or have their GED. They must have an interest in a health care career. And they must have interest in helping others, being a team player and working at JCH&L in Fairbury. The length of commitment to work at JCH&L would depend on the amount of educational costs that are covered by JCH&L.

“We hope, of course, that those who go through the program would want to work at JCH&L for the long term and become a part of our team,” Bauer said.

For those accepted into the program, a mentor will be provided. The mentor will be a current JCH&L employee in the apprentice’s field of study. If an apprentice is in need of additional help, a tutor will be arranged with the school.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to help our apprentices be successful,” Bauer said.

In some cases, apprentice’s may also have the opportunity for working hours at JCH&L during their education.

For an application or more information, please contact Sandy Bauer at 402-729-6851, or email sandy.bauer@jchealthandlife.org.

Kids Cooking Classes Set for April 20 and 21

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Children have an opportunity to learn about healthy eating and the importance of working together to plan and prepare healthy meals during a Cooking Class for Kids to be offered Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21, at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

The program is open to kids in grades 3-6 and their adult partners. During each class, participants will prepare a simple healthy meal together and then enjoy the meal as a group. The class is sponsored by Jefferson Community Health & Life and Nebraska Extension – Jefferson County. This is the same class being offered at two different times – please only register for one.

The Thursday, April 20, class will be offered from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  The Friday, April 21, class will be offered from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $20 per team. Pre-registration with payment is required by Tuesday, April 18.

Aprons will be available for the children to wear during the class, and available for them to purchase after the class if they choose for an additional $5.

For more information or a registration form, call Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT, at 402-729-6846.

JCH&L Billing Information Now Available by Text

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Med Plan process to provide texts as first contact on bills

Based on consumer demand, Med-Plan will be offering a text-first option to JCH&L patients beginning March 20. Med-Plan is the billing company used by JCH&L.

For patients who have a cell phone number in the JCH&L system, a text message inviting the patient to view their statement online will replace paper statements. The text message will include a link to access their Med-Plan account and will always come from the same phone number – (734) 506-6025. JCH&L encourages people to save the phone number in their contacts as JCH&L Statement.

Email is also an option for those who prefer email. If the patient wishes to receive notifications by email they may opt-in through their account to receive email communication.

Patients may log in to their account through the JCH&L website by going to I want to pay my bill, or through the JCH&L patient portal by clicking on Pay your Bill. In order to log in, the patient needs their account number (available on a statement) and date of birth.

Patients who prefer to receive a paper statement will still have that option. Patients may opt out of the text process at any time by logging in to their account. Anyone who needs assistance may call the Med-Plan patient account representatives at (800) 888-2584.

“We are pleased to offer this new option, since we know many patients have requested receiving electronic communication and account access rather than paper statements,” said Kim Shadduck, JCH&L business office manager. “Med-Plan has used electronic communications with patients for more than 2 years, and is adding this option based on consumer demand.”

Anyone with questions is encouraged to call Shadduck at (402) 729-3351, extension 7124.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Set for Aug. 1

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The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairbury. This year’s Safety Day is the 24rd event for the local chapter of Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Safety Day is not just for “farm kids,” organizers said. Safety Day is designed to provide safety information that is agriculturally oriented as well as general safety information.

Through hands-on activities, participants learn to prevent incidents and reduce the extent of injuries if incidents do occur. Safety Day stresses the importance of children taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules, and sharing safety tips with their family and friends.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is organized by Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. It is made possible by The Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Area business sponsors are key to making Safety Day successful.

Please watch for details to come!

Anyone who needs more information on Safety Day should call the Nebraska Extension office in Jefferson County at (402) 729-3487, or Coordinator Lana Likens at JCH&L at (402) 729-6855.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet April 13

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room.

The program will be a video “Shadowing” by Island Health.

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 at 4 p.m. 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