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.
