Wayne Franzen, day activity coordinator at Gardenside, was named Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Caring Kind employee for 2022. Franzen was honored with other Nebraska hospitals’ honorees at the Caring Kind luncheon held Friday, Oct. 21, at the Nebraska Hospital Association Convention at LaVista.

Wayne has been employed by JCH&L Gardenside for 14 years, and has been in his current position for a year.  He was previously a CNA. Wayne’s nominator said he is dedicated to making a positive environment for Gardenside residents. When residents must be confined to their rooms, he happily helps deliver room trays, singing songs up and down the hallways. Though he is now activities coordinator rather than working as a CNA, he continues to lend a helping hand on the floor as the need arises. He even comes in early to make sure all residents are cared for. He is the first to volunteer to take on extra tasks, such as transporting residents to appointments outside the facility. One resident really longed for a ride in his black Cadillac – so he brought it to work, got the proper permissions, and took the resident for a ride. The resident’s smile said it all. He also takes time to make sure each resident feels special – singing “You are my Sunshine” to them when he is with them. Whenever Wayne is around, giggles and smiles are sure to follow! Many residents and staff lovingly call him “Mr. Wonderful” for how amazing he is as a CNA, activities coordinator and all-around person.

The Caring Kind recognition has been sponsored by the Nebraska Hospital Association for more than 40 years. It honors those who commit themselves to the betterment of their facilities, their customers, their coworkers and their communities. Each NHA member hospital and health system is invited to nominate one employee from their facility who exemplifies caring, compassion, teamwork and service excellence in their job responsibilities.  JCH&L invites all staff to nominate staff members who they feel have those traits, and from those nominations, a committee chooses the recipient.

JCH&L Fairbury Clinic to Offer Free Blood Pressure Screening

FAIRBURY – Jefferson Community Health & Life celebrates the Power of Rural on National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 17.  In honor of the importance of rural health, JCH&L Fairbury Clinic will offer free blood pressure screening at the Fairbury Clinic from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.

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 more than 1,360 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States, and 63 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.

“Being a Critical Access Hospital does not limit us in the services we can provide for our area residents. It helps us to offer services which might be less affordable because of fewer patients needing the services,” said JCH&L CEO Burke Kline, MHA, DHA, CHFP, FACHE.

Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic is one of 134 Rural Health Clinics in the state and 4,413 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 $11 million in salary and provides more than $2 million in benefits.

“The jobs at JCH&L require a wide variety of skills, training and education,” Dr. Kline said. “We employ high school students who are just getting started with part-time jobs and on-the-job training, all the way through the spectrum of educational levels to those with advanced medical degrees.”

JCH&L’s primary service area is Jefferson County, with 7,176, residents as of 2021. Some 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,” Dr. Kline said. “While JCHL can’t offer every healthcare service needed by our area residents, we are proud to offer a great many services which 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.”

Jenn Mau, RN, MSN, has earned the Certified Rural Health Professional credential. Mau, who serves as JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Nurse Manager, has been with JCH&L since 2004.

To attain certification as a Rural Health Professional she successfully completed the Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional Course and passed an exam. The course is designed to help clinic administrators learn to operate a successful Rural Health Clinic.

In March, Mau graduated from the Nebraska Hospital Association QI Residency Program.

She continues to serve as Clinical Care Coordinator, working with teams of providers to coordinate services and help patients deal with chronic conditions.

Mau has been with Jefferson Community Health & Life since 2004. She has worked as a nurse aide, a licensed practical nurse, and an RN.  She received her Masters of Science in Nursing Administration and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nebraska Wesleyan University; her Associate Degree in Nursing from Cloud County Community College, Concordia, Kan.; and her practical nursing diploma from Southeast Community College Beatrice.

Learn how exercise affects your blood sugar

FAIRBURY – How does exercise affect your blood sugar? Find out on Nov. 15 with the Big Blue Test at Jefferson Community Health & Life Burkley Fitness Center.

JCH&L Diabetes Educator Bekah Kimberlin, PharmD, will be at the fitness center on Nov. 15 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. to take blood sugars pre- and post-exercise. Between blood sugar checks, participants are encouraged to exercise for 14-30 minutes, doing the workout of their choice, or a suggested workout.

“Exercise is the least expensive medication for diabetes prevention and control. This is an opportunity to see how exercise affects your blood sugar – with no cost and no obligation,” said Kimberlin.

It is not necessary to be a fitness center member to participate – just check in with the front desk when you arrive and tell them you would like a complimentary pass to participate in the Big Blue Test.

Diabetes risk tests are available all month at JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center.

“Knowing your risk for diabetes is so important. We want those who are at risk to know there are ways to prevent the progression to diabetes,” Kimberlin said.

November is National Diabetes Month, and it’s a great time to learn more about diabetes. JCH&L offers diabetes self-management classes for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes, and Smart Moves lifestyle change program for those who have pre-diabetes or are at risk for pre-diabetes. For more information, contact Kimberlin at 402-587-5186.