JeffCo On the Move

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Group encourages and facilitates healthy lifestyles

It has been nearly a year since the Walk & Bike Fairbury Summit was held in October 2017. Our team has officially become JeffCo On the Move. We are working through a number of areas within the community to encourage and facilitate healthy lifestyles.

The City of Fairbury has been working on redevelopment plans for H Street and has nearly completed a plan which will include sidewalks from 14th to 27th Street.  We have completed an initial sidewalk assessment for priority pathways which connect the schools and parks.  The city is offering matching funds to assist property owners in upgrading or adding sidewalks, with emphasis on priority areas. Details and applications are available at the Fairbury City Offices, or learn more information by calling  402-729-5261 The city is also investigating an extension of the current trail to the east to connect with Nebraska Highway 15 south of Fairbury.

Jefferson Community Health & Life has launched a hashtag campaign: #jeffcohealthyforlife.  The goal is to have people snap pictures of themselves or others who are exercising or living healthy lifestyles and ultimately, encourage others to get out and life healthy lifestyles, as well. We want to create a culture of healthy lifestyles! JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center is planning for youth swims for the school year, and has added a martial arts class for all ages.

The Fairbury Public Library is looking into a “story walk,” which is a children’s story posted on signage along a walking route.  The library is also working on identifying historic sites around Fairbury’s priority walking routes, with the possibility of adding signage to encourage exploration of the city’s history while walking or biking.

Fairbury Public Schools held a Color Run for the September elementary fun night on the cross-country course, and are working toward a walking club for kids who arrive prior to school start time in the morning.  They are also working with Public Health Solutions on possibilities of utilizing a new program for Safe and Active Routes to School, or a “walking school bus” program.

Anyone interested in being part of the JeffCo On the Move team is invited to contact Judy McGee at 402-729-6887.  We need your ideas and participation to move forward and make Jefferson County a place where we encourage everyone to stay “on the move” to build a healthier community.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group to Meet Oct. 23

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will meet on Monday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be a video on Making Visits Valuable by Teepa Snow.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the lobby signage to “Hospital.” The meeting rooms will be to the left. The Small Conference Room is the second door.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Community Health & Life.  It is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no cost, and no pre-registration.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

October Health Today Features Medicare D

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FAIRBURY – The October Health Today Program will feature Medicare D by Lori DeBoer, business office staff member at Jefferson Community Health & Life and trained Senior Health Information Program counselor.

The session will be held at 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the Large Conference Room at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

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 JCHC 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. Please note that the day of the week for the session will vary.

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.

Sen. Ebke to Hold Townhall Oct. 14

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Jefferson Community Health & Life Encourages You to Bring Your Questions

Join 32nd District Sen. Laura Ebke for a Townhall Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The forum  will begin at 10 a.m. in the Large Conference Room at Jefferson Community Health & Life, 2200 H St., Fairbury.

This is a great opportunity to visit with the senator, find out what the legislature is expecting in the upcoming session, and share your thoughts and ideas.

The informal session is free and open to the public.

Parkinson’s Support Group to Meet

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The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet on Monday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be the webinar, “Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease,” by Dr. Joseph H. Friedman, MD, director of the Movement Disorders Program, Butler Hospital, and Professor and Chief, Division of Movement Disorders, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence RI.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the lobby signage to “Conference Room.” The meeting rooms will be to the left. The Small Conference Room is the second door.

The Parkinson’s Support Group generally meets on the second Monday of each month. The group is designed to provide an opportunity for area residents to share their experiences with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cost for participants.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at (402)-729-3351.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits Oct. 9

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FAIRBURY – 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.

The next blood drive will be held on Monday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nebraska Community Bloodbank bloodmobile in the JCH&L parking lot (on the H street side of the building.) All types are needed.

To make an appointment, call Jean Smith at JCH&L at 402-729-6851, the Nebraska Community Bloodbank at 1-877-486-9414 or visit NCBB.org and use sponsor code JCHC.

 About Nebraska Community Blood Bank

Since 1968 Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been committed to connecting people and saving lives. Nebraska Community Blood Bank supplies lifesaving blood to healthcare facilities in six counties throughout eastern Nebraska. For more information, call 1-877-486-9414 or visit NCBB.org.

JCH&L Plans Breakfast for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Join us for breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 4

Join Jefferson Community Health & Life Radiology for a free breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 4, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A light breakfast will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room at Jefferson Community Health & Life, 2200 H St., Fairbury.

Come and enjoy breakfast, have a chance to win door prizes, get information on breast density, and make your mammogram appointment.

Regular mammograms are just one way for women to take care of themselves – but it is an important part of breast health. During October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, JCH&L encourages women to follow their doctors’ recommendations for breast cancer screening.

Mammography is typically recommended in combination with regular examination by a physician and breast self-awareness. The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommend that women age 40 or older have a mammogram every year. Women are encouraged to ask their doctor about mammography recommendations specific to their needs, risks and health history.

Many insurance companies pay for screening mammograms. The Every Woman Matters program is also available to assist women with the cost of regular mammograms, and other routine health screenings.

Jefferson Community Health & Life Radiology offers digital technology in a newly renovated radiology department. JCH&L uses the state-of-the-art system, Selenia™ digital mammography from Hologic.™

Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed. The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow the radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern.

Besides mammography, JCH&L Radiology offers ultrasound, which is another test a radiologist may recommend to evaluate the breast tissue, and CAD (Computer-Aided Detection) software which identifies and marks areas of concern on mammogram images to bring them to the attention of the radiologist.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is a private not-for-profit health care organization with the vision of being our community’s most trusted partner for a lifetime of health.

For further information, or to schedule a mammogram, please call the Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6841.

Kim Coleman MD Named Nebraska Physician of the Year

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Radiologist Provides Services to Jefferson Community Health & Life

 Kim Coleman MD was announced as Physician of the Year on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 at the Nebraska Medical Association’s Annual Meeting. Dr. Coleman has been practicing Pediatric Radiology for nearly 20 years. Through Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI) she provides radiology services to Jefferson Community Health & Life.

Dr. Coleman was nominated by the Lancaster County Medical Society(LCMS). Recipients must be currently practicing and are chosen based on community contributions and leadership.

According to LCMS, Dr. Coleman is known for her diplomatic approach to issues by encouraging fellow physicians to evaluate all aspects of an issue and work towards a common goal.

As a leader in the community, Dr. Coleman serves on many boards including being one of the first board members of OneHealth Nebraska, a group of independent physicians working together to provide high quality patient-focused care. Along with being a partner of Advanced Medical Imaging, Dr. Coleman also serves as the Medical Director of the department of radiology at CHI Health’s St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center. She is also a small business owner and philanthropist. Dr. Coleman created Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe in downtown Lincoln based on the proven philosophy that reading has a significant impact on a child’s life. She specifically strives to improve literacy in Spanish-speaking children and accomplishes that through programs such as Spanish-English story time.

Dr. Coleman’s civic service doesn’t stop with Nebraska as she has worked with a medical team for many years to serve the residents of Haiti. She has traveled as an active team member, helped purchase a portable ultrasound machine, and conducted hands-on training for many Haitian medical personnel on how to use ultrasound as a diagnostic tool. Over the years, she has also hosted physicians from Haiti so they may share their experiences and to learn from their peers in Lincoln.

Dr. Coleman received her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she also completed her residency. After residency, Dr. Coleman completed a fellowship in pediatric radiology from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She is board certified with the American Board of Radiology and C.A.Q. Pediatric Radiology.

Nebraska Physician of the Year to Speak at Women’s Health Fair

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First Women’s Health Fair Set for Wednesday, Sept. 27

Nebraska’s 2017 Physician of the Year will be one of the speakers at the first-ever Jefferson Community Health & Life Health Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Kim Coleman, M.D., of Advanced Medical Imaging, will speak on Breast Health at 6 p.m. at JCH&L during the Women’s Health Fair.

Dr. Coleman was announced as Physician of the Year on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 at the Nebraska Medical Association’s Annual Meeting. Dr. Coleman has been practicing Pediatric Radiology for nearly 20 years. Through AMI she provides radiology services to Jefferson Community Health & Life.

Presentations for the event will include:

5:45 p.m. Urinary incontinence, exercises for all ages, posture – JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services

6 p.m. Breast health – Kim Coleman, MD, Advanced Medical Imaging

6:30 p.m. Putting yourself first: stress, anxiety and depression – Jessica Borrenpohl, PA-C, JCH&L Fairbury Clinic

6:45 p.m. What screenings should I have? – Jessical Borrenpohl, PA-C, JCH&L Fairbury Clinic

7 p.m. Healthy aging: menopause, hormone therapy, libido – Rick Blatny Jr. MD, JCH&& Fairbury Clinic

7:30 p.m. Insurance 101 – Lori DeBoer and Susan Rine, JCH&L insurance services

 

The event is designed in an open house format. Women are free to come for all or part of the evening. In addition to presentations, the evening will include health-related booths, “Just for fun” booths, screenings, opportunities to be pampered, and prizes.

For more information on the Women’s Health Fair, contact Erin Starr at 402-729-6889.

September is Sepsis Awareness Month

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Sepsis is the #1 Cause for Hospital Readmission

Sepsis is the Number 1 cause for readmissions to hospitals in the United States –  costing more than $2 billion each year, according to the JAMA Network. And only 55 percent of U.S. adults have heard of sepsis. September is Sepsis Awareness Month and Jefferson Community Health & Life wants everyone to understand the seriousness of this medical emergency. Sepsis kills more people yearly than prostate cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined.

So what exactly is sepsis? Sepsis is defined as the body’s overwhelming and life threatening response to an infection. When infection gets out of control in the body it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Any infection, anywhere in your body, can cause sepsis.

While sepsis is more likely to affect very young children, older adults, people with chronic diseases, and those with a weakened immune system, sepsis is an equal-opportunity killer impacting people of all ages and levels of health. Sepsis is a medical emergency and requires urgent attention and rapid treatment for survival.

Symptoms of sepsis can include the following:

  • Fever or feeling chilled,
  • Confusion/sleepiness,
  • Fast heart rate,
  • Fast breathing or shortness of breath,
  • Extreme pain, and/or
  • Pale or discolored skin.

The goal is to recognize and treat sepsis early. As many as 92% of sepsis cases originate outside of a healthcare setting, so it is important for everyone to be aware of signs and symptoms. Call your doctor immediately if you suspect or have concerns about sepsis. Lab work, vital signs and assessment of the patient will help the medical team to identify if a patient has sepsis.

What can you do to prevent sepsis? Get vaccinated against flu, pneumonia, and any other infections that could lead to sepsis. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations which might be beneficial for your health. Prevent infections that can lead to sepsis by cleaning any scrapes and wounds, and practicing good hygiene/hand washing. Lastly, know that time matters. Watch for symptoms and notify your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms.

September is Sepsis Awareness Month. For more information on sepsis, visit https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/index.html.

2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE