Caregivers Support Group to Meet Feb. 9

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room.

The program will be a video “Sleep Disturbances” by UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program.

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 which started again in November after a break because of COVID. The group now typically meets at
4 p.m. 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.

Kids Cooking Class Returns to JHC&L

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Children will have an opportunity to learn about healthy eating and the importance of working together to plan and prepare healthy meals during a Cooking Class for Kids to be offered Friday, March 10, Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21, at Jefferson Community Health & Life. The program is open to kids in grades 3-6 and their adult partners. During each class, participants will prepare a simple healthy meal together and then enjoy the meal as a group. The class is sponsored by Jefferson Community Health & Life and Nebraska Extension – Jefferson County. This is the same class being offered on three times – please only register for one.

The Friday, March 10, and Friday, April 21, classes will be offered from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Thursday, April 20, class will be offered from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $20 per team. Pre-registration with payment is required by Friday, March 3.

Aprons will be available for the children to wear during the class, and available for them to purchase after the class if they choose for an additional $5.

For more information or a registration form, call Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT, at 402-729-6846.

Norden Earns Bachelor’s Degree in Health Management

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JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Administrator Ashley Norden, LPN, has earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Management from the University of Phoenix.

Norden, who has been clinic administrator since 2020, has been with JCH&L since 2009. She was selected for the Nebraska Action Coalition’s 40 under 40 emerging nurse leader award in 2021. She became a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional in 2020.

Norden is committed to providing excellent customer service and helping our rural family medicine clinic continue to grow and improve.

Know Your Insurance Coverage

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Knowing your health insurance and what it covers is an important part of staying healthy and keeping health care costs manageable.

Health insurance plans are all very different – and two people covered by the same company may have different plans with different requirements.

Some important parts of your health insurance to know:

Deductible – The Deductible is the amount that you must pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company will begin paying towards any covered expenses. The deductible affects how much money you will pay to the doctor or hospital, and is typically paid at the time of treatment. Depending on the plan, the deductible may be paid once per calendar year or once per new condition.

Co-pay – This is an amount you must pay out of pocket before the insurance company pays for eligible expenses. Typically this is required instead of a deductible or coinsurance and requires you to pay a set fee for a specific service (for example, $25 for an office visit.)

Co-insurance – This a percentage of what your insurance will pay to cover your health care cost after any deductibles or copays have been met.

Provider network – This is a group of providers who have contracted with the insurance company to provide services. In-network providers will typically accept reimbursement from your insurance provider, while out-of-network providers may not. In-network providers may also be available at a lower cost to you.

Preventative care  – Most health plans cover preventative care at 100 percent. Certain screenings and vaccinations fall under the guidelines of preventative care. Some types of screenings can be preventative or diagnostic depending on your personal health history. For example, a colonoscopy can be screening because you have no symptoms, or can be diagnostic because you have symptoms or a diagnosis. Some lab work may also be considered either screening or diagnostic depending on your personal health history. If in doubt, talk to your insurer before you have a screening, so you understand how your preventative care benefits work before the bill arrives.

Specially Priced Blood Screening Available at JCH&L

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JCH&L offers reduced-price blood profiles – and a number of other patient-requested blood tests – on alternating Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

These patient-requested blood tests are being offered for those who wish to have more frequent testing than their health insurance plan will cover, want to access and manage health status on a regular basis, or are uninsured or have a high deductible and want to take advantage of lower out-of-pocket expenses. These are made available at patient request at a reduced price without a physician order.   Results will be available on JCH&L patient portal. Patients can sign up for the portal when they have the screening if they don’t already have access. Results will not be shared with your provider, and the costs must be covered at the time of service. Insurance will not be billed.

Appointments are required at least 24 hours before the testing time by calling the JCH&L Receptionist Line at 402-587-5193. Payment with cash or check is required at the time of testing. If you wish to use a credit card, please let the scheduler know. 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. Availability is limited, and this special pricing is only available for tests listed and at the special times.

The complete blood profile, called a general health panel, is available for a cost of $75. It includes measures of electrolytes, sugar, proteins, and overall kidney and liver functions; complete blood count, lipid panel, and TSH (thyroid.) This is comparable to the complete blood profile which was previously offered annually for a reduced price. Fasting is required prior to this screening.

Other tests available separately include General Chemistry, $25; Lipid panel, $25; CBC, $20; TSH, $25; Hemoglobin A1C, $25; PSA, $25; Vitamin D, $60; Blood type, $25. Some of these screenings require fasting, others do not. All of these tests are available at patient request on Wellness Wednesdays (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and Fasting Fridays (6 a.m. to 8 a.m.)

To make an appointment, call 402-587-5193 anytime and leave a message about what you want to schedule, and a number to call you back. We will return your call on the next weekday between  8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are required at least 24 hours before desired test time. Check in at the Outpatient/ER entrance.

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.

Family Medicine: A Key to Health

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Family medicine provider cares for the whole family

Your family medicine provider is an important key to health for your whole family.

Unlike specialties that are limited to a particular organ or disease, family medicine integrates care for patients of all ages and all genders. It is the only medical profession devoted solely to primary care, and is its own specialty.

The family medicine physician is trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of problems. Family medicine physicians complete a residency program which gives them experience in many of the various areas they will cover in their clinic: pediatrics, geriatrics, dermatology, acute or chronic conditions and general health and wellness.

Advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) are family medicine providers who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and provide preventative care. Nurse Practitioners are certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. PA-Cs are certified by the National Commission of Certification of PAs.

The family medicine provider is the place to start with any medical concern. The family medicine provider considers the whole person – not just one particular body system. The family medicine provider also considers how various conditions affect one another, and treat the person with all health issues in mind. If the family medicine provider feels the patient needs to see a specialist, a referral will be made.

Family medicine providers will consider a patient’s family history and personal health history and order screenings and routine diagnostic exams as appropriate. These screenings and routine diagnostic exams are very important in staying healthy. Family medicine providers will also order vaccinations and other preventative care as is appropriate for the patient.

When calling the family medicine clinic, explain the nature of the medical need. Is the appointment for a health concern that should be seen right away? Is the appointment for a physical or routine followup? Do you need routine lab?  Same-day appointments are typically available for health concerns that need immediate attention.

It is important to see your family medicine provider regularly for check ups, follow up, and blood tests. It is also important to keep your family medicine provider informed after specialist or emergency room visits.

Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic has five board-certified family medicine physicians, four board-certified nurse practitioners, and 2 board-certified physician assistants.

Jefferson Community Health & Life encourages everyone to see a family medicine provider routinely for preventative care, to ensure we have healthy families for life.

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