Based on recommendations from the CDC, Jefferson Community Health & Life encourages area residents to wear cloth masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. JCH&L has free cloth face masks for area residents, while supplies last. The masks are an adult one-size mask. Pick yours up at JCH&L Outpatient Services, Fairbury Clinic or Plymouth Clinic while supplies last.

The CDC states: “Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Wearing a mask will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants). Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.”

The CDC states masks should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The CDC does not recommend that the public wear procedure masks, surgical masks or respirators. Those remain critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders.

Masks should be washed after each use. They can be washed with regular laundry or by hand, and can be air or machine dried. Masks should be thoroughly dried before storing or wearing.

Update on status of JCH&L services:

• Gardenside and Cedarwood visitation is currently on hold. The status will be updated on the website and social media when restricted visitation can be allowed again.
• Burkley Fitness Center is open to members and guests, who must use the alternate entrance (basketball court.) All users will be screened. No group fitness classes are currently offered. Limited pool use is by reservation only. Hot tub use is limited.
• The main entrance to JCH&L remains closed. Those in need of health center services or those who are visiting hospital patients should use the outpatient/emergency entrance on the south side of the building. Therapy patients may use the main entrance and call the therapy department for entrance at their appointment time. Hospital patients are allowed visitors on a limited case-by-case basis. All who enter the facility will be screened and required to wear a mask.
• Family medicine clinics in Fairbury and Plymoouth, outpatient clinic, radiology, lab, therapy, rehab, procedures and surgeries are available. All patients will be screened and required to wear a mask. Please do not bring more than one person in addition to the patient for appointments.
• Virtual visits remain available at the Fairbury and Plymouth Clinic.
• JCH&L is a TestNebraska site for COVID-19 testing. This free testing is available each Tuesday outside the main entrance of JCH&L. Please register at TestNebraska.com.
• Nebraska Community Bloodbank will hold its next bloodmobile in the JCH&L conference rooms. Donors should use the main entrance.
• Support groups, group educational programs and indoor events remain suspended at this time.

Wellness Experience Offers Women a Convenient Way to Take Control of Their Health

Women’s Health Days allow women from Jefferson County and beyond to complete their annual health checks and receive a well-deserved indulgence at the same time – in just under three hours. Women’s Health Day is a complete wellness experience designed to make women’s health easy. Jefferson Community Health & Life is now scheduling women for the experience on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The program is available at the Jefferson Community Health & Life Health Center and Fairbury Clinic on select days every month, and includes:

* Personalized guidance from an on-site Women’s Health Day navigator

* Important health screenings, including fasting lab tests, a screening mammogram and a routine annual exam to assess overall and gynecological health (lab test and mammogram results will be available before participants leave for the day, while Pap test results will be provided later by mail)

* Complimentary breakfast and a relaxing indulgence—such as an express manicure or hand massage, for example. Offerings may vary.

* Reserved parking

“It’s so important for women to make time for their own health, but we know life sometimes gets in the way,” said Erin Starr, Chief Quality Officer. “That’s why we created Women’s Health Day—to provide a convenient way for women to get their essential health screenings all at once, while also taking time to unwind.”

All major insurance plans are accepted for screening and exams (coverage is subject to individual policy terms). JCH&L Fairbury Clinic accepts new patients.

Appointments for the Women’s Health Day experience start as early as 6:30 a.m. To schedule, call 402.729.6841.

An update to a new Electronic Health Record at Jefferson Community Health & Life, scheduled to take place on Aug. 17, will benefit patients, said JCH&L CEO Burke Kline, DHA.

JCH&L is working with Cerner Corporation®, a global health care technology company, to implement a new integrated electronic health record (EHR) across its health center and clinics.

“Having one connected system used throughout our hospital and clinics will help doctors and nurses work smarter to improve the overall health of our community, ” said Erin Starr, JCH&L chief nursing officer.

In order to help us make sure all information is accurate and correct, JCH&L staff ask that clinic patients arrive 15 to 20 minutes ahead of their scheduled appointment. This will allow time to make sure all information is in the computer system correctly. Initially, it will take a little longer to verify information, including medications, health history, allergies, and basic information.

Pre-registration events have been offered, and a number of patients have taken advantage of the opportunity to pre-register in the new EHR with JCH&L staff.

Those who have not pre-registered are welcome to pick up a health history form at the JCH&L outpatient services desk or the Fairbury or Plymouth Clinic admissions desk, the Fairbury Chamber of Commerce office, Korbel Drug, Globe Rexall, or go to JCHealthandLife.org and print off the form. Once completed, the form can be dropped off at the clinic or hospital, or brought to an appointment.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience. As we go live with the brand new system, there will be some things that take longer – but this will improve as we get patient information entered into the system and verified,” Starr said. “Ultimately, it will improve the safety, quality and experience of health care for patients and caregivers.”

The new system will include a new patient portal, which will offer patients around-the-clock access to their health records. It will be easier to access information and appointment scheduling resources at any time. Once enrolled, patients can use this online resource to securely exchange messages with health care providers, view health results and records, pay their bill, schedule appointments and more.

JCH&L has offered comprehensive health care services to the residents of Fairbury and surrounding communities for more than 55 years. Collaborating with an industry-leading health care technology provider puts the health system in a better position to serve the communities needs both now and well into the future.

Anyone with questions or concerns should call Starr at 402-729-6889.

FAIRBURY –The next Nebraska Community Bloodbank blood drive will be held on Monday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 2  p.m. in the conference rooms at Jefferson Community Health & Life. Donors will use the main entrance. The August blood drive will help raise scholarship funds for Fairbury High School students.

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

To make an appointment, call Jean Smith at JCH&L at 402-729-6851, or visit NCBB.org 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 NCBB.org/iDonate

Jefferson Community Health & Life has cancelled the 2020 charity golf tournament, which had been scheduled for Aug. 7, 2020.

“While there is sadness in cancelling the 24^th annual tournament, we feel it is prudent and in the best interest of health and well being of all concerned,” said Lana Likens, JCH&L director of Public Relations.

When JCH&L decided to move ahead with the tournament in late June, new COVID-19 diagnoses in Nebraska were declining, numbers for our immediate area remained very low, Directed Health Measures for the five-county health area were loosening, and JCH&L felt it could plan a COVID-19 friendly and responsible tournament.

By mid- to late-July, outbreaks in the counties surrounding Jefferson County – some linked to golf tournaments – forced JCH&L to reevaluate. News also came out that an outbreak elsewhere in the state had also been linked to a golf tournament. Currently, due to a shortage of reagents, test results are taking longer than normal to be returned.

“Even with the many precautions planned for our tournament, at this time we feel it is in the best interest of the health and well being of tournament participants and community to cancel,” Likens said. “As a community health care provider, we have a tremendous responsibility to keep your community members safe.”

Refunds are available to those who have donated. Those who wish to have refunds should contact Likens at lana.likens@jchealthandlife.org, or calling 402-729-6855.