Using ER Wisely Can Keep Costs Down

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Family Medicine Clinic Care More Cost Effective for Non-Emergency Health Needs

Increasing health care costs are a concern to many, and wise use of the health center emergency room is an important aspect of keeping health care costs down.

“The health center emergency room is not a cost-effective place to get routine health care,” said Erin Starr, chief nursing officer at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury. “Very ill and critical patients will be prioritized for care ahead of anyone with routine, non-life threatening problems. In addition, emergency room care is very expensive.”

It is important that a patient be seen in the emergency room if they have any of the following symptoms:

  • Chest pain or signs of heart attack or stroke
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Pain that is uncontrollable
  • Severe shortness of breath
  • Allergic reaction to a sting or bite, or medication reaction
  • Poisoning
  • Unexplained stupor, drowsiness, or disorientation
  • A major injury, fall or possible broken bone
  • Trauma, such as a car accident
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • High temperature (over 103 degrees)
  • Laceration that needs stitches when the physician’s office is not open

 

“We provide the needed care for every patient who comes to our emergency room. It is important to understand that we also must prioritize care in the emergency room. If you come with something that is not life-threatening, and we have another patient whose concern is life-threatening, care will be prioritized to the patient with emergency needs,” Starr said.

There are also many medical needs which are not life threatening and can be handled appropriately at your physician’s office during regular office hours. Some of these might include:

  • Flu symptoms
  • Sore throat, cold, cough, fever
  • Rash, lumps, bumps, minor burns
  • Cuts where bleeding is controlled
  • Animal bites
  • Bee stings, insect bites
  • Sprains, strains
  • Earaches
  • Headaches
  • Sores that don’t heal or changes in growths

Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic is a family medicine clinic offering all types of preventative care, care for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries, in addition to physicals and regular followup visits. Five board certified family medicine physicians, four nurse practitioners and 2 physician assistants provide quality care. At JCH&L Fairbury Clinic same-day appointments are available Monday through Friday for urgent health needs. To make an appointment at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic please call (402) 729-3361.

The health center at JCH&L is staffed by nurses 24/7/365 – including weekends and holidays. Medical staff and ancillary medical services are on call at all times, and will be called in as necessary once an assessment is completed.

When an emergency patient arrives by private vehicle they should use the Emergency/Outpatient Entrance on the south side of JHC&L. During regular business hours – typically 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – the entrance is not locked and the area is staffed. After regular hours, patients and their families can enter the emergency entry way and need to pick up the telephone to notify nursing they are in the building. Nursing can then unlock the door remotely and come to the area to assist.

Some tips for most effective use of emergency services:

*Call first. Staff may be able to give additional instructions. Even if you have called ahead, expect to use the phone if you arrive between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30  a.m.

*Bring your list of current medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and herbal medications.

*Know and be ready to share your health history. For example, have you had surgeries in the past? Do you have allergies?

*Be prepared to share your symptoms, when they started and how severe they are.

An emergency room is a valuable resource in any community. Using it wisely will help patients make the best use of their time and health care dollars, and receive care appropriate to their needs.

If you are in doubt about whether you should come to the emergency room with any specific symptoms, please feel free to call Jefferson Community Health & Life at 729-3351. We are glad to help you determine the best place to receive care for your current health need.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet March 9

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room.

The program will be a video “Sleep Disturbances” by UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program.

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 which started again in November after a break because of COVID. The group now typically 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.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits April 17

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The next Nebraska Community Bloodbank blood drive will be held on Monday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mobile unit in the parking lot of JCH&L’s North Building, 825 22nd St.

All types are needed. Giving blood is giving a gift of life. Nebraska Community Bloodbank is Jefferson Community Health & Life’s blood supplier, and the two organizations partner for blood drives in Fairbury to save lives.

Appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, call JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851, or visit NCBB.org/searchdrives and use sponsor code JCHC.

With iDonate you can save time by completing your health history on line ahead of your bloodmobile visit. To get started, visit mbc.org/iDonate

JCH&L Encourages Everyone to Know Their Insurance Plan

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Jefferson Community Health & Life encourages everyone to know their health insurance plan – and check carefully into what coverage is available when choosing a plan.

“We are seeing more patients recently being disappointed because JCH&L is not in the network for their health insurance plan,” said Kim Shadduck, JCH&L business office manager. “Often the issue is that we are contracted with the company but not their particular plan.”

Shadduck said that every carrier has a wide variety of plans available. Some plans are “narrow network” plans, meaning they cover only a specific group of hospitals or providers – and those providers may not even be in our state. Some are specific to virtual visits with specific providers.  She said when considering plans, be sure to ask which health care facilities and providers are covered as a part of the plan, and whether you can continue to use your chosen health care provider and home town clinic and hospital services. She said sometimes a plan may cover only Emergency Room visits when out of network, and the patient may or may not have to meet a deductible or pay a copay on that.

Some things to pay extra attention to when shopping for new insurance are: Is this a new plan offered by the company? Does the plan name contain any key words that may indicate a narrow network, like the name of a hospital/group or words like Virtual or Region or the name of a state?  Then be ready to ask questions or do more online research about what that means. If shopping on the healthcare.gov market place, check on whether the facilities and providers you may want to use are covered as part of the plan.

The JCH&L business office welcomes calls and questions about whether we are “in-network” for specific plans – but please be sure to ask about the specific plan. JCH&L may be in network with the company, but not every plan the company sells, Shadduck said.

JCH&L Occupational Health Program Invites Businesses to Learning Opportunity

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JCH&L’s Occupational Health Program is inviting representatives of area businesses to come to a lunch program to learn about the services offered by the program. The lunch will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Those interested are asked to call Director Lori Ohlde RN at 402-729-6857 or email Lori.Ohlde@JCHealthandLife.org to make reservations.

JCH&L’s Occupational Health program has expanded, and is located at JCH&L’s North Building, 825 22nd St. Occupational Health works with area employers to help them improve their employees’ health and productivity.

A wide variety of services are available including Physical Capacity Profile testing, drug screenings, vaccinations, screening bloodwork, and health risk assessments. JCH&L recognizes that each business has its own specific needs, so staff will help you come up with the plan that meets your needs. Bundled prices and volume discounts are available.

The program will provide an overview of the program, a tour of the facility, and an opportunity to see a demonstration of the PCP equipment. Business owners, managers and Human Resources staff are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Lori Ohlde at 402-729-6857.

Murphy Now Certified Lactation Counselor

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Kasey Murphy, PT, DPT, CLC, Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist, has earned the designation of Certified Lactation Counselor from the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice.

Certified Lactation Counselors are dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation in their work to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems. The credential signifies Murphy has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies to provide breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding, lactation, and infant feeding.

Murphy said lactation support fits well with her work in pediatric therapy and early childhood development, and the knowledge and expertise can be beneficial to the families and young children she serves. Her physical therapy experience in assessing posture, range of motion, infant reflexes, developmental milestones and coordination brings a unique perspective to the CLC designation.

Murphy works both in outpatient and early intervention settings.  With a physician’s referral, insurance may cover lactation support services in the outpatient setting. Early Intervention is provided by the local school district for families who qualify. Anyone can make a referral. If you are concerned about the development of your child or have questions about participation in Early Intervention, please call 402-239-3646 or 729-6104. The cost is free. More information also provided at: http://edn.ne.gov.

Murphy has been with JCH&L since 2021. She has a bachelor of science in medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and is a Board Certified Pediatric Specialist.

For more information, contact JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services at 402-729-6841.

Dry Needling Now Available Without a Doctor’s Order

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Dry needling is now offered as a stand-alone, cash-based service without a doctor’s order at Jefferson Community Health & Life Sports Medicine and Rehab Services.

Dry needling is a non-pharmaceutical therapeutic modality which uses a small filiform acupuncture needle specifically for treating and preventing soft tissue pain and dysfunction. Dry needling stimulates the healing process in soft tissues, leading to pain relief and restoration of tissue health and mobility. Dry needling can be beneficial for back pain, neck pain, headaches, TMJ pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow and many other diagnoses.

Callie Engler PT, DPT, Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist, and Travis Kostal, PT, DPT, are both trained in trigger point dry needling for pain management.

“While it does not help every patient, for many patients who experience pain it can be a very helpful technique,” Engler said. “I have had many patients report great results.”

She said how often the area is treated depends on many variables, including how many needles are inserted during a treatment. Younger and healthier patients need 2-3 days between treatments, and older and weaker patients need 4-7 days between treatments. Sometimes patients may find relief after just a few treatments, but severe or chronic symptoms typically require more treatments.

The treatment can be done on those who are under 19 with parent permission.

Some patients may experience side effects, including syncope, bleeding/bruising, pneumothorax, post treatment soreness, drowsiness, and erythema.

There are times when dry needling is not something she would recommend, including: near surgical sites less than 4 weeks after surgery; near implants or joint replacements for at least six weeks; if the patient has problems with needles; or near open wounds. She would recommend extra caution with patients who are pregnant, have very high or low blood pressure, or have a fear of needles.

When dry needling is done as a cash-based service, insurance will not be billed and a physician order is not required. Dry needling with up to a 30-minute treatment session is offered for $40. Call 402-729-6840 to schedule or for more information.

JCH&L Among Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals 2023

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For the eighth time in 10 years, Jefferson Community Health & Life has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

“We are pleased to be recognized again for our daily commitment to providing the best health care possible to residents of Jefferson County and beyond, while maintaining an efficient and effective facility,” said Burke Kline, DHA, MHA,  CHFP, FACHE, CEO of Jefferson Community Health & Life.

Jefferson Community Health & Life scored in the top 100 of critical access hospitals (CAHs) on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™ for 2023, and previously in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2014. The annual Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award is based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX ® from iVantage Health Analytics, and is regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence.

Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility scored in the top 100 among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally. Now in its 13th year, the INDEX has established itself as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally.

“Across the nation, top 100 rural providers continue to serve as a source of inspiration for hospital leadership teams and staff working diligently every day to improve the delivery of care within their local communities,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “The list of award winners in each category is as geographically diverse as we’ve seen in some time, which is wonderful to see. We’re thrilled to be able to honor the outstanding efforts of these top performing rural hospitals.”

The list of this year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals, as well as the 2023 INDEX methodology, can be found at: https://www.chartis.com/top-performing-rural-hospitals

JCH&L is among 11 Nebraska critical access hospitals to make the Top 100 list for 2023. Others are: Boone County Health Center, Albion; Brodstone Memorial Hospital, Superior; CHI Health St. Mary’s, Nebraska City; Community Medical Center, Falls City; Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul; Jennie M. Melham Medical Center, Broken Bow; Memorial Community Health Systems, Seward; Memorial Hospital, Aurora; Pender Community Hospital, Pender; and Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege.

In May 2020, JCH&L was recognized by The Chartis Center and the National Rural Health Association for being in the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation for quality. In May 2018, JCH&L was recognized for being in the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals overall in the nation.

In November 2022, JCH&L was recognized with a Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality and Patient Perspective. The Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance  (75th percentile and above) among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes and patient perspective. Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for quality and patient perspective in 2021; quality in 2020; for quality, outcomes and patient perspective in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016.

“These recognitions reaffirm that our emphasis on quality, performance and satisfaction are making a difference to the people we serve and to our health center. It is because of the work and care of our staff, physicians and board, and the support of the people of Jefferson County and beyond that we are able to meet and surpass these benchmarks and receive recognition,” Kline said.

Kline Named “CEO to Know” by Becker’s

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Jefferson Community Health & Life CEO Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, CHFP, FACHE, was named one of 80 Rural Hospital CEOs To Know by Becker’s Hospital Review in February.

Becker’s Hospital Review published the 2023 list of rural hospital CEOs to know on Feb. 10. The article stated: “The executives featured in this list have put their heart and soul into ensuring their communities have access to the best healthcare services possible. While rural hospitals across the country have faced closure in recent years, these leaders have developed a model for not only surviving, but thriving.”

The story included Dr. Kline’s guidance to JCH&L in adding services including a visiting neurosurgeon, vascular services, and genetic counseling. It recognizes that he was awarded the Medical Group Management Association’s Extraordinary Leader Award in 2021, and the American College of Healthcare Executives Nebraska and Western Iowa Early Careerist Regent’s Award in 2020.

In addition to the honors named by Becker’s, Dr. Kline was named an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy in 2022; earned an American College of Healthcare Executives service award in 2022; named a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2021; named to the board of directors of the American College of Healthcare Executives Nebraska and Western Iowa in 2021; named to the ACHE Editorial Board in 2021; and named a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) in 2021. He has previously been named in the Becker’s Hospital Review “67 Rural CEOs to Know” in 2022; “70 CAH CEOs to Know” in 2019, “71 CAH CEOs to know” in 2018, and “Rising Star: 90 Healthcare Leaders Under 40” in 2018.

Dr. Kline was one of 8 Nebraska CEOs who made the Becker’s 2023 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know list. The full story and complete list may be found at: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/80-rural-hospital-ceos-to-know-2023.

JCH&L Occupational Health Program Expands

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JCH&L’s Occupational Health Program has expanded, and is now located at JCH&L’s North Building, 825 22nd St. Occupational Health works with area employers to help them improve their employees’ health and productivity.

A wide variety of services are available including Physical Capacity Profile testing, drug screenings, vaccinations, screening bloodwork, and health risk assessments. JCH&L recognizes that each business has its own specific needs, so staff will help you come up with the plan that meets your needs. Bundled prices and volume discounts are available.

“We have been able to help several area businesses with their employee health and wellness needs, and would be glad to look into the needs of other businesses, as well,” said Lori Ohlde, Occupational Health director.

Physical Capacity Profile testing is specific to each job level and job description. Testing includes baseline/new hire testing which can help you make sure that new hires can handle the physical requirements of a job. Whether injuries are work or non-work-related, Fit for Duty (return to work) testing can also help you assure that if an employee has had an injury they are back to where they need to be physically before returning to work. We offer free trials to HR or management staff who are interested in understanding the system. We also offer special discounted rates for testing 10 or more employees.

Drug screenings are available for new employee testing or random testing. Parameters can be specific to your business needs. Our system offers easy and convenient web access to results.

JCH&L Occupational Health offers vaccinations. We can do groups at your business location upon request. Vaccinations available include influenza, Tdap, Hep B, TB, and COVID vaccinations. Please ask if there are others you would like to provide to your employees.

We also offer wellness screens (CBC, CMP, Lipids and T4), and Health Risk Assessments.

We continue to seek ways to better serve our area businesses. If you have specific needs for occupational health services not currently offered, please let us know so we can determine if we can add the service.

If you are interested in more in more information or a demonstration, contact Lori Ohlde, director, at 402-729-6857, or email Lori.Ohlde@JCHealthandLife.org.

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