New Classes Coming to JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center

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Get fit with POUND®, Fighter Fit Cardio, or Spinning Classes

In December, JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center will offer a demo for a potential new class, start a new class, and bring back a favorite class.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, try out POUND® in demos to be held at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The demo is free to members and non-members alike. POUND® is a cardio jam session inspired by drumming, which provides an exhilarating full-body workout that combines cardio, conditioning and strength training with yoga- and Pilates-inspired movements. It is designed for all fitness levels. Instructor is Clayton Brandt. Following the demos, we will determine interest in a class.

Fighter Fit Cardio will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. beginning Monday, Dec. 3. Fighter Fit Cardio focusses on high-impact interval training through a variety of exercises and drills meant to improve cardiovascular fitness, core strength, balance and muscle endurance. Stations include: Jab/Cross, Front Kick, Elbows, Thai Clinch Knees, Pad Work, Rope Drill, Sprawls/Burpees, Up Kick and Ground and Pound. This call will be instructed by Clayton Brandt.

Spinning classes return in December, meeting at noon on Tuesdays Dec. 3, 11, and 18, then returning every Tuesday starting Jan. 8. Spinning is a very motivational and upbeat class. You will experience great music, different pedaling speeds and positions while riding seated or standing. Core muscles are challenged due to the turning ability of the bikes. This a low-impact class for your joints, but a great cardio workout that you can make as easy or as challenging as you want. Instructor is Craig Bontrager.

All classes are free to members. Non-members may participate by purchasing a $7 per day guest pass, or a $25 punch card (6 visits.)

For more information on these classes, stop at JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center, 2200 H St., Fairbury, or call 402-729-6139.

JCH&L Among Top 10 Nebraska Hospitals For Rural Provider Excellence in Quality

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Jefferson Community Health & Life received the Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award during the Nebraska Critical Access Hospitals Conference on Quality held Nov. 15-16 in Kearney.

This is a new recognition that the Rural Health Association plans to give annually at the CAH Quality Conference. The award uses the iVantage measures as well as scores in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project.

A subsidiary of The Chartis Group, iVantage Health Analytics (iVantage) is a leading provider of healthcare analytic and performance management analytic tools. Health system and hospital leadership teams across the country rely on the company’s software and services to deliver customized insights on clinical and financial performance, strategic planning, market assessment and payment optimization. iVantage’s analytics are the basis of continuing thought leadership and insight in the areas of healthcare policy and research.

The Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project is a quality improvement activity under the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) grant program of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health policy. The goal is to improve the quality of care in Critical Access Hospitals by increasing quality data reporting and driving quality improvement activities based on the data.

The MBQIP measures include ER transfer communication, CMS core measures in ER and immunization rates for patients.

Erin Starr, Chief Quality Officer at Jefferson Community Health and Life, accepts the award from Nancy Jo Hansen, MBQIP coordinator.

JCH&L to Donate to Wrestling Programs

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Donation of $1 per pin will be made to Fairbury, Tri County and Meridian wrestling programs

Wrestlers are always happy to pin their opponent. This year, each pin will also add up to donations to the wrestling programs at Fairbury High School, Tri County High School and Meridian High School.

Jefferson Community Health & Life will be donating $1 per pin to each of these schools which serve Jefferson County students and have a wrestling program.

Tri County and Meridian begin their seasons Nov. 29. Fairbury begins its season Dec. 1.

Jefferson Community Health & Life supports all of our area wrestlers on their hard work and dedication, and is excited to see the final tally of pins at the end of the season.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits Dec. 3

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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, Dec. 3, 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.

During this drive, all presenting donors will have a chance to win a vacation, with their choice of four locations: Key West, New Orleans, San Diego, or Lake Tahoe.

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 Receives National Recognition for Performance Leadership

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Today, on National Rural Health Day, Jefferson Community Health & Life announced it has been recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective, reflecting top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the nation. This is the second consecutive year for JCH&L to receive the Performance Leadership award in all three categories which are currently recognized.

“This recognition affirms that our emphasis on quality, performance and satisfaction are making a difference to the community we serve. It is because of the work and care of our staff, physicians and board, and the support of our community that we are able to meet and surpass the benchmarks for recognition,” said Chad Jurgens, JCH&L chief executive officer.

The rankings are determined each year using iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Analytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indicators relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEX captures performance metrics for all rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Leveraging data from public data sources, INDEX aggregates data from more than 50 individual metrics into three major categories and eight pillars to derive a single strength overall rating for each facility.

“On this important day, as we celebrate the power of rural, it’s great to recognize these top performers who are excelling in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, or operating at a lower cost than their peers,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “These leaders serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities as they strive to achieve similar results and provide a blueprint for how to successfully run a hospital and serve their communities amidst today’s uncertainty and mounting pressures.”

Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016; named as a Top 100 critical access hospital for 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018; named as a Top 20 critical access hospital in 2018; and named a HEALTHSTRONG hospital in 2015.

Dr. Blatny Sr. Receives Meritorious Service Award from NHA

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Richard Blatny Sr., MDDr. Richard Blatny Sr., MD, a family medicine physician at Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic, was honored with the Meritorious Service Award from the Nebraska Hospital Association on Oct. 24 during the NHA annual convention at LaVista.

Dr. Blatny Sr. has been serving the community of Fairbury since 1973. He has been an active part of the medical community locally and statewide. In September he semi-retired, and has limited office hours and is taking emergency call through the end of the year

“Dr. Blatny Sr. is very deserving of the Meritorious Service Award recognizing longevity and breadth of service of an individual to health care in the state,” said Chad Jurgens, JCH&L CEO.

Dr. Blatny Sr. received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1969 from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha, completed his internship in 1970 at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1973. In 1973 he began serving the community as a family physician and partner at the Fairbury Clinic PC. He is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine. In 2016, the Fairbury Clinic was purchased by Jefferson Community Health &

Life.

As an active part of the medical community – both locally and state wide, Dr. Blatny Sr. has been active in the Nebraska Medical Association. He served as president in 2014-2015.

Dr. Blatny Sr. is a past winner of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians Physician of the Year award. He is a past chairman of the Nebraska Medical Association Legislative Committee, past president of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians, past delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a past board member of CIMRO of Nebraska. He is a former board member of Jefferson Community Health & Life, and has served as medical director of Heritage Care Center. He is also a former board member of the St. Michael’s School.

Dr. Blatny Sr. is a member of the Nebraska Medical Association, the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association, and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The Meritorious Service award given by the Nebraska Hospital Association recognizes the long-term contributions of members to the Association and their individual hospitals. The award recognizes longevity and breadth of service of an individual,  not only to their facility, but to health care in the state.

Kumpf Named JCH&L Caring Kind Employee

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Jenny Kumpf, outpatient clinic services unit clerk, was named Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Caring Kind Employee for 2018. Kumpf was among 76 recognized at the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) annual convention on October 26, 2018.

Kumpf’s nominates said she exemplifies the Caring Kind spirit with her smile, her eagerness to help both patients and coworkers, and her dedication to go above and beyond in her job. Nominators commend her for taking customers where they need to go, and for working well with all departments for services patients might need. Patients appreciate your willingness to work with their schedules, and communicate any changes.

For 39 years, the Caring Kind award has been given to Nebraska’s most caring and compassionate hospital employees. The award honors outstanding health care employees who have demonstrated compassion for patients, cooperation with co-workers and dedication to excellence in their job responsibilities.

“The Caring Kind Award has truly become a rich tradition for the NHA and our members. The recipients demonstrate a level of kindness, caring, dedication and commitment to their patients that goes above and beyond,” said NHA President Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE. “I look forward to this event every year – it celebrates all that is good in serving others.”

Hospitals across the state each select one Caring Kind award recipient from within their respective institutions to be recognized during the NHA Annual Convention.

Nearly 2,500 skilled and dedicated health care professionals have received this award since its inception in 1979. This year, 76 employees were honored before more than 500 people in attendance at The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon held at the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista.

The event showcases the exemplary work and care hospital employees provide every day throughout the year. Every Nebraska hospital employee plays a critical role in providing high-quality, cost-effective treatment and ensuring the safety of themselves, their co-workers and patients each and every day. These honorees are star performers through their dedication to patients and teamwork, ensuring that care is safe, quality-driven and cost-effective for consumers, as well as for the organizations they represent.

The NHA congratulates The Caring Kind award recipients for 2018:

  • Eltaib Abdellah | Chase County Community Hospital | Imperial
  • Peggy Adams | Community Medical Center, Inc. | Falls City
  • Emily Afrank | Faith Regional Health Services | Norfolk
  • Sean Akers | Children’s Hospital & Medical Center | Omaha
  • Becky Antes | Community Memorial Hospital | Syracuse
  • Jennifer Arnold | Regional West Health Services | Scottsbluff
  • JoAnn Aschoff | St. Joseph’s Retirement Community | West Point
  • Tim Bader | Kearney Regional Medical Center | Kearney
  • Florence Basilio | Oakland Mercy Hospital | Oakland
  • Shannon Beck | Merrick Medical Center | Central City
  • Matthew Benn | VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System | Omaha
  • Ann Bergman | Cozad Community Health System | Cozad
  • AAron Blanchard | Memorial Community Health | Aurora
  • Rachel Brabec | Boys Town National Research Hospital | Omaha
  • Kyle Broadfoot | Tri Valley Health System | Cambridge
  • Hanna Brumbaugh | Pawnee County Memorial Hospital | Pawnee City
  • Jason Calhoon | Harlan County Health System | Alma
  • Peggy Casey | Fillmore County Hospital | Geneva
  • Sue Creekmore | York General | York
  • Laura Daro | Butler County Health Care Center | David City
  • Michelle Dick | Thayer County Health Services | Hebron
  • Jill Doolittle | CHI Health St. Elizabeth | Lincoln
  • Joan Fillipi | Providence Medical Center | Wayne
  • Cynthe Ford | Methodist Women’s Hospital | Omaha
  • Amanda Fossler | Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center | Beatrice
  • Sharon Fowler | CHI Health Midlands | Papillion
  • Eduardo Freitas, MD | Great Plains Health | North Platte
  • Beth Grant | Friend Community Healthcare System | Friend
  • Michael Gray | Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals | Lincoln
  • Jill Hardy | CHI Health St. Mary’s | Nebraska City
  • Karen Hart | Antelope Memorial Hospital | Neligh
  • Jolynn Hartman | Fremont Health | Fremont
  • Janine Harvey | Nemaha County Hospital | Auburn
  • Theresa Hawk | Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital | O’Neill
  • Colleen Hoff | Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center | Broken Bow
  • Christine Johnson | CHI Health St. Francis | Grand Island
  • Emily Johnson | Sidney Regional Medical Center | Sidney
  • Krystal Kaup | Rock County Hospital | Bassett
  • Deb Kessler | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus
  • Lorrie Klepper | Memorial Health Care Systems | Seward
  • Jenny Kumpf | Jefferson Community Health & Life | Fairbury
  • Melissa Lindauer | OrthoNebraska | Omaha
  • Megan Loeffler | Mary Lanning Healthcare | Hastings
  • Sarah Lunbery | Box Butte General Hospital | Alliance
  • Dan Lygrisse | Brodstone Memorial Hospital | Superior
  • Marla Martin | Crete Area Medical Center | Crete
  • Tegwin Matthews | CHI Health Immanuel | Omaha
  • Kristina Messersmith | Lexington Regional Health Center | Lexington
  • Patricia Minnick | Franklin County Memorial Hospital | Franklin
  • Christi Moock | Bryan Health | Lincoln
  • Brian Moody | CHI Health Good Samaritan | Kearney
  • Joy Nelson | CHI Health Plainview | Plainview
  • Julie Nelson | Regional West Garden County | Oshkosh
  • Tammy Nelson | Phelps Memorial Health Center | Holdrege
  • Paul Nepal | CHI Health Lakeside | Omaha
  • Lisa Nissen | Osmond General Hospital | Osmond
  • Alisha Obando | Chadron Community Hospital & Health Services | Chadron
  • Mary Ogorzolka | Community Hospital | McCook
  • Jean Peck | CHI Health CUMC Bergan Mercy | Omaha
  • Elizabeth Perkins | Nebraska Medicine | Omaha
  • Michelle Peterson | Nebraska Methodist Hospital | Omaha
  • Colette Powell | Ogallala Community Hospital | Ogallala
  • Roy Robbins | Saunders Medical Center | Wahoo
  • Jacob Runyan | Brown County Hospital | Ainsworth
  • Ardanna Sepers | Dundy County Hospital | Benkelman
  • Joy Setlik | Valley County Health System | Ord
  • Rebecca Seybold | Kearney County Health Services | Minden
  • Carla Smith | Pender Community Hospital | Pender
  • Louise Stewart | Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center | Osceola
  • Marissa Stoklasa | CHI Health Schuyler | Schuyler
  • Jane Stone | Howard County Medical Center | St. Paul
  • Kathy Swanda | Johnson County Hospital | Tecumseh
  • Jayson Talaue | Avera Creighton Hospital | Creighton
  • Jessica Thomassen | West Holt Medical Services | Atkinson
  • Lorilee Titus | Memorial Community Hospital & Health System | Blair
  • Kathy Young | Boone County Health Center | Albion

 

The Nebraska Hospital Association is the unified voice for Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems. The Association offers collaborative leadership, assisting its members to provide comprehensive care to their communities, improving the health status of those communities. For more information, visit the NHA website at www.NebraskaHospitals.org.

Hoins Graduates from NHA Leadership Institute

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Patrick Hoins, facilities director at Jefferson Community Health & Life, was one of 37 graduates of the Nebraska Hospital Association Leadership Institute Class XV during NHA’s 91st Annual Convention Awards Banquet. The banquet was held on Oct. 24 at Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista.

The NHA Leadership Institute, which has nearly 400 alumni, is a 10-month intensive leadership development program that is geared toward providing middle management and up-and-coming leaders within Nebraska member hospitals with the necessary skills to become exceptional leaders.

Participants in the intensive leadership development program completed 40 hours of instruction and training, individual development planning, personality assessments, feedback exercises and management coaching. The NHA Leadership Institute is a partnership between the NHA and expert faculty from Bellevue University.

They also engaged in a variety of leadership-oriented topics, including building a foundation of leadership, using 360-degree assessments for improved leadership, working with conflict, analyzing performance issues, personality traits in the workplace, coaching for improved performance, leading across the generations, leading teams and succession management.

“We are very proud of this year’s graduates of the NHA Leadership Institute as they have demonstrated a desire and commitment to becoming exceptional health care leaders for Nebraska,” said NHA President Laura J. Redoutey. “It’s a credit to the commitment of our participants and the excellent work performed by our partner, Bellevue University.”

The NHA acknowledges and congratulates the following Class XV graduates of this year’s NHA Leadership Institute:

Jill Allen, RN, BSN | Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center | Beatrice, Nebraska

Erin Barnes, RN | CHI Health St. Mary’s | Nebraska City, Nebraska

Bill Bolte, MT (ASCP) | York General | York, Nebraska

Keri Carraher, RN | Boone County Health Center | Albion, Nebraska

Meg Craig | Box Butte General Hospital | Alliance, Nebraska

Bree Frazier, RN, BSN | Community Hospital | McCook, Nebraska

Mandy Greve, A+, ICE | Box Butte General Hospital | Alliance, Nebraska

Chelsey Hartwell, RN, BSN | Community Hospital | McCook, Nebraska

Pat Hoins | Jefferson Community Health & Life | Fairbury, Nebraska

Sue Hrnicek, MSN, RN, CNOR | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus, Nebraska

Sara Ingram | Valley County Health System | Ord, Nebraska

Devin Johansen | Merrick Medical Center | Central City, Nebraska

Carrie Junker, RT | Community Hospital | McCook, Nebraska

Zac Kavan | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus, Nebraska

Jenni Klanecky, RN | Howard County Medical Center | St. Paul, Nebraska

John Kowalski, PT | York General | York, Nebraska

Renee Kurpgeweit | Providence Medical Center | Wayne, Nebraska

Erin Lacey | Saunders Medical Center | Wahoo, Nebraska

Cheryl Langfeldt | Crete Area Medical Center | Crete, Nebraska

Brooke Langley | Harlan County Health System | Alma, Nebraska

Mandy Lauck | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus, Nebraska

Heidi Lauenstein, RN | Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center | Beatrice, Nebraska

Misty Liss | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus, Nebraska

Jana Mangers, RHIT | York General | York, Nebraska

Brooke McCullough | Community Medical Center, Inc. | Falls City, Nebraska

Dylan McGill, MHA, CPT | Saunders Medical Center | Wahoo, Nebraska

Sue Moore, RN, MS | Great Plains Health | North Platte, Nebraska

Donnie Nichelson | Lexington Regional Health Center | Lexington, Nebraska

Matt Odle | Great Plains Health | North Platte, Nebraska

Cody Pachta, MLS (ASCP) | Thayer County Health Services | Hebron, Nebraska

Joanna Rayford | Providence Medical Center | Wayne, NE

Alicia Ridlen, RN, BSN | Community Hospital | McCook, Nebraska

Joe Ryland | Community Hospital | McCook, Nebraska

Cheryl Watson | Howard County Medical Center | St. Paul, Nebraska

Rael Woehrle, RP | Lexington Regional Health Center | Lexington, Nebraska

Jesse Young | Community Hospital & Health Center | Beatrice, Nebraska

Kelsey Zitek | Saunders Medical Center | Wahoo, Nebraska

 

The Nebraska Hospital Association is the unified voice for Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems. The association offers collaborative leadership, assisting its members to provide comprehensive care to their communities, improving the health status of those communities. For more information, visit the NHA website at www.NebraskaHospitals.org.

Big Blue Test Coming to Burkley Fitness Center

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FAIRBURY – How does exercise affect your blood sugar? Find out on Nov. 26 with the Big Blue Test at Jefferson Community Health & Life Burkley Fitness Center.

JCH&L Diabetes Educator Bekah Kimberlin, PharmD, will be at the fitness center on Nov. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to take blood sugars pre- and post-exercise. Between blood sugar checks, participants are encouraged to exercise for 14-30 minutes, doing the workout of their choice, or a suggested workout.

“Exercise is one of the many factors which affect your blood sugar. This is an opportunity to see how exercise affects yours – with no cost and no obligation,” said Kimberlin.

It is not necessary to be a fitness center member to participate – just check in with the front desk when you arrive and tell them you would like a complimentary pass to participate in the Big Blue Test.

There will also be information on diabetes, diabetes prevention and living with diabetes. Diabetes risk tests are available all month at JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center.

“Knowing your risk for diabetes is important. We want those who are at risk to know there are ways to prevent diabetes, and we can teach you. For those who have diabetes, it is possible to live an active and healthy life, and we can help you learn ways to live the best quality of life and reduce your risk of serious complications,” Kimberlin said.

November is National Diabetes Month, and it’s a great time to learn more about diabetes. For more information, contact Kimberlin at 402-729-3351.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group to Meet Nov. 26

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will meet on Monday, Nov. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be a program on “Caregiver Training: Repetitive Behaviors.”  This webinar by the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program is training for caregivers on dealing with agitation and anxiety experienced by the loved ones they care for.

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 on the left.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association which typically 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.

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