Cardiac Rehabilitation
Heart disease can be a life-changing diagnosis. Jefferson Community Health & Life provides an outpatient phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program. If you have had a recent heart surgery or stent placement or have congestive heart failure, you may be eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. Medicare and most commercial insurances cover cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation helps control symptoms of heart disease and teaches patients to reduce cardiac risk factors such as weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. What patients learn and practice during the program will carry over into their daily lives long after cardiac rehab classes are complete.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a monitored exercise program of aerobic and resistance training exercise. It also includes education to reduce your risk factors for heart problems. Rehab includes nutrition counseling and stress management techniques. Rehab helps you gain strength, endurance and confidence to return to your normal daily activities. A physician’s order is required to attend.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation
This program is an individually tailored program to help those with breathing disorders learn better breathing techniques, proper exercise, endurance building, stress handling and more. It provides education and specific training to help those with breathing disorders live the fullest life possible. Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare and many commercial insurances.

Twila Scheetz, RN is the cardiac and pulmonary rehab nurse at Jefferson Community Health & Life. For more information, call her at 402.729.3351.

Taylor Zimmerman, MOT, OTR/L, a pediatric occupational therapist at Jefferson Community Health & Life Sports Medicine and Rehab Services, is certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician. She offers appointments for individual child seat safety inspections. Appointments can be made by calling 402-729-6840.

Zimmerman also attended the Safe Travel for All Children course to serve children with special needs.

“It is so important that children ride as safely as possible. Proper installation and use of safety seats can help to keep our children safe,” Zimmerman said. “Our goal is to help parents make the safest choices for their children.”

Nebraska law states:

• Children ride rear-facing up to age 2 or until they reach the upper weight or height limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer.
• All children up to age 8 must ride correctly secured in a federally approved child safety seat/belt positioning booster.
• Children up to age 8 must ride in the back seat, as long as there is a back seat equipped with a seat belt and not occupied by other children under 8 years of age.
• Children ages 8 to 18 must ride secured in a seat belt or child safety seat (belt positioning booster).

Statistics show that more than half (62 percent) of all car seats inspected by CPST are improperly installed or used, meaning the children who use them are not as safe as they could be. About 25 percent of children are moved from forward-facing car seats to booster seats too soon, and about 90 percent of children using lap-shoulder belts should still be in a forward facing seat or booster seat.

To schedule an appointment to have a seat checked, call JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services at 402-729-6840. It is recommended that the child be present at the time of the inspection. Expectant mothers are welcome!

You can learn how to live an active live with diabetes and we can help! The mission of the Jefferson Community Health & Life diabetes education program is to provide quality diabetes self-management education to individuals through collaboration with physicians and the Jefferson Community Health & Life diabetes care team. The diabetes self-management education program at Jefferson Community Health & Life is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. This recognition signifies that the program meets the national standards for diabetes education and provides dedicated staff members who help people manage diabetes effectively.

• Learn to make good choices to prevent or delay complications from diabetes.
• Develop skills in coping with the demands of living with diabetes.
• Let us help you identify problem areas and assist in overcoming those problems.
• Learn to identify barriers that make it hard for you to control your blood sugar.
• See how smart nutrition can make managing your diabetes easier.
• Learn how to count carbohydrate grams.

Diabetes self-management education is recommended:

• For those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes
• For those with poor blood sugar control
• When A1C test is greater than 7%
• For complications that have required hospital or emergency room treatment

Are you at risk for diabetes? Take a risk test today to find out.

Classes at Jefferson Community Health & Life are available in both individual and group settings. If you are interested in education and would like to schedule an appointment please call 402.729.3351 ext. 4496.

Instructors

• Rebekah Kimberlin, PharmD
• Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT

Diabetes Self-Management Education is a service covered by Medicare and many private insurance companies. A physician referral is required.

It is very important for children to receive immunizations at the proper time. Jefferson Community Health & Life partners with Blue Valley Community Action Partnership to provide immunization clinics. Vaccines for children (for children 18 and under who have Medicaid or are otherwise eligible for VFC vaccines) and private vaccines (for individuals of all ages with private insurance plans, Medicare excluded) are offered by Blue Valley at Jefferson Community Health & Life’s outpatient services department. Clinics are offered twice a month except in December when only one clinic is offered. Jefferson Community Health & Life nurses give the vaccinations. Click here to view this year’s immunization clinic schedule.

Appointments are required by calling 402.826.2141, extension 3. Para el español, llame al número de teléfono 402.641.1799.

Life Assist can help you in case of medical emergency, falls, fire or burglary. Touch-of-a-button help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Assistance is immediately alerted when a button on the pendant is pressed. The newest pendants are shower safe and only have to be recharged once a month. There are two systems to choose from: landline or cellular. We can help you determine which system best fits your needs. Life Assist is offered for a one-time set up charge and a reasonable monthly free through Jefferson Community Health & Life Home Health.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. There are 94 million smokers in the United States, many of them at high risk for lung cancer.

A study was done by the National Cancer Institute where the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) compared CT scans with chest x-rays to screen for lung cancer in patients ages 55-74. The CT scans were found to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer by 20 percent.

Based on these results, the radiology department at Jefferson Community Health & Life Health Center has created a program using Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening Program for patients meeting the criteria below.

Criteria for Low-Dose CT:

• Men or Women 55-74 years of age
• 30 pack-year smoking history
• If former smoker, quit date within last 15 years
• No weight loss greater than 10 pounds in the last month
• No chest CT scan in the last 12 months
• Change in cough, shortness of breath or hemoptysis (blood in sputum)

Scheduling a Low-Dose CT Scan:

• Make an appointment with your physician to discuss whether you meet criteria.
• Call Jefferson Community Health Center at 402.729.6841.
• Results are interpreted by a board-certified radiologist and will be sent to the ordering physician.
• If insurance does not cover the cost of the screening, it can be completed for $250 payable at the time of service.

Nebraska SHIP educates people with Medicare, empowering seniors and people with disabilities to make informed decisions about health insurance.

Because Medicare can be confusing, the federal government, through the Administration on Community Living (ACL), funds a SHIP or state health insurance assistance program, in every state. The Nebraska SHIP is a division of the Nebraska Department of Insurance. SHIP does not sell insurance nor does it endorse any insurance company, product, or agent.

Nebraska SHIP offers a toll-free hotline that any person eligible for Medicare, relatives, friends, or providers can call for answers to insurance questions or to arrange a meeting with a SHIP counselor.

Nebraska SHIP has a statewide network of certified counselors and partner organizations. Our counselors receive extensive training on Medicare and related health insurance. Counselors are available to meet for one-on-one counseling, to help with problem solving, and to provide support during decision making. SHIP counselors will not recommend policies, companies, or insurance agents, but will provide free, confidential, and unbiased assistance.

An important role of SHIP is to provide outreach and education regarding health insurance options, benefits, and choices. SHIP participates in outreach activities, presentations, media activities and Part D enrollment events.

If you would like to speak to your local Nebraska SHIP office, call our hotline at 1.800.234.7119.

Or find them on line at: https://doi.nebraska.gov/consumer/senior-health

Need help making healthier eating choices? Medical nutrition therapy by our nutrition counselor, Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT, can assess your dietary habits, food intake and health needs and determine what changes need to be made. Once those changes have been determined, she can work with you to set nutrition and health goals and create a plan.

Health concerns discussed in this program include:

• Cholesterol reduction
• Crohn’s disease
• Diabetes
• Food allergies
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Weight loss

Medical nutrition therapy may be covered by Medicare and some commercial insurance, and must be ordered by a physician to be covered. An appointment with the dietitian may also be scheduled on a private pay basis.

For more information, please call Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT at 402.729.6846.

The physical and mental health of employees is important to the bottom line of any business. Jefferson Community Health & Life offers health screenings, health risk assessments, Physical Capacity Profile testing, vaccinations, drug screens, wellness screens (blood work), incentive spirometry and respiratory fit testing.

Staff for these services include Megan Vales OT/L, CLT, Lori Ohlde, RN and Alicia Friesen LPN.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Lori Ohlde, RN, 402-729-6857

About 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems. A sleep study can be very helpful in the identification of sleep disorders. Rural Sleep Solutions provides sleep studies at Jefferson Community Health & Life as an outpatient service through the Respiratory Therapy department. A sleep study requires a physician’s order and is typically covered by Medicare and most commercial insurance companies.

Services:

• Split-night polysomnography
• CPAP Titration Polysomnography
• BiPAP Application and Titration
• Auto/Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Application and Titration
• Oxygen Administration

Limitations:

• Clients over 500 pounds in weight will be referred to a sleep medicine center equipped to care for bariatric patients.
• Clients 13 years and younger will be referred to a sleep medicine center equipped to care for pediatric patients.

For more information, please contact Stacy Shumard RRT, director of respiratory and sleep lab services, at 402.729.3351, ext. 4436.

Sterling Connection is a program offered to people 50 years of age or older designed to give you advantages when you are sick and advantages when you are well. It is free to join, and the program offers a variety of programs, services, and events throughout the year. We are pleased to offer this program in conjunction with the Heartland Health Alliance. Members are a member at their local health center and any participating health center. Sterling Connection is not an insurance plan or a Medicare supplement.

Your membership card entitles you to benefits at any Sterling Connection hospital.

Connect when you are well with the following benefits:

• Free medication reviews by a pharmacist (by appointment)
• Free quarterly Sterling Connection newsletter published by Jefferson Community Health & Life
• Free support groups
• Free and reduced rate educational opportunities
• Free social gatherings
• Specially priced travel opportunities. The Sterling Connection travels with Travels with Doris. Coordinator Pauline Niederklein travels on trips to provide assistance and support to our travelers. Click here to see all of Doris’s current travel opportunities, including Sterling Connection trips.
• Special membership rate at the fitness center for Sterling Connection members who are 50 and older

Connect when you are sick with the following benefits:

• Two Jefferson Community Health & Life cafeteria discount cards
• Two complimentary Meals on Wheels or Senior Diners’ meals after returning home from hospitalization

We can mail you an application if you would like to sign up for Sterling Connection. For more information on Sterling Connection or to request an application, please contact Coordinator Pauline Niederklein LPN or Lana Likens at 402.729.3351, or email Lana at Lana.Likens@JCHealthandLife.org.

Parkinson’s Disease
This support group is designed for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and their family and caregiver’s. An educational program is presented each month, along with an opportunity to discuss current needs and issues with others who are dealing with Parkinson’s Disease. The support group typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 10 am at Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room. Reservations are not required and attendance is free and there is no obligation. For more information, contact facilitator Lana Likens at 402.729.6855.

Alzheimer’s Disease Caregivers
This support group is designed for the caregivers, loved ones and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease. An educational program is presented each month, along with an opportunity to discuss current needs and issues with others who are dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease in their family. While the group is not specifically designed for those who have Alzheimer’s Disease themselves, some families have found the group helpful for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. The support group typically meets on the fourth Monday of the month in the Small Conference Room at Jefferson Community Health & Life. There is no cost and no obligation. Reservations are not required, but please contact facilitator Lana Likens at 402.729.6855 to confirm meeting date.

Smart Moves is a one-year program which teaches participants to make real lifestyle changes and live healthier by focusing on healthy eating, staying active and problem solving skills. Smart Moves is proven to help people with prediabetes make lasting changes and cut their risk of type 2 diabetes. Taught be a team of lifestyle coaches, the course features group sessions weekly for 16 weeks, then twice a month for six months. New sessions of Smart Moves typically begin twice a year. The program is a program of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Lifestyle Coaches

• Lisa Edeal RDN, LMNT
• Rebekah Kimberlin, PharmD
• Craig Bontrager, Burkley Fitness Center Director

To register for Smart Moves, please contact Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT  at 402.729.6846.

Smart Moves has a $225 registration fee which includes a 6-month membership to the Burkley Fitness Center, valued at $200. Cost assistance is available for eligible participants.