Mobile Screening Services to be Offered at JCH&L

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Mobile Screening Services from Bryan Health will be offered at Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Outpatient Services Area on Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The screenings are available on a private-pay basis only. Those coming for screenings will use the Oupatient/Emergency entrance.

Several types of screening are available. Atrial fibrillation screening is available for all ages. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia, affecting 2.7 million Americans. The cost of this screening is $10.

The other three screenings offered are available to those who are 65 or older, or age 55 with certain personal risk factors or family history. Please discuss your eligibility with the scheduler when you call to make an appointment. Screenings available based on age or risk include:

  • Peripheral Arterial Disease screening – A painless, non-invasive test called the anklebrachial index (ABI) compares the blood pressure in the ankles to the blood pressure in the arms to determine how well the blood is flowing. Cost– $20.
  • Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound screening – This painless, non-invasive screening detects the presence of an aneurysm in the abdominal aorta (four hour fast required.) Cost – $40.
  • Carotid Artery Ultrasound screening – This painless, non-invasive screening detects plaque deposits in the carotid arteries. These plaque deposits are a leading risk factor for stroke. Cost – $40.

Appointments for any of the screenings may be made by calling Erin at 402-729-6889. Call any time and please leave a message including your name, number we can reach you at, and type of screening you would like to have an appointment for.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet Oct. 12

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program for both sessions will be a video “Learning Not to Argue” from John Hopkins Medicine.

For October we are going to trial having two meeting times to determine which is the meeting time that best meets the needs of potential participants. If you are interesting in attending but neither time works for you, please contact Lana Likens at 402-729-6855 to discuss other possibilities.

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.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits Oct. 9

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FAIRBURY –The next Nebraska Community Bloodbank blood drive will be held on Monday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mobile unit in the parking lot of JCH&L’s North Building, 825 22nd St.

With only 2-3 days of blood on hand, Nebraska Community Blood Bank has declared a blood emergency. We desperately need eligible donors to step up and help keep our local hospitals stocked.

Following the Labor Day holiday, donations of red blood cells and platelets dropped significantly. In addition to the start of cold and flu season, NCBB sees 50% fewer young blood donors and first-time donors than before the COVID-19 pandemic started—factors which contribute to the ongoing nationwide blood shortage.

All types are needed. Giving blood is giving a gift of life. Nebraska Community Bloodbank is Jefferson Community Health & Life’s blood supplier, and the two organizations partner for blood drives in Fairbury to save lives.

Appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, call JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851, or visit NCBB.org/searchdrives and use sponsor code JCHC.

With iDonate you can save time by completing your health history on line ahead of your bloodmobile visit. To get started, visit mbc.org/iDonate

Aesthetics Available Soon at JCH&L

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Aesthetic treatments will be available soon at Jefferson Community Health & Life, with services provided by Kirisha Afuh, FNP-C. JCH&L is now accepting appointments for free consultations, which begin Sept. 29. To make an appointment for a consultation or treatment, please call 402-729-6851.

JCH&L will offer both cosmetic and therapeutic injections.

Cosmetic neurotoxin injections (such as Botox® and Xeomin®) can relax the muscles on areas of the face and neck which cause wrinkles associated with facial expressions or facial pain. Treatment with neurotoxins can cause facial expression lines or wrinkles to be less noticeable. Areas most frequently treated are around the eyes, forehead and lips.

Cosmetic injections (removing or reducing wrinkles) are typically not covered by insurance. For cosmetic injections, payment is required the day of treatment. JCH&L will offer a Cosmetic Neurotoxin Loyalty card program.  Free consultations are offered for cosmetic services. At your consultation, you can discuss your needs, procedure recommendations and costs.

Therapeutic neurotoxin injections may be covered by some insurances for 1) TMJ dysfunction; 2) Bruxism (teeth grinding); 3) types of orofacial pain including headaches and migraines; or 4) Excessive sweating.  Therapeutic neurotoxin injections for medical purposes will typically be referred by a health care provider.

Therapeutic neurotoxins are diluted to a very controlled solution. When the solution is injected into the muscles with a very thin needle it is almost painless. Patients may feel a slight burning sensation during the injection. The procedure takes about 15- 20 minutes. Results are not permanent, but may last up to three months.

Treatment with dermal fillers can smooth out facial folds and wrinkles, add volume to the lips, and contour facial features that have lost their volume and fullness due to aging, sun exposure, illness, etc. Facial rejuvenation can be carried out with minimal complications. These dermal fillers are injected under the skin with a very fine needle. This lifts and smooths wrinkles and folds. Results may be seen immediately. Dermal filler treatments are not covered by insurance, and payment is required on the day of the treatment.

If you have questions for a medical professional trained in Aesthetics, Afuh can help. Afuh received certificates through Aesthetics Medical Educators Training and the American Academy of Facial Aesthetics. Her training included hands-on work with patients.

To make an appointment, call 402-729-3361, option 1.

JCH&L Continues Apprenticeship Program

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A new program introduced by Jefferson Community Health & Life in the spring continues – giving area residents a chance to receive a degree in a new career with financial assistance, and commit to working at JCH&L.

The JCH&L Apprenticeship Program seeks apprentices for careers in nursing, radiology, laboratory, speech therapy and possibly other health care careers. For those accepted into the program and completing courses toward a degree, JCH&L will cover up to 100 percent of school tuition, books, and fees after other scholarships are applied.

“We feel it is very important for us to ‘grow our own’ future workers in much-needed areas in healthcare,” said Sandy Bauer, director human resources at JCH&L.

To be eligible, a person must have graduated from high school, be working toward graduating from high school  or have their GED. They must have an interest in a health care career. And they must have interest in helping others, being a team player and working at JCH&L in Fairbury after completion of their studies – and maybe while they are in school. The length of commitment to work at JCH&L would depend on the amount of educational costs that are covered by JCH&L.

“We hope, of course, that those who go through the program would want to work at JCH&L for the long term and become a part of our team,” Bauer said.

For those accepted into the program, a mentor will be provided. The mentor will be a current JCH&L employee in the apprentice’s field of study. If an apprentice is in need of additional help, a tutor will be arranged with the school.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to help our apprentices be successful,” Bauer said.

In some cases, apprentices may also have the opportunity for working hours at JCH&L during their education.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. JCH&L encourages those who feel they might be interested to contact Sandy Bauer for more information.

For an application or more information, please contact Sandy Bauer at 402-729-6851, or email sandy.bauer@jchealthandlife.org.

JCH&L Charity Golf Tournament Raises More Than $13,000

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FAIRBURY — The 27th annual golf tournament to benefit Jefferson Community Health & Life was successful, raising more than $13,000.

“We are very pleased with the success of this annual event. It’s a great way for JCH&L supporters to have a good time and help provide quality health care for our community,” said Lana Likens, director of public relations, marketing and development.

The golf tournament, held Friday, Aug. 11, at the Fairbury Country Club, was a fund-raiser for Jefferson Community Health & Life, a 17-bed critical access hospital located in Fairbury.

Winning teams were:

Champions of the championship flight were Edward Jones – Trevor Steinmeyer, Shae Austin and Ross Boeckner; second place: Rural Sleep Solutions — Stacy Shumard, Brooke Schwab and Jerry Miller; third place: Chappell Roofing— Derek Deger, Staci Deger and Devin Meyers.

In the First Flight, winners were High Plains Anesthesia — Marci Gillham, Penni Mitchell, and Nate Prellwitz; second place: Beckenhauer Construction—Joe Beckenhauer, Bill Barrett, and Patrick Hoins; third place: American National Bank—Don Osborne, Mike Beachler, and Derek Diller.

In the second Flight, winners were Nebraska Hospital Association —David Slattery, Jed Hanson and Taylor Craig; second place: Control Services—Clay Wiseman, Cindy Hill and Daen Lempke; third place: Barber Furniture—Kevin Barber, Tim McAllister, and Rod Edson.

This year’s sponsors include:

Hole sponsors: Beckenhauer Construction, Inc., Behrends Welding Inc., Bryan Health, Chappell Roofing,  Control Services,  Crescent Growth Capital LLC,  Eide Bailly LLP, GrandView Eye Care, Hauge Associates – MedPlan, Heartland Bank, High Plains Anesthesia, Loveland Products, NextEra Energy, Pathology Medical Services, Plymouth Electric, See the Trainer, The Olson Group, Westin Packaged Meats

Breakfast sponsor– Cancer Partners of Nebraska

Lunch sponsors—Baird Holm, Gill Insurance, Nebraska Hematology Oncology, ruralMED Management Resources

Contributing sponsors—Prairie Health Ventures, Quality First Insurance,,Rutt’s Mechanical Service, Rutt’s Heating and Air, Starr Buckow Insurance, Thrivent, UNICO

Flag prize sponsors—Casey’s General Store,,Directions EAP, JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center, Main Street Market, Nebraska Community Bloodbank, Nebraska Health Care Association, Nebraska Hospital Association, Quality First Insurance, Regional Care Inc., The Fairbury Journal-News, Union Bank,

Drawing prize sponsors— Scherbarth Ace Hardware, Don Sutton Club Repair, Barber Furniture,  Pepsi, Eagle Distributing, Quality First Insurance, Ol’ Red 99.5.

Other Sponsors  – Fairbury Country Club, Grandview Eye Care, Heartland Bank, Precision Signs & Graphics LLC, Ray’s Applemarket

“We especially want to thank our sponsors, donors, golf teams and volunteers.  It wouldn’t have been a successful event if we didn’t have such great support from our community, our peers, and companies we work with regularly,” Likens said.

Edward Jones – championship flight, first place

High Plains Anesthesia – first flight, first place

Nebraska Hospital Association – second flight, first place

JCH&L Occupational Health Now Offers DOT Lab Testing

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Jefferson Community Health & Life Occupational Health now offers Department of Transportation required lab testing. Lori Ohlde, RN, director of JCH&L Occupational Health, has completed the National Specimen Collector training and DOT rules Initial Qualification training to qualify to do the DOT required lab testing.

With the certification, JCH&L Occupational Health is able to test to meet the requirements of FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, PHMSA, and USCG. Testing is available for new hires, random testing, testing for reasonable suspicion/cause, post-accident testing, return-to-duty testing, follow-up testing and more.

Arrangements for testing may be made by calling JCH&L Occupational Health at 402-729-6857. Once testing is complete, employers who arrange for testing are able to login to a secure website and review results.

The addition of DOT lab screening complements the services of DOT medical exams, which have been offered for many years through JCH&L Fairbury Clinic.

Anyone with questions about the services can call JCH&L Occupational Health at 402-729-6857. Appointments for medical exams may be made by calling JCH&L Fairbury Clinic at 402-729-3361, option 1.

Influenza Vaccinations Available Soon at JCH&L

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Influenza vaccinations will be available at special clinics Oct. 18 and 20 at Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic. October is the optimal time to receive your vaccination. The CDC recommends influenza vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older.

Special influenza vaccination clinics will be offered at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 18, and Friday, Oct. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling 402-587-5188. Please be prepared to leave your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and which day you would like to have an influenza vaccine appointment.

When you arrive for your appointment, please use JCH&L’s new main entrance, accessible from H Street.  Influenza vaccines will be given in the Clinic Conference room.

Influenza vaccines will also be available at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic at regular clinic appointments or at a vaccine appointment beginning Oct. 23. Call 402-729-3361, option 1, for an appointment.

When you come to your appointment, please wear clothing which allows easy access to your arm. Bring your health insurance card and a photo ID. Most major insurances and Medicare cover the influenza vaccine. There will be a fee the day of your vaccination if you are a private pay patient.

Children 18 and under covered by Medicaid can’t get their influenza vaccines at these clinics. Please contact Blue Valley Community Action’s vaccination program at 402-826-2141, extension 3, for information on flu shots at BVCA shot clinics.

If you have questions or need more information, please call JCH&L’s vaccine line at 402-587-5188.

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