News - JC Health and Life

Caregivers Support Group to Meet July 11

July 2, 2024/by Lana Likens

The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, July 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program will be a video on dealing with anger.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the signage to “Caregiver’s Support.”

The Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room.

The support group is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. The group provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease and learn from other’s experiences. There is no cost, and no pre-registration required.

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

Pain Clinic Added at JCH&L Outpatient Services

June 5, 2024/by Lana Likens

J Paul Meyer, MD, began offering an outpatient pain specialty clinic at JCH&L in June, and will be coming to JCH&L monthly to see patients.

Dr. Meyer is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Dr. Meyer sees patients who deal with chronic pain, low back pain and cancer-related pain. He offers spine-related procedures, sacroiliac joint injections, knee joint injections, trigger point injections, occipital nerve blocks, pain pump trials, spinal cord stimulator trials. He also performs surgeries including pain pump implants, spinal cord stimulator implants and sacroiliac joint fusions.

He is originally from Iowa and now lives in Grand Island. His undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University is in pharmacology. His medical doctorate is from the University of South Dakota. He completed an internship at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit, Mich. He spent three years as a flight surgeon in the US Air force, based out of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla. After his military service he served as an emergency medicine physician in Enid, Okla., for four years. He then did a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Kansas-Wichita.

“JCH&L is pleased to add another much-needed specialty in our Outpatient Services area,” said Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, MBA, CHFP, FACHE. “We know it is important to help our patients and area residents deal with pain. We continue to listen to the needs of our community and want to help our area residents lead the healthiest lives they can.”

Joining Dr. Meyer in his clinic visits will be Ashley Ambrosek, FNP-BC, PGMT-BC. Ashley is a nurse practitioner who will assist with procedures and help see and care for patients.

Dr. Meyer and Ashley will be coming to JCH&L once a month. For more details on dates, check out the calendar on the JCH&L website. Go to: JCHealthandLife.org, then locations, outpatient services, view complete schedule. The clinic will be listed as Pain – Dr. Meyer.

Referrals from a family medicine provider are required. For more information, please call JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851.

JCH&L Auxiliary Salad Festival Successful

June 5, 2024/by Lana Likens

More than $1,100 was raised during the annual salad festival of the Jefferson Community Health & Life Auxiliary on May 9 in Fairbury.

A total of 155 people were served at the festival, according to Lana Likens, director of public relations, marketing and development at Jefferson Community Health & Life. The Salad Festival is the biggest fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary each year, and has a long tradition in Fairbury. The first festival was held in 1965.

“It takes a tremendous amount of community support to have a fund-raiser continue for nearly 60 years. We thank all of those who helped to make this event successful once again,” Likens said. “It is a fun community spring event that also helps to fund good work by the auxiliary.”

The salad festival itself takes much volunteer time and effort, Likens said. More than 35 individuals volunteer their time to help during the day and more than 80 items of food are donated. This year, seed money from a Thrivent Financial action team also helped to cover some of the expenses of the event.

Tables were decorated with plants from the Fairbury FFA greenhouse, and more than $100 was raised for the Fairbury FFA with the sales of the plants.

The auxiliary provides scholarships to students entering medical fields and provides Christmas gifts for nursing home residents at JCH&L Gardenside, in addition to providing volunteer support for JCH&L in a variety of ways.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Registration Forms Now Available

June 3, 2024/by Lana Likens

FAIRBURY – Registration forms are now available for the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day set for Tuesday, July 30, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairbury. This year’s Safety Day is the 25^th event for the local chapter of Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Registration forms are available at Jefferson Community Health & Life, the Jefferson County Extension service, and the Fairbury Public Library. You may also request a form by calling 402-729-6855 or emailing lana.likens@jchealthandlife.org.

Safety Day is not just for “farm kids,” organizers said. Safety Day is designed to provide safety information that includes both general safety and farm safety. The day is offered for children who are entering Kindergarten through 7^th grade in the fall. The day’s events begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. The cost is $6 per child or $12 per family by July 23, or $10 per child after July 23. Walk-ins are accepted on the day of the event.

Through hands-on activities, participants learn to prevent incidents and reduce the extent of injuries if incidents do occur. Safety Day stresses the importance of children taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules, and sharing safety tips with their family and friends.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is organized by Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. It is made possible by The Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Area business sponsors are key to making Safety Day successful. Donations are welcome.

Anyone who needs more information on Safety Day should call the Nebraska Extension office in Jefferson County at (402) 729-3487, or Coordinator Lana Likens at JCH&L at (402) 729-6855.

Rick Blum PA-C Joins Jefferson Community Health & Life

May 30, 2024/by Lana Likens

Rick Blum, PA-C, joined Jefferson Community Health & Life this month. He will be caring for patients in JCH&L Fairbury Clinic and in the Emergency Room.

Blum received his undergraduate degree from UNO, and his PA training at Nebraska Med Center. He was a PA in Beatrice for 23 years. He currently serves in Valentine and Friend, in addition to JCH&L Fairbury.

“Medicine is fun. It’s challenging,” Blum said.

He said what he likes most about medicine in rural areas is the relationships built with patients, which are “unique to small-town medicine.”

Blum said the JCH&L campus is impressive. He appreciates JCH&L offering its community long-term care, a fitness center, and being part of Cedarwood assisted living, in addition to quality family medicine and hospital services.

He and his wife, Michele, live near Beatrice and have 4 grown children, 19-27.

Blum has been seeing emergency room patients since early May and begins seeing patients at the Fairbury Clinic June 6. He will accept new and established patients. To make an appointment, call 402-729-3361.

JCH&L Working With United HealthCare on Provider Issue

May 29, 2024/by Lana Likens

Jefferson Community Health & Life is currently working with UnitedHealthCare on an issue which has resulted in patients receiving notice that Kensly Williams, PA-C, will no longer be covered under their plan as of July 31. Kensly has been a PA at JCH&L since 2020.

“We are working to determine what happened that resulted in UnitedHealthCare sending a letter to those who have seen Kensly. We are working with the company to get the situation straightened out,” said Ashley Norden, JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Administrator.

JCH&L is a participating provider with UnitedHealthCare and all providers at JCH&L are included.

“We were surprised by the information that stated Kensly would not be part of the network, and we are working to determine what happened and how to correct it,” Norden said.

Kensly is currently out of the office on maternity leave. Despite rumors the UnitedHealthCare letters may have sparked, she is scheduled to be back in the clinic to see patients in late July.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet June 13

May 24, 2024/by Lana Likens

The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, June 13, at 4:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program will be a video “Caregiver Training: Depression and Apathy” from UCLA.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the signage to “Caregiver’s Support.”

The Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room.

The support group is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. The group provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease and learn from other’s experiences. There is no cost, and no pre-registration required.

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

JCH&L Recognizes Hospital Week

May 15, 2024/by Lana Likens

During National Hospital Week, May 12-18, Jefferson Community Health & Life thanks the many individuals who contribute to the excellence of health care in our community.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is one of Jefferson County’s largest employers with more than 250 full- and part-time employees. JCH&L employs staff from Jefferson County and all of the surrounding counties. In fiscal 2023, JCH&L’s total salaries and wages totaled $14.8 million, and benefits added $3.9 million.

JCH&L appreciates the community support which is shown through use of its services, as well as donations to the non-profit charitable organization.

JCH&L provides a wide range of health care services, including emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, family medicine, visiting specialists, home health, occupational health and long-term care services.

JCH&L also provides a variety of outreach services – health education opportunities, community health programs, a community fitness center, health fairs, speakers on health issues, support groups, screenings, and more. JCH&L provides donations for many area activities, events and programs. In fiscal 2023, JCH&L provided more than $150,000 in charity care to area residents. JCH&L subsidizes the services provides by the Burkley Fitness Center, Home Health and Gardenside to make these services possible in the community. According to the Nebraska Hospital Association Community Benefit report, JCH&L provided $2,251,955 in total community net benefit in fiscal 2023, along with writing off $448,061 in bad debt expenses. Besides the donations and time provided by the organization, individual staff members also volunteer in many area organizations and for events in their communities.

“Jefferson Community Health & Life is committed to provide quality health care to our area residents,” said JCH&L CEO Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, MBA, CHFP, FACHE. “We also take pride in being an active member of our community.”

More information about Jefferson Community Health & Life is available by going to its website at JCHealthandLife.org.

Medicare Fraud Attempt Reported

May 13, 2024/by Lana Likens

A Medicare fraud attempt using the pretenses of an offer from Jefferson Community Health & Life has been reported by a Fairbury resident. JCH&L reminds patients to never give their Medicare number, social security number or other personal information over the phone.

The Fairbury resident reported that they had received a call which showed caller ID of JCH&L Fairbury Clinic, and claimed to be her physician’s office letting her know about an opportunity the patient would have to receive a genetic testing kit for neurological issues. The call stated the patient would receive another call. In that call, the patient was asked to give a Medicare number.

A press release from 2019 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General website gives information about this particular scam.

It states: “Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary and/or was not ordered by a Medicare beneficiary’s treating physician.

Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries “free” screenings or cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits.

Beneficiaries who agree to genetic testing or verify personal or Medicare information may receive a cheek swab, an in-person screening or a testing kit in the mail, even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.

If Medicare denies the claim, the beneficiary could be responsible for the entire cost of the test, which could be thousands of dollars.”

JCH&L recommends that if you receive such a call, don’t give your Medicare number. If you have given you Medicare number, call the number on your card and report possible Medicare fraud. If you have questions or concerns about calls which appeared to come from JCH&L Fairbury Clinic, please call Ashley Norden, clinic administrator, at 402-729-3351, extension 7125. Medicare questions may go to Kim Shadduck, business office manager, at 402-729-3351, extension 7124.

The OIG has this advice for Medicare recipients:

If a genetic testing kit is mailed to you, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.
Be suspicious of anyone who offers you “free” genetic testing and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.
A physician that you know and trust should assess your condition and approve any requests for genetic testing.
Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the HHS OIG Hotline.
If you get a call, text or email asking for your Medicare number, don’t respond. Don’t give your Medicare card for Medicare number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it. (The Fairbury Clinic would not typically ask for your Medicare number over the phone.)
Check your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or claims statements carefully. If you see a charge for a service you didn’t get or a product you didn’t order, it may be fraud. If you suspect fraud, report it at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227.)
Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card.

Please visit Medicare.gov, the official source of Medicare information, to learn more about preventing Medicare fraud and medical identity theft. Here’s a link to a booklet about protecting yourself and Medicare from fraud. See more information at:

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10111-Protecting-Yourself-and-Medicare.pdf

JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center Brings Back Adventure Race

May 2, 2024/by Lana Likens

The JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center is excited to bring back the Fairbury Adventure Race in 2024! The date for this 8- to 12-mile course is set for Saturday, June 8. It will include bicycling, running and orienteering using a simple map.

The race will start at the Burkley Fitness Center and will finish at Rock Creek Station. Transportation back to the Fitness Center will be provided for participants and their bikes. This will be a team event only (no individual participants). Teams must consist of 2 or 3 participants. All participants are required to be 16 years of age or older.

The entry fee is $60 per team. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on race day with the pre-race meeting and map distribution beginning at 8:30 a.m. Race will start a 9 a.m.

Required Items:

Mountain Bike
Bike Helmet
Hydration Pack or water bottle