Jefferson Community Health & Life

JCHL awarded for efforts to improve rural stroke care FAIRBURY –  People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality — a gap that has grown over the past two decades.[1],[2] Jefferson Community Health & Life is committed to changing that. For efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural health care outcome disparities, Jefferson Community Health & Life has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze award. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, recognizes the importance of health care services provided to people living in rural areas by rural hospitals that play a vital role in initiation of timely evidence-based care. That's why all rural hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines - Stroke are eligible to receive award recognition based on a unique methodology focused on early acute stroke performance metrics. “We are proud that our team at Jefferson Community Health & Life is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in Jefferson County who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Erin Smith, JCH&L chief nursing officer.  “As a hospital in a rural community, we deal with characteristics, such as extended interfacility transportation times, and limited staffing resources. We've made it a goal to make sure those hurdles do not affect the standard of care our stoke patients receive.” JCH&L’s goal is to provide exceptional quality care. “Rural communities deserve high quality stroke care. I'm proud of our team for their commitment to stroke care excellence and this achievement,” Smith said. The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward acute stroke care excellence demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation. [1] American Heart Association. American Heart Association issues call to action for addressing inequities in rural health. February 10, 2020. https://lnkd.in/grwHppqx; American Heart Association. Public Health AmeriCorps to address health inequity in rural communities. April 6, 2022. https://lnkd.in/g8NyhQGu. [2] Harrington R, et al. Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Circulation. 2020;141:e615–e644.

Bill Welch Named Interim CEO at JCH&L FAIRBURY –  Bill Welch of Fairbury will serve as the interim CEO at Jefferson Community Health & Life starting on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Lana Likens has served as temporary interim CEO since Aug. 19 when previous CEO Burke Kline resigned. Welch served as CEO of Jefferson Community Health & Life from 1993 to 2013.  Since his retirement he has served as interim CEO at Crete, Friend, Central City, and Geneva. “I look forward to return to JCH&L as  interim CEO and assisting Jefferson Community Health & Life through this transition,” Welch said. During Welch’s tenure at JCH&L he helped JCH&L become a charter member of the Heartland Health Alliance, and served as chairman of the board. JCH&L became a Critical Access Hospital, which was advantageous to funding. Welch led JCH&L to become the first critical access hospital in Nebraska to apply for and receive an Edgerton Award for Commitment to Quality in 2004. He led JCH&L to begin the process of a Balanced Scorecard for the facility. He has led JCH&L through the remodeling of emergency and outpatient areas; the addition of a community fitness center; the addition of an assisted living facility; the addition of a new surgical area and expanded outpatient area; and the addition of 8 new units at Cedarwood assisted living. In 2009, Bill received the NHA’s Excellence in Service Award. In 2013 he received the NHA’s Meritorious Service Award. JCH&L is now accepting applications for the CEO position. “Our board is committed to find a leader for JCH&L who will help us continue to inspire our team, drive innovation, and lead JCH&L toward continued growth and success. We strive to inspire our area residents to a lifetime of health, and be a vital and trusted health care partner in Jefferson County and beyond,” said Trevor Steinmeyer, board chairman. JCH&L is a 17-bed Critical Access Hospital which offers inpatient and outpatient services, family medicine clinic, Burkley Fitness Center, Gardenside long-term care, and Home Health Services. It is governed by an 8-member board. JCH&L has served Jefferson County and the surrounding area since 1963.

Dr. Paulson comes to JCH&L monthly for OB-GYN services.

JCH&L has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the Chartis Group for the 9th time in 11 years. We are proud of our excellent staff and the quality care we provide for our community!