Fairbury Rural Fire Department Earns Hometown Heroes Donation

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The Fairbury Rural Fire Department was presented with a check for $224 from Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) April 17, 2019, because of the successful participation in the NCBB Hometown Heroes campaign.

The NCBB Hometown Heroes program takes place each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is an opportunity for community members to join forces, help save lives, and enrich their community. Money is allocated from NCBB to blood drive partners when they reach their blood drive collections goals.

The Jefferson Community Health & Life blood drives took place on June 4 and Aug. 6, 2018, and collected a total of 58 units of blood and welcomed 4 new blood donors.

The hometown hero program will continue in 2019 as Jefferson Community Health & Life will be hosting two more blood drives this summer on June 3 and Aug. 5, 2019. To make an appointment please visit us at www.ncbb.org and use the sponsor code JCHC or call NCBB at 402-486-9414.

Every two seconds, someone needs blood. Because blood cannot be synthetically made, only volunteer blood donors can help save lives. If you are interested in being a hero in your community, visit NCBB.ORG/heroes or email blooddrives@NCBB.org

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group to Meet April 22

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will meet on Monday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be “Making Visits Valuable – Senses,” a video by Teepa Snow, dementia care and education specialist.

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 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.

Public Invited to Free Movie Sponsored by JCH&L

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Jefferson Community Health & Life invites the public to a movie which highlights teamwork – Apollo 13 – on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Bonham Theatre in downtown Fairbury.

Apollo 13 is an award winning 1995 movie based on the real-life near disaster of the 1970 Apollo 13 space mission.  This movie gives a view of teamwork, with lives at stake.

The movie is free to the public with the sponsorship of JCH&L. Concessions will be available for purchase.

April Health Today: What Are Your Wishes?

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The April Health Today Program will be “What Are Your Wishes” by Angela Pruitt, RHIA, and Kris Huss, Social Services. The session will be held at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, April 22, in the Conference Rooms at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

We all have wishes for our lives, and our health. Have you thought about your wishes? Learn why it’s important to have your wishes documented, and available to your medical providers and family members. Learn what tools you can use to document your important wishes.

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.

New Rooms in Use for Sleep Studies

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New rooms are now in use for sleep studies at Jefferson Community Health & Life. By using patient rooms, JCH&L is able to offer those participating in sleep studies more space, an in-room bathroom, and a quieter atmosphere.

Sleep studies, also known as polysomnogram, is a non-invasive overnight exam that allows trained technicians to monitor the patient during sleep to see what is happening with their brain and body. During a study, sensors measure sleep stages, heart and breathing rates, blood oxygen, snoring, body movements and eye movements. A report is then prepared by a trained physician and results are shared with the ordering physician.

Sleep studies can be ordered by family medicine providers or specialists, and will be coordinated at JCH&L by Respiratory Therapist Stacy Shumard. Technicians from Rural Sleep Solutions do the studies at JCH&L.

A physician might recommend a sleep study if a patient has symptoms of disorders such as sleep apnea: loud snoring, waking up with a choking or gasping sensation, sleepiness or lack of energy during the day, sleepiness while driving, morning headaches, restless sleep, forgetfulness and/or mood changes. Treatments are available which can help alleviate the problems associated with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Jefferson Community Health & Life has been offering sleep studies locally since 2003, and in 2018 was accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. The Medicare and Medicaid programs began requiring ACHC accreditation in 2017.

Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance companies will cover sleep studies.

If you have symptoms of sleep disorders, make an appointment with a family medicine provider at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic or JCH&L Plymouth Clinic. For more information on sleep studies, contact Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-3351.

New Outpatient Experience Feedback Program at Jefferson Community Health and Life

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Jefferson Community Health & Life has partnered with Real-time Feedback by NRC Health starting April 1 for health center outpatient services.

Real-time Feedback is a patient experience program that allows JCH&L to work to improve the patient experience. A day or two after their visit, the patient will receive a telephone call between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. using Interactive Voice Response (IVR). The phone call will take about two minutes to complete. If the patient does not answer, the system will leave a voice mail message inviting the patient to call back. If they return the call, they will access the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) survey.

If the patient doesn’t answer or return the call, about a day later an email will be sent (if the patient has an email address included in their record.) The email has a link to a web-based assessment, which will take about 2 minutes to complete. If the patient does not have an email address in their record, they will receive a second phone call.

The system will make a third attempt to contact the patient another day later with a phone call, and if they don’t answer a voice mail will be left. The patient can return the call at their convenience and complete the Interactive Voice Response survey.

The surveys allow Jefferson Community Health & Life to improve the patient experience through addressing any concerns patients have. This partnership with NRC Health is an example of our continued dedication toward ensuring our patients have an excellent care experience, and transition back home safely into our community, using best practices established within the healthcare industry.

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