Jefferson Community Health & Life is taking precautionary measures and preparing for possible cases of COVID-19. While a small number cases have been identified in Nebraska, none have been identified to date in Jefferson County or surrounding counties.
As of Wednesday, March 11, JCH&L was discouraging visitors to Gardenside and Cedarwood, as the residents and tenants are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and influenza, which remains active in the area. Anyone who must visit Gardenside or Cedarwood, and patients at any JCH&L facilities, are now being screened for COVID-19 risk factors.
Screening questions include:
Anyone who has any of these risk factors will not be allowed to visit Gardenside or Cedarwood. JCH&L continues to require masking for any visitors to Gardenside or Cedarwood who have not been vaccinated for influenza.
Hospital or clinic patients with positive screening results will be cared for appropriately and given guidance and direction. Non-essential services may be rescheduled.
Patients who have symptoms of possible respiratory illness are encouraged to call for screening over the telephone before arriving at any medical facility.
“The health and wellness of our residents and tenants and the caregiving team who support them is our number one priority,” said Vic Lee, interim CEO at JCH&L. “We are staying abreast of the latest information from the Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and we are working with state and local public health officials.”
We will be educating staff and residents and families on symptom awareness for COVID-19, and infection control best practices.
“We have plans in place for a wide variety of emergencies. These plans continue to be updated and details are changed appropriately as needed for specific possible concerns, such as COVID-19,” Lee said. “Precautionary measures may change as we receive new information on COVID-19.”
The Ukuladies of Seward County will perform at JCH&L Gardenside at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. The public is invited.
The Ukuladies of Seward County is a group of seven women who play different types of ukuleles. They play all types of music, and have played at many different types of events. The group was recently features on Pure Nebraska on Channels 10/11.
You can find more about them on Facebook at Ukuladies of Seward County.
Jefferson Community Health and Life (JCH&L) announced today it has selected Cerner Corporation®, a global health care technology company, to implement a new integrated electronic health record (EHR) across its hospital and clinics. Cerner will provide the hospital with sophisticated health care technology designed to support doctors, nurses and staff as they work improve patient care and safety while streamlining operations.
“This transition to Cerner lays the foundation for JCH&L’s future,” said Erin Starr, chief nursing officer, JCH&L. “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.”
For more than four decades, Cerner has developed technology to aid hospitals in improving patient care. Connecting the JCH&L network with Cerner’s robust and integrated health care technology solutions will support caregivers in providing a more seamless health care experience.
JCH&L will transition to Cerner Millennium®, a health care IT platform designed to support a patient’s care journey across all venues, from the doctor’s office to the hospital and outpatient clinics. Cerner’s technology will help provide staff with a full digital view of their patients’ health history, giving clinicians direct access to the medical information they need at the point of care. Cerner’s CommunityWorks℠ delivery model, a cloud technology that supports unique needs of critical access hospitals, will be used across JCH&L’s 17-bed hospital, ancillary services and two family medicine clinics.
“Our technology will help drive value to JCH&L and its patients that extends beyond traditional electronic health record services,” said Mitchell Clark, president, CommunityWorks, Cerner. “The move from paper to electronic health records in the JCHL clinics is particularly meaningful as health systems of all sizes look to digitize and scale services in order to better align with patient needs. We’re committed to improve the safety, quality and experience of health care for patients and caregivers.”
A new and improved patient portal will offer patients around-the-clock access to their health records. This technology is designed to empower patients to take an active role in their health care by making it easier to access information and appointment scheduling resources at any time. Once enrolled, those receiving care can use this online resource to securely exchange messages with health care providers, view health results and records, settle balances, 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.
Complete blood profiles will be offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life at a discounted rate weekday mornings March 23-27.
Blood profiles appointments will be offered Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the outpatient clinic area at Jefferson Community Health Center, 2200 H St; and Tuesday at JCH&L Plymouth Clinic, 316 N. Madison Ave., Suite 200, Plymouth. The screening will be available by appointment only. A limited number of appointments will be available. Please make your appointment early! Fasting is required prior to the blood screening. Confidential reports will be mailed to participants.
The complete blood profile will cost $45 and includes:
The PSA screening is not available with this screening.
The profile report includes explanations of each factor which may be considered higher or lower than normal. Anyone with concerns about their screening results is encouraged to schedule an appointment with their personal family physician to discuss the results.
Since this is not a physician-ordered exam, it is not covered by Medicare or other insurance, and results are not sent to a physician. Payment will be collected at time of service. Cash and checks will be accepted for payment.
This screening is private pay only. If you want a complete blood profile which would be covered under an insurance preventative care option, you must have a physician-ordered screening, separate from this event.
The $45 rate is a considerable savings to patients compared to the regular costs of this type of complete blood profile, said Lab Manager Dan Reikofski.
To make an appointment for the blood profile, call Jefferson Community Health & Life Outpatient Services at (402) 729-6851.
FAIRBURY — The Spring Salad Festival of the Jefferson Community Health & Life Auxiliary will be held on Thursday, May 7, at the Fairbury Elks Lodge. The Salad Festival is a fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary which has been a community event since 1965.
“The Salad Festival has a long history in our community and has been a wonderful fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary,” said Lana Likens, director of public relations at Jefferson Community Health & Life. “It is also something that has provided wonderful food and fellowship, and our community has enjoyed.”
The salad festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets will be $7 in advance, and $7.50 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Fairbury Chamber, Jefferson County Extension, Heartland Bank, American National Bank, Union Bank and Jefferson Community Health & Life.
The Spring Salad Festival is the main fund-raising event of the auxiliary. The auxiliary provides scholarships to students entering medical fields, provides Christmas gifts for residents of the Gardenside long-term care at Jefferson Community Health & Life, and provides volunteer help at JCH&L in a variety of projects.
Anyone interested in more information about the auxiliary or the salad festival should contact Lana Likens at (402) 729-6855.
The March Health Today Program will be “Healthy Food Fast – Using Your Multi-Cooker” by Tara Dunker, MS, RD, Nebraska Extension Educator in Gage County. The session will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, in the Conference Rooms at Jefferson Community Health & Life.
March is National Nutrition Month, so it’s a great time to focus on nutrition. The program will include getting to know the multi-cooker, safety, cooking with pressure, cleaning and a cooking demo, with a sample provided at the conclusion.
Health Today is a free monthly health education session offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life in a lunch-time session. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, or are welcome to purchase lunch in the JCH&L cafeteria, which is located near the Conference Rooms.
JCH&L works with a wide variety of professionals who bring educational programs on health-related topics each month.
Reservations are not required. The program is FREE. The only cost for participants would be lunch, if they choose to purchase it. Participants are also welcome to carry in their lunch. Anyone who would like to be on a mailing list to directly receive notices about the monthly sessions or anyone with questions about the program should contact Likens at (402) 729-6855.
Roof work began at JCH&L Gardenside on Feb. 17. This project will involve some repairs above the ceiling inside and complete removal of the existing roof overlay and insulation and application of a new layer of insulation and a sealed roof overlay.
Residents, staff and visitors will experience some noise during this process while work is being done over head. The work will not begin before 9:00 a.m. and will be completed by 6:00-8:00 p.m. each evening so as not to disturb the residents’ sleep. The noise will vary from day to day and will be dependent upon what task is occurring and the location. Earplugs will be available for anyone who would like them during this process. Gardenside will make whatever accommodations possible on a day to day basis to keep residents comfortable.
Some interior work will also be completed above the ceilings. Most of this work will be in the north hallway and a section of the dayroom. Plastic containment walls will be in place for everyone’s safety during this portion of the project. Starting on Feb. 25, there will be a portion of the day room and the east courtyard inaccessible through Friday, Feb. 28. Beginning Friday, a few residents may be relocated and there will be a containment wall in part of the north hallway.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Deb Sutton RN, Administrator, at 402-729-5220.
FAIRBURY, Neb. — For the sixth time, 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 Jefferson County and beyond, while maintaining an efficient and effective facility,” said Victor Lee, MHA, LFACHE, interim CEO at Jefferson Community Health & Life.
Jefferson Community Health & Life scored in the top 100 of critical access hospitals (CAHs) on the iVantage Strength INDEX™ in 2020, and previously made the Top 100 list in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. This is the sixth time in seven years JCH&L has made the list of Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals. 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. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the INDEX leverages 50 rural-relevant indicators across eight pillars of hospital strength (i.e. Inpatient Market Share, Outpatient Market Chare, Cost, Charge, Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspective and Financial Stability) to determine an overall score for each hospital. Each of the INDEX’s 50 indicators is culled from publicly-available data sources. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally.
“The Top 100 Critical Access Hospital award program reminds us that rural providers haven’t lost touch with their mission and are committed to delivering better quality, better outcomes and better patient satisfaction. It’s a pleasure to be able to not only recognize this year’s recipients, but our larger group of top 100 alumni as we celebrate 10 years of The Hospital Strength INDEX,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
The list of this year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals, as well as the 2020 INDEX methodology, can be found at www.ivantageindex.com/top-performing-hospitals.
JCH&L is among 13 Nebraska critical access hospitals to make the Top 100 list for 2020. Others are: Boone County Health Center, Albion; Brodstone Memorial Hospital; Community Medical Center, Falls City; Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul; Memorial Health Care Systems, Seward; Memorial Hospital, Aurora; Merrick Medical Center, Central City; Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn; Pender Community Hospital, Pender; Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege; Providence Medical Center, Wayne; and York General Hospital, York.
In May 2018, 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 2018.
In November 2019, JCH&L was recognized for the third consecutive year with the Performance Leadership Award for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective. The Performance Leadership Award is given by the Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH).
“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,” Lee said.
The February Health Today Program will be “Heart Health” by Craig Shumard, MD, family medicine provider at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic. The session will be held at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Conference Rooms at Jefferson Community Health & Life.
February is National Heart Month, and it’s a great time to focus on heart health!
Health Today is a free monthly health education session offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life in a lunch-time session. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, or are welcome to purchase lunch in the JCH&L cafeteria, which is located near the Conference Rooms.
JCH&L works with a wide variety of professionals who bring educational programs on health-related topics each month.
Reservations are not required. The program is FREE. The only cost for participants would be lunch, if they choose to purchase it. Participants are also welcome to carry in their lunch. Anyone who would like to be on a mailing list to directly receive notices about the monthly sessions or anyone with questions about the program should contact Likens at (402) 729-6855.
2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE