Travis Kostal, PT, DPT, has become board certified as a Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy. He was certified upon successful completion of coursework, field hours and an exam from the American Physical Therapy Association.

Kostal has been with JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services since 2013. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO. While at JCH&L, Kostal has implemented a concussion protocol including post-injury testing. He will continue to assess and treat athletes both on site and in the clinic.

The American Physical Therapy Association says the practice of sports physical therapy is based on a holistic approach of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and education of the individual. The clinical specialist in sports physical therapy uses specialized clinical skills in a variety of settings, including sports medicine centers, hospital-based clinics, and other traditional athletic environments. The sports physical therapy specialty area within the physical therapy profession involves the physiological, psychological, pathological, and performance problems of athletes and attempts to prevent or correct these problems.

“I have always been interested and active in sports, and treating athletes has always been a passion of mine. I want to see athletes not only excel in their chosen sports, but stay physically and mentally healthy as they compete,” Kostal said.

JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services offers free consultations for area athletes in the clinic, weekly visits to Fairbury Public Schools for injury assessment and sideline coverage at many of Fairbury’s home sporting events.

J Paul Meyer, MD, began offering an outpatient pain specialty clinic at JCH&L in June, and will be coming to JCH&L monthly to see patients.

Dr. Meyer is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Dr. Meyer sees patients who deal with chronic pain, low back pain and cancer-related pain. He offers spine-related procedures, sacroiliac joint injections, knee joint injections, trigger point injections, occipital nerve blocks, pain pump trials, spinal cord stimulator trials. He also performs surgeries including pain pump implants, spinal cord stimulator implants and sacroiliac joint fusions.

He is originally from Iowa and now lives in Grand Island. His undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University is in pharmacology. His medical doctorate is from the University of South Dakota. He completed an internship at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit, Mich. He spent three years as a flight surgeon in the US Air force, based out of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla. After his military service he served as an emergency medicine physician in Enid, Okla., for four years. He then did a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Kansas-Wichita.

“JCH&L is pleased to add another much-needed specialty in our Outpatient Services area,” said Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, MBA, CHFP, FACHE.  “We know it is important to help our patients and area residents deal with pain. We continue to listen to the needs of our community and want to help our area residents lead the healthiest lives they can.”

Joining Dr. Meyer in his clinic visits will be Ashley Ambrosek, FNP-BC, PGMT-BC. Ashley is a nurse practitioner who will assist with procedures and help see and care for patients.

Dr. Meyer and Ashley will be coming to JCH&L once a month. For more details on dates, check out the calendar on the JCH&L website. Go to: JCHealthandLife.org, then locations, outpatient services, view complete schedule. The clinic will be listed as Pain – Dr. Meyer.

Referrals from a family medicine provider are required. For more information, please call JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851.

FAIRBURY – Registration forms are now available for the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day set for Tuesday, July 30, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairbury. This year’s Safety Day is the 25^th event for the local chapter of Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Registration forms are available at Jefferson Community Health & Life, the Jefferson County Extension service, and the Fairbury Public Library. You may also request a form by calling 402-729-6855 or emailing lana.likens@jchealthandlife.org.

Safety Day is not just for “farm kids,” organizers said. Safety Day is designed to provide safety information that includes both general safety and farm safety. The day is offered for children who are entering Kindergarten through 7^th grade in the fall. The day’s events begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. The cost is $6 per child or $12 per family by July 23, or $10 per child after July 23. Walk-ins are accepted on the day of the event.

Through hands-on activities, participants learn to prevent incidents and reduce the extent of injuries if incidents do occur. Safety Day stresses the importance of children taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules, and sharing safety tips with their family and friends.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is organized by Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. It is made possible by The Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Area business sponsors are key to making Safety Day successful. Donations are welcome.

Anyone who needs more information on Safety Day should call the Nebraska Extension office in Jefferson County at (402) 729-3487, or Coordinator Lana Likens at JCH&L at (402) 729-6855.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is currently working with UnitedHealthCare on an issue which has resulted in patients receiving notice that Kensly Williams, PA-C, will no longer be covered under their plan as of July 31. Kensly has been a PA at JCH&L since 2020.

“We are working to determine what happened that resulted in UnitedHealthCare sending a letter to those who have seen Kensly. We are working with the company to get the situation straightened out,” said Ashley Norden, JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Administrator.

JCH&L is a participating provider with UnitedHealthCare and all providers at JCH&L are included.

“We were surprised by the information that stated Kensly would not be part of the network, and we are working to determine what happened and how to correct it,” Norden said.

Kensly is currently out of the office on maternity leave. Despite rumors the UnitedHealthCare letters may have sparked, she is scheduled to be back in the clinic to see patients in late July.