Fairbury, Neb. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Jefferson Community Health and Life is proud to participate in the Nebraska Cancer Coalition’s annual #DressInBlueNE campaign to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of lifesaving screening. This statewide effort coincides with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March and culminates in Dress in Blue Day on Friday, March 7.

JCH&L staff will be invited to wear denim on Thursday, March 6, for a donation to the Nebraska Cancer Coalition, which strives to raise awareness for various types of cancer throughout the year, including colorectal cancer in March. Staff are also encouraged to wear blue that day.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nebraska, with incidence and mortality rates in the state exceeding national averages. Many are unaware that the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening has been lowered from 50 to 45.

• In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 940 new cases and 360 deaths from colorectal cancer in Nebraska.
• Screening rates remain a challenge, with only 64% of Nebraskans aged 45-75 up-to-date on screenings as of 2022, and only 38% of those aged 45-54 current on their screenings.
• By 2030, colorectal cancer is expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among 20-49-year-olds. If you are within this age range and have symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider.

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives by detecting the disease early, when treatment is more effective, or can prevent it altogether. If you are ages 45 to 50 or have a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened today. Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable—but you won’t know unless you go.

Taking ownership of your health by discussing your family history and screening options with a primary care provider is a vital step toward prevention. Multiple safe and affordable screening options are available, including at-home test kits. Additionally, the public can show support for colorectal cancer awareness by wearing blue on Friday, March 7, and sharing photos on social media using the hashtag #DressInBlueNE and #NC2.

For additional information on colorectal cancer screenings or local resources, please visit: https://www.necancer.org/Colorectal-Cancer

Jefferson Community Health & Life Gardenside has been recognized as a Best Nursing Home for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.

Since 2009, U.S. News’ annual Best Nursing Homes ratings have assisted American families in need of either short-term rehabilitation or long-term care for themselves or a loved one.

JCH&L Gardenside earned its U.S. News Best Nursing Home status by achieving a rating of “High Performing,” the highest possible rating, for Long-Term Care. U.S. News gives the designation of Best Nursing Home only to those that satisfy U.S. News’ proprietary assessment of consistent performance in quality measures.

“Gardenside is proud to provide excellent quality long-term care to our residents, who become our family,” said Laura DeBoer, RN, Director of Nursing. “We are always pleased to receive recognition for our care. Our staff strive every day to provide compassionate and quality care for each of our residents.”

For the 2025 edition, U.S. News evaluated nearly 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes, such as infection rates; staffing levels; potentially inappropriate reliance on antipsychotic drugs; health inspection results and other indicators of quality.

“U.S. News’ Best Nursing Homes ratings put patient well-being at the forefront and provide families with the objective information they need to make confident decisions about their loved ones’ care,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “These annual ratings recognize U.S. nursing homes that deliver high-quality care, earning consistent positive outcomes, and support American families in finding local nursing homes that prioritize safety and well- being.”

To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each nursing home’s performance using a variety of quality measures obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The U.S. News methodology factors data such as resident care, safety and outcomes. Both short- and long-term ratings include data on nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs and success in preventing ER and hospital visits. The long-term care rating also includes measures of whether a home changed ownership and how well it was staffed on weekends.

For more information, visit USNews.com and explore #BestNursingHomes on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

JCH&L Gardenside is licensed for 40 residents, and provides both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation. For more information call 402-729-5220.

Two additional providers at Jefferson Community Health & Life Sports Medicine and Rehah Services have been trained to perform dry needling.

Landon Zarybnicky, PT, DPT, and Nichole Thorp, PT, DPT, have been trained in dry needling. They join the two therapists who have previously been trained: Callie Engler PT, DPT, Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist, and Travis Kostal, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy.

Dry needling is now offered as a stand-alone, cash-based service without a doctor’s order at JCH&L 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.

“I have been utilizing dry needling in my physical therapy practice for 10 years and it has been clinically proven to be effective in eliminating muscular pain and promoting tissue healing,” 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.

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

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.

2024 was a successful, busy year

The Jefferson Community Health & Life board of directors held the organization’s annual membership meeting for fiscal 2024 on Thursday, Jan. 16. Anyone who has donated $100 or more to Jefferson Community Health & Life is a member of the private not-for-profit corporation.

Two new board members were elected to serve on the board: Father Justin Fulton and Kendall Schlake. Trevor Steinmeyer was presented a plaque for his eight years of service on board and four years serving as board chairman. Glenda Austin was given a token of appreciation for four years of service on the board. Board members are elected from among members of the corporation and may serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.

Trevor Steinmeyer, board chairman, thanked the administration, medical staff, board members and staff for continuing to be excellent and providing exceptional care at the highest level to patients. He thanked Bill Welch for serving as interim CEO as JCH&L conducted a search for a new CEO after the resignation of Dr. Burke Kline. He welcomed Holly Wolff, who started on Jan. 6.

“We are thrilled to welcome Holly Wolff as our new CEO. Holly brings exceptional leadership skills and a strong background in rural healthcare, and we are confident her expertise and vision will greatly benefit our organization,” Steinmeyer said.

He said 2024 helped prepared JCH&L for the future.

“This year laid important building blocks for the future, as we completed a strategic plan to invest in new equipment and services while working on a master plan for future facility updates,” Steinmeyer said.

Highlights in the CEO’s annual report to the membership from Bill Welch, interim CEO, included being named again as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, the Performance Leadership Award and Nebraska Quality Award.

Sarah Bauer, surgery manager, was named JCHL’s Caring Kind employee the fall of 2024 (fiscal 2025.) Leta Mau, nutrition services dining room assistant, was named JCH&Ls Caring Kind employee in the fall of 2023 (fiscal 2024.)

There were a number of staffing additions in fiscal 2024. Deb Sutton, RN, NHA, was named administrator for Gardenside long-term care. Rick Blum, PA-C, joined Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic in May. He cares for patients in JCH&L Fairbury Clinic and in the Emergency Room. JCH&L added six part-time as needed providers for emergency room coverage in fiscal 2024: James White, NP; Matthew Gatlin, PA-C; Isaac Mattis, DO; Evelyn Causgrove, PA-C; Richard Blum, PA-C; Derek Peckham, DO; and Larissa Hoffman, NP.

Several staff also completed training for additional certifications. Deb Sutton, RN, NHA, and Lori Ohlde, RN, were trained to be counselors in the Nebraska State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They helped area residents review their Medicare D plans in the fall as a free service to the community. Speech therapist Kristen Banahan, M.S., CCC-SLP, was licensed to be a provider in the Parkinson’s Voice Project’s SPEAKOUT!  Therapy Program. This program offers voice and swallowing assistance to those with Parkinson’s. Occupational therapist Taylor Zimmerman, MOT, OTR/L, was certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician, and attended the Safe Travel for All Children course to serve children with special needs. Travis Kostal, PT, DPT, became board certified as a Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy by the American Physical Therapy Association. Kim Francis, RN, and Patrick Hoins completed the Water Management Training Course. Ashley Norden, LPN, and Jenn Mau, RN, completed the Nebraska Hospital Association Leadership Academy. Tara Sasse, RN, completed her AAPACN RAC Certification for MDS. Certification helps Tara help Gardenside provide quality care, accurate assessments and care management for residents. Megan Knutson, FNP-C, and Kensly Williams, PA-C, were certified through The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy in the fall of 2024 (fiscal 2025.) Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT, and Deb Sutton, RN, NHA, began providing diabetes education after diabetes educator Bekah Kimberlin left JCH&L in July.

JCH&L began partnering with Five Nines to manage and support IT needs in 2024. Five Nines is a Nebraska-based managed services provider with one of the largest IT teams in the state. Nichole Seibolt accepted a position with Five Nines and continues to work at JCH&L as a Five Nines employee.

New services included a monthly outpatient pain clinic by Dr. J. Paul Meyer, free Medicare D reviews, a new wound clinic scheduled to begin in January 2025, and a new fitness center class, Circl. Andrea Um, MD, is the new vascular surgeon seeing patients through Bryan Heart at JCH&L Specialty services. JCH&L was re-accredited for sleep lab services and home sleep studies by the Accrediting Commission for Health Care in fiscal 2024. The accreditation is through October 2026. In October JCH&L began working toward Trauma Designation through the State of Nebraska.

Major projects included implementing Cerner as the new electronic health record for Gardenside, concrete and parking lot work, a new Wandergard system for Gardenside, and boiler replacement and rooftop units.

JCH&L remained active in community collaboration and events.

Chance Klasek, CFO, presented a report containing a comparison of financial data over the past five years. Chance noted that our gross revenues increased to just under $48 million in the current year. After bad debt and contractual adjustments of $13 million and expenses of $33.3 million, this left us with $1,000,000 of operating income which equated to a 1.5 percent operating margin. We recognized gains on investments and grants of roughly $2.2 million for a total increase in net assets of $3.2 million.

At the regular monthly board meeting which followed the annual meeting, officers were elected for 2025. Officers are: Ross Boeckner, chairman; Steve Snyder, vice chairman; and Diane Wellsandt, secretary-treasurer.