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During the weeks of August 30 and September 6, the new hospital project continued to approach final completion. The final shipments of furniture were delivered and the trim out continued in waiting rooms.  The chapel fiber panels were completed and the MRI and CT lighting was finished.  The digital mammography and DXA (bone density) scan equipment was delivered and set up. 

Over the next and final week of construction, the final wall coverings will be hung and the rest of the furniture and equipment will be installed.   Interior signage will be installed and the stained glass in the chapel will be hung.  Final clean-up will continue in the remainder of the building.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A dedication ceremony and public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  Parking for the public will be available in the north and south parking lots of the new hospital as well as at Ord Family Health Center and the Heritage building.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

ORD - The grand opening dedication for Valley County Health System's new hospital will be held on Sunday, September 26 from 1-4 pm.  The event will be held near at the new hospital, 2707 L Street in Ord.  Governor Dave Heineman will be the honored guest.

Please join us for the dedication ceremony.  Following the dedication, tours of the new facility will be provided along with refreshments.  Those attending are asked to park in the North and South lots of the new hospital, Ord Family Health Center or Heritage buildings. 

Your new hospital has been carefully designed to provide the maximum amount of privacy and safety for our patients, with the added comforts of a relaxing and peaceful environment.  The two-year construction project is complete and the time has arrived to showcase the new healthcare facility.

For more information, call 308-728-4347.

During the weeks of August 16 & 23, the new hospital project continued to approach final completion. Final clean-up in the acute care, medical clinic and specialty clinic occurred.  The remaining trim out is nearing completion and the boiler and HVAC control were started.  Miscellaneous paint touch up was underway and office furniture was continuing to be installed.  The oxygen tank was installed and the fire sprinkler system was tested.  The 16 patient beds were delivered and installed in Acute Care.

Over the next few weeks the final wall coverings will be hung and the rest of the furniture and equipment will be delivered and installed.   Interior signage will also be installed and the stained glass in the chapel will be hung.  Final clean-up will continue in the remainder of the building.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A dedication and public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Stephanie Friesen, Amy Klein, Kristen Ryschon and Lindsey Waltman, Registered Technologists in Radiography, RT (R) at Valley County Health System, have received certification in Computed Tomography (CT).  The certification is offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians (ARRT) and consists of an examination.  The purpose of the ARRT Examination is to assess the knowledge and cognitive skills underlying the performance of the tasks typically required of staff technologists.  The exam consists of three categories: patient care, imaging procedures and physics and instrumentation.

Valley County Health System provides numerous imaging services, including CT Scan, MRI, DXA Scan, Ultrasound, Vascular Ultrasound, X-Ray, Echocardiography, Mammography and Nuclear Medicine.  New equipment, including digital mammography and in-house MRI, will be available in the new facility.

For more information about the Imaging Services provided at Valley County Health System, call 308-728-4249.

Becky Ries, Valley County Health System Foundation Administrator, is pleased to announce that the 2010 Golf Tournament netted a profit of more than $24,000.  Of this amount, $5,000 will be placed in the Foundation endowment fund and the rest will be designated for use in the area(s) of the greatest need within Valley County Health System.  Becky would also like to thank everyone who participated to make this year's tournament such a success. 

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Valley County Health System Foundation Golf Tournament & Auction scheduled for Friday, July 1, 2011.  

The Valley County Health System Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization. The Foundation's mission is to seek, receive and administer donations and gifts for the sole benefit of Valley County Health System. The Foundation's number one priority is enhancing and sustaining high-quality healthcare in Central Nebraska.

ORD - Joanie McIlravy has been named Employee of the Year at Valley County Health System.  Joanie was selected as Employee of the Quarter at Valley County Health System in October 2009 by fellow employees. She received the Employee of the Year award from among three other qualified candidates who were also named Employees of the Quarter during the year.  Joanie was also nominated for the Nebraska Hospital Association's Caring Kind Award.  She will be attending the Caring Kind Luncheon in Lincoln on October 29^th.

When McIlravy was named Employee of the Quarter, one of her co-workers had this to say about her, "I could use a million words to describe this wonderful lady.  Everything about her is positive.   Every time I see her I always have a smile on my face because she makes people happy by always smiling at them first.  They way she stays so optimistic and always stays on task while working is so awesome.  She goes above and beyond with the great respect she has for each and every individual she comes face to face with."

McIlravy is a Materials Management Technician in the Materials Management Department.  She has worked at VCHS since November 1, 1978.

Pictured: Joyce Seward, presents Joanie with her certificate and gifts.

During the weeks of August 2 & 9, work continued at a fast pace in the new hospital.  A large shipment of office furniture was delivered and installed.  The landscaping project was completed and vinyl wall coverings and flooring installation continued in the main corridor and lobby areas.  The generator was tested and the exterior signage was erected.

Over the next several weeks ceiling pads will be installed in the remaining areas and floor coverings will be finished.  Final clean-up will begin in some departments.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A dedication and public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Ord - VCHS Foundation Administrator, Becky Ries, announces that the Foundation has received a generous donation from the Erma Klanecky Estate.  The donation will be used toward the purchase a heart monitor system for the operating room in the new hospital.  This monitor will be an upgrade from the current heart monitor as we will be doing additional surgeries in the new facility, including total knee replacements and shoulder surgeries.

The VCHS Foundation is grateful for this thoughtful gift.  The Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization. The Foundation's mission is to seek, receive and administer donations and gifts for the sole benefit of Valley County Health System. The Foundation's number one priority is enhancing and sustaining high-quality healthcare in Central Nebraska.

ORD - Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established a Five-Star Quality Rating system that assigns each nursing home a rating between one and five stars.  The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions. This rating system is based on continued efforts as a result of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), a nursing home reform law, and more recent quality improvement campaigns such as the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes, a coalition of consumers, health care providers, and nursing home professionals.

Nursing home ratings are taken from the following three sources of data: Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality Measures.

The rating scale is as follows:

• 5 stars - Much Above Average
• 4 stars - Above Average
• 3 stars - Average
• 2 stars - Below Average
• 1 star - Much Below Average

The overall rating for Valley View Living Center is five (5) stars, or much above average.

You may visit the nursing home compare website at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare for more information and to compare ratings of nursing homes.

The e-card feature is now live on the Valley County Health System website.  All four pictures used on the e-card designs are taken here in Valley County by local photographers with a credit on the back of the card with the photographers name and where it was taken. 

If you wish to send an e-card to someone who is in the hospital or nursing home, simply select the design you want, fill in the info and hit submit.  Public Relations will then print the e-card and deliver it to the nursing staff to give to the patient or resident.

The four photos were taken by Rod Valasek, Jennifer Schauer and Angie Svoboda (2).

To view or send an e-card, visit valleycountyhealthsystem.org/send-an-e-card

Gerry Dacpano, Medical Technologist and Laboratory Manager at Valley County Health System, attended the 2010 AAAC Annual Meeting and Clinic Lab Expo in Anaheim, CA from July 25-29.  The expo consisted of educational sessions in areas such as autoimmune disease, toxicology, cancer, cardiac and vascular disease, interpreting lab data and training lab personnel.

In addition, Dacpano has also recently attended the Siemens Dade Dimension EXL Training and Beckman-Coulter Elite Series Coagulation Training for lab equipment in the new hospital facility. 

Gerry has been employed with VCHS since October 2005. 

ORD - Valley County Health System and the University of Nebraska Extension were presented with a $10,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska on August 1^st at the Valley County Fair.  The funds will be used to fund "Fit & Lovin' It," a program for area 5^th graders.  The grant is made possible through the 2010 BlueHealth Advantage Wellness Grant program.  The "Fit and Lovin' It" program will provide a learning opportunity for area 5^th grade students to increase awareness, encourage skill enhancement and focus of attitude toward individual health.  These include those related to nutrition, physical activity, seat belt use and tobacco.  The program will be held during the 2010-2011 school year.

Senator Kate Sullivan, Valley County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Helen Cullers, Extension Educator Kayla Hinrichs, VCHS Human Resources Director Tricia Richards and BCBS of NE Board Chair Jack Mills provided remarks at the event.

For more information, contact the University of Nebraska Extension at 308.728.5071 or VCHS at 308.728.4347.

During the weeks of July 19^th & 26^th, work continued at a fast pace in the new hospital.  Wall and floor covering installation was finished in the medical clinic, specialty clinic and emergency department. The stone work on the fireplace in the lobby was completed and floor coverings were started in the administration area. 

In the next several weeks ceiling pads will continue to be installed and wall and floor coverings will be finished.  The landscaping project will also be completed.  Exterior signage will be erected and office furniture will be delivered.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  Governor Heineman and Senator Kate Sullivan will be the honored guests.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

ORD - Cheryl Christenson, RN, BSN, has been promoted to Director of Nursing at Valley View Living Center.  Previously, Cheryl worked as the Infection Control, Education and Employee Health Manager for Valley County Health System.  She has been a RN for more than 20 years and has experience in acute care, ambulance and as a Director of Nursing in the long term care setting.  Cheryl has her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pensacola Christian College and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Nursing.

Valley View Living is a licensed 60-bed intermediate nursing care facility that is part owned and operated by Valley County Health System.

Ord - Chris Unterseher, MD, will begin his practice on August 2, 2010 Valley County Health System.  He will begin seeing patients on August 6^th at Ord Family Health Center.

The public is invited to attend a welcome reception in honor of Dr. Unterseher on Wednesday, August 11 from 5-6:30 pm at Ord Family Health Center.

Unterseher earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2000 and his Doctor of Medicine in 2005 from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.  Dr. Unterseher completed a combined residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Unterseher, call Ord Family Health Center at 308.728.3606.

ORD - Johnathan Tomjack has been named Employee of the Quarter at Valley County Health System.

In a letter nominating Tomjack for the honor, a co-worker wrote, "Johnathan has been a tremendous asset and resource for VCHS during his five years as an employee.  He has created a lot of goodwill in the community and has truly changed the quality of life for many of his clients.  Thanks Johnathan for your contributions and commitment to VCHS!"

Tomjack works as a Certified Personal Training in the Rehabilitation Department.  He has been employed by Valley County Health System since 2006 and received his Personal Trainer Certification from IFPA in September 2007.

Pictured: Tomjack receives his EOQ award from Interim CEO, Joyce Seward.

ORD - Valley County Health System and the University of Nebraska Extension will receive will receive $10,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska to fund "Fit & Lovin' It," a program for area 5^th graders.  A celebration will be held on Sunday, August 1^st at 8:30 pm at the Valley County Fairgrounds. The presentation will be held after the 4-H Fashion Revue during the Valley County Fair.  The public is invited to attend. 

The grant is made possible through the 2010 BlueHealth Advantage Wellness Grant program.  The "Fit and Lovin' It" program will provide a learning opportunity for area 5^th grade students to increase awareness, encourage skill enhancement and focus of attitude toward individual health.  These include those related to nutrition, physical activity, seat belt use and tobacco.

For more information, contact the University of Nebraska Extension at 308.728.5071 or VCHS at 308.728.4347.

Ord, NE - Cheryl Christenson and Diane Kaslon, employees at Valley County Health System, are scholarship recipients from the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) Research and Educational Foundation. 

Christenson, RN and Education and Infection Control Manager, was awarded one of eight $3,000 scholarhsips from the Foundation's Graduate Studies Tuition Aid Program.  She is attending graduate school to earn her Master's degree in Nursing.

Kaslon, LPN-C at Ord Family Health Center, was awarded one of ten $1,000 scholarships from the Foundation's Undergraduate Health Care Career Scholarship Program.  She is studying to become a registered nurse.

The NHA is proud to offer these scholarships and applauds Cheryl and Diane for their career choices that will last a lifetime and will help to improve the quality of life for others.

During the weeks of July 5^th and 12^th, noticeable progress was made on the new hospital.  Wall and floor covering installation continued in the medical clinic, specialty clinic and emergency department.  Ceiling grid continued to be installed and electrical and plumbing contractors remained busy with lighting and hook-ups.  The security contractor was on-site cabling the doors throughout the building.

In the next several weeks wall and floor covering installation will continue as will the will painting and the landscaping project.  Fire sprinkler drops will continue throughout the building and cabinetry will continue to be installed.  Exterior signage will be erected in late July and office furniture will be delivered in early August.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  Governor Heineman and Senator Kate Sullivan will be the honored guests.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Ord, NE - Heidi Peterson, Physical Therapist at Valley County Health System, attended the 2010 International Aquatic Therapy Symposium held June 28 - July 2 in Sanibel, FL.  The event was presented by the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute (ATRI).

Peterson participated in a variety of hands-on, in-pool courses to increase her knowledge about aquatic therapy techniques and safety. 

"The ATRI Conference was an excellent opportunity to learn about the aquatic therapy industry and current trends and the latest research.  Meeting leaders in the industry allowed me to exchange ideas and bring information back to the other Rehabilitation staff," stated Peterson.

ATRI Conferences provide participants with networking opportunities, as well as hands-on educational workshops on aquatic therapy techniques and effective aquatic therapy programming.

Aquatic Therapy services will be offered in the HydroWorx 2000 therapy pool at the new VCHS hospital.  The pool was donated by Greater Loup Valley Activities, Inc. with funds given by the Alfred and Irma Burson estate.

For more information, contact VCHS Rehabilitation Services at 308.728.4247.

ORD - The 12^th Annual Valley County Health System Golf Tournament involved the participation of 25 teams on July 2, 2010 at the Ord Golf Course.

The flight winners this year were as follows: 

Championship Flight: Geweke Ranch, Inc. - Dan Johnson, Korey Johnson, Rich Osentowski and Bob Sevenker

First Flight: First National Bank of Ord - Russ Blaha, Don Blaha, Jim Augustyn and Lannie Geiser

Second Flight: Team Williams - Fred Williams, Kellie Symonsbergen, Marty Dubas and Jeremy Baker

Valley County Health System Foundation thanks all of the sponsors and teams for participating in this year's event, as well as everyone who volunteered their time and also those who joined us for the auction.  The 2011 Tournament and Auction will be held on Friday, July 1. 

Tricia Richards will join Valley County Health System on July 5th as the Director of Human Resources.  She is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) with a 14-year career in human resources.  Tricia is replacing Karlie Koinzan who is retiring at the end of 2010.  Karlie has been the VCHS Human Resources Director for the past 10 years.

Tricia was born and raised in Hastings, NE and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Hastings College.  Her previous position was with Aventa Credit Union in Colorado Springs, CO as Vice President of Human Resources.  Prior to that position she was the Senior Recruiter at the University of New Mexico Hospital Systems.

Tricia and her husband Tony will reside in Ord with their son, Joshua, who is 9.  Their 19-year-old son, Jacob, is attending college in Colorado Springs.

During the weeks of June 21^st and 28^th, noticeable progress was made on the new hospital.  The MRI and CT were installed in the Imaging Department.  Stone work was completed on the fireplace in the lobby.  Wall and floor coverings were installed in the Medical Clinic, Specialty Clinic, Surgery and Emergency Departments.

In the next several weeks wall and floor covering installation will continue as will the landscaping project.  Cabinetry will continue to be installed.  Exterior signage will be erected in late July and office furniture will be delivered in early August.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Effective September 22, 2010 Valley County Health System will transition its' Wellness Center to New Beginnings Fitness Center in Ord, where Johnathan Tomjack will be employed.  VCHS auditing firm Seim Johnson has determined that it is no longer financially feasible to operate a Wellness Center in the current or new hospital facilities, due to Medicare reimbursement rules.

New Beginnings is owned by Tresia White of Elyria, NE and Jennifer Schauer of North Loup, NE.  It is located at 302 South 15^th Street in downtown Ord.  "We are very excited about this new opportunity to enhance our community wellness program and look forward to Johnathan's expertise as he joins our team," stated Tresia White.

Tomjack will become an employee of New Beginnings and will continue to offer community fitness classes.  "My employer will be changing, but my devotion to wellness and fitness will not.  My colleagues in therapy have given me knowledge well above the scope of my practice to train safely and effectively and I will be forever grateful.  Above all, I am concerned about my clients, future members, and the entire community's health and wellbeing.  I welcome the opportunity to have one community fitness center in Ord while working at New Beginnings for Tresia and Jen."

Tomjack has been employed by Valley County Health System since 2006 and received his Personal Trainer Certification from the International Fitness Professional's Association (IFPA) in September 2007 and his Program Design Specialist Certification from IFPA in April 2009.  Valley County Health System thanks Johnathan for his service to VCHS and commitment to the community. 

For more information, call Johnathan Tomjack at 308.728.4257 or New Beginnings Fitness Center at 308.728.1010.

Melissa Kasselder will join Valley County Health System on June 28th as a Radiologic Technician with specialized training and experience in MRI studies.  She will begin performing MRI studies for VCHS when the new facility opens and the Magnetom Essenza MRI is available for use.  Melissa also has expertise in performing CT scans and X-rays. 

Kasselder is a graduate of Wheeler Central High School. She graduated from Nebraska Methodist College with an Associates Degree in Radiologic Technology.  She then earned a Bachelor of Health Science degree from Wayne State College.

She was previously employed as an MRI Technologist with Shared Medical Services where she traveled with the mobile unit performing MRI's for patients of fourteen hospitals.

Melissa resides in Bartlett with her husband, Drew.

Ord, NE -  Jeffrey Breitkreutz, PA-C, recently attended the Critical Issues in Geriatrics Conference sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Breitkreutz, a physician assistant at Valley County Health System, is dedicated to the care of older adults and provides them with a comprehensive evaluation and assessment and detailed plan for their medical care. The completion of this training ensures that Breitkreutz has mastered the skills needed to provide evidence-based practice and treatment of geriatric patients.

Breitkreutz has been with Valley County Health System since 1991. He accepts patients in at Burwell Medical Clinic on Mondays and Thursdays and at Ord Family Health Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call the Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606 or the Burwell Medical Clinic at 308-346-5442.

The second annual Valley County Health System Health Fair on June 23 at St. Mary's Gym in Ord was full of activity.  The theme for the fair was "Don't Horse Around with Your Health."  A total of 100 people participated in the health screen and/or PSA blood tests.  Others came to browse the 16 vendor booths and eat breakfast.   The Health Screen offered a comprehensive blood panel for only $35 and a prostate cancer blood test for only $15. 

Valley County Health System plans to hold another health fair next June.  Thanks to the hospital employees for their help and to those who had display booths at the fair.  Special thanks to all those who attended the fair and helped make event a continued success.

During the weeks of June 7^th and 14^th, considerable progress was made on the new hospital.  The carpet in the acute care department hallways was installed.  The X-Ray and Nuclear Medicine equipment was installed in the Imaging Department.  The kitchen equipment was delivered and installation began.  Ceramic tile was laid in the Dining Room.  Vinyl wall covering and flooring began in the Surgery and Emergency departments. 

The MRI and CT equipment will be installed the week of June 21. In the next few weeks landscaping will begin and cabinetry will continue to be installed in the Medical Clinic and Specialty Clinic.  Exterior signage has been ordered and will be installed in late July.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For construction photos, visit the Photo Gallery at ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

The Valley County Board of Trustees held their regular monthly board meeting on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.  In addition to regular items of business, they entered into executive session for the purpose of discussing Larry Schrage's resignation. Upon coming out of executive session, the board voted to accept Schrage's resignation. 

Joyce Seward will serve as interim CEO for Valley County Health System until such time that the Board proceeds with a search for a permanent CEO.

The new building project is still on schedule for a public open house on September 26 and grand opening on October 4.

Ord - The 2^nd Annual Valley County Health System Health Fair will be held this Wednesday, June 23 from 6-9 am at St. Mary's Gym in Ord.  The main attractions at the health fair will be blood chemistries, blood pressure checks and a free will donation breakfast.  In addition, health related vendors will have displays available to provide educational information to those who attend. The health fair is an excellent opportunity for those with a high deductible insurance plan or those without health insurance. 

The lab tests offered during the Health Fair are a Health Screen and PSA test. 

Health Screen:

• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: Kidney & Liver Function, Electrolytes
• Complete Blood Count
• Thyroid: TSH
• Cholesterol & Triglycerides

PSA:  Prostate cancer screening recommended for males over the age of 50. 

A fee of $35 for the Health Screen and $15 for the PSA will be charged to cover the cost of supplies for each person screened.  Those who participate in the blood chemistry draw will be mailed their results and will be responsible for contacting their medical provider if they have values outside the normal range. 

Fasting is necessary prior to the blood chemistry draw, including consumption of caffeine or decaf coffee.  A free will donation breakfast will be served so you may eat after your blood is drawn.

Pre-registration is available by going online to ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org or by picking up a pre-registration form at the hospital admissions desk, Ord Family Health Center, or at any of the banks in Ord, Arcadia or North Loup. Pre-registration is recommended for anyone wishing to have a blood chemistry drawn but is not necessary.

For more information, contact the Public Relations office at 308-728-4347.

During the weeks of May 24 and 31, progress continued on the new hospital.  The acute care nurse station was installed and the remaining exterior concrete, including the helipad was poured. 

In the next few weeks vinyl wall covering will be started in the Surgery and Emergency departments.  Carpet will be installed in the hallways of the acute care department.  Kitchen equipment will be installed and landscaping will begin.  Imaging equipment will be arriving for installation throughout the month of June. 

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Tammi Knutson, Darci Jeffres and Julie Thiel, EMT's at Valley County Health System, recently attended the 2010 Pediatric Trauma Conference in Omaha.  The conference is co-sponsored by the Children's Hospital & Medical Center and the Alexis Verzal Children's Rehabilitation Hospital at Madonna. 

The conference focused on pediatric-focused trauma management from pre-hospital care through discharge and ongoing health care concerns.

Knutson and Jeffres are certified as Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics (EMT-P.)  Thiel is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B.)

Ord, NE - The Valley County Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 5:30 pm.  They entered into executive session for the purpose of discussing Larry Schrage's resignation. 

Upon coming out of executive session, the board acted on several items.  First, they tabled the resignation of Schrage to seek further legal advice.  Then they took action to appoint Joyce Seward as acting CEO until an interim CEO external to Valley County Health System can be placed.  Finally, the board hired Gary Bieganski to help place an interim CEO and for consulting services during this period.  Bieganski is the former CEO of McCook Community Hospital.

Hospital operations will continue as usual.  The new building project is still on schedule for a public open house on September 26 and grand opening on October 4.

Ord, NE - The Valley County Health System Board of Trustees has received the resignation of Larry Schrage.  Schrage's resignation was for personal reasons and is effective immediately.

At this time the Board will work with a consultant to take the necessary steps to pursue interim administrative services from someone external to Valley County Health System.

Hospital operations will continue as usual.  The new building project is still on schedule for a public open house on September 26 and grand opening on October 4.

Schrage began working at VCHS in 2005 as the CFO and was appointed CEO in May 2006.

ORD - Grief is a necessary and natural process after a significant loss.  Unfortunately there isn't a detour around the pain.  Like a shattered bone, a shattered heart needs two things before healing can happen: proper attention and sufficient time. 

In learning to resolve grief it often helps just to talk with someone who can listen patiently and in an understanding manner.  Grief support groups can be instrumental in helping people feel less isolated as they move at their own pace in their own way in working through their grief.  A support group is a safe place; a place where you can tell your story, a community which can share struggles and pain.  A support group is not a therapy group but it is therapeutic.  A support group is loving and caring, generous and concerned, healing and growth-enhancing.  A support group, very often, is fun.

Valley County Health System Hospice is sponsoring a Grief Support class for adults who have lost a loved one.  These classes are free of charge and will meet six consecutive Tuesdays beginning June 22nd and ending July 27th.  The classes will be held at the Valley County Home Health office at 400 S. 23^rd Street in the lower level.  Classes will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  If you are interested in learning more about these classes, please contact Marilyn Winkelbauer at (308) 728-4315.

Rob Bowen, a first year medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has chosen Ord Family Health Center for a rotation.  Bowen is from Omaha and will be in Ord for three weeks as part of the western Nebraska rotation requirement after students complete their first year.

Erika Hadenfeldt, a physical therapy student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has chosen Valley County Health System as one of her required rotations.  Hadenfeldt is from Cairo, NE.  She graduated from Centura High School in 2004.    She will complete an eight week rotation in our Rehabilitation Services department and is interested in a career in a rural community.

During the weeks of May 10 and 17, noticeable progress was made on the new hospital.  Glass windows were installed in the front lobby and ceiling tile was placed in the acute care department. The therapy pool for the Rehabilitation Department was delivered and installation began.

In the next few weeks vinyl wall covering will be started in the Surgery and Emergency departments.  Carpet will be installed in the hallways of the acute care department.  The helicopter pad and other miscellaneous paving will be poured. Kitchen equipment will be installed the first week of June.  Imaging equipment will be arriving for installation throughout the month of June.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Ord - Valley County Health System will be offering one fitness class for the public beginning June 8 and continuing through August 5. Johnathan Tomjack, Personal Trainer at VCHS will instruct a boot camp.  The class will include mild walk/jog intervals, overall conditioning and strengthening, deep glut and quad toning and mat work for total core workout. This class will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 6:45 am at the Ord Track. Anyone participating should bring a mat and water bottle.

Registration is $35.00.  To register, call Johnathan Tomjack at 728-4257 or stop by the VCHS Rehabilitation Department.

(ORD) - A hospital is more than a place where people go to heal, it is a part of the community that fosters health and represents hope. Hospitals are central to a healthy and optimistic community. That's the message organizers are touting with the 2010 National Hospital Week theme "Health, Hope & Healing."

The event theme, announced this week, is the centerpiece of a promotional campaign aimed at uniting health care facilities across the country during the May 9-15 celebration.

"National Hospital Week, first and foremost, is a celebration of people," Larry Schrage, CEO of Valley County Health System said. "We're extremely proud of each member of our staff and we recognize the important role they play in extending a sense of trust to our patients and our communities."

The nation's largest health care event, National Hospital Week dates back to 1921 when it was suggested by a magazine editor who hoped a community wide celebration would alleviate public fears about hospitals. The celebration, launched in Chicago, succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and eventually spread to facilities across the country.

A full slate of activities is planned at Valley County Health System, including and employee BBQ on Monday and Ice Cream social on Friday. For more information, call 308.728.3211.

Ord - Valley County Health System will be hosting two Lunch & Learn sessions on Tuesday, May 25.  The sessions, titled "Spend Smart, Eat Smart" will be instructed by Amy Vore RD, LMNT.  She will cover how to eat healthy on a budget; how, when and where to find the best food buys; how to read nutrition facts labels; and how to choose the freshest fruits and vegetables.

A session will be held from 11:15 am - Noon and a repeat session will be held from 12:15 pm to 1 pm.  Both sessions will take place at the VCHS Education Building, 1617 M Street in Ord.

The Lunch & Learn sessions are held monthly and are one component of the VCHS Wellness Matters Initiative.

The sessions are open to the public.  A brown bag lunch can be purchased from the VCHS Dietary Department for $3.00.  For more information or to register, contact Sheri Schrage at 728-4213 no later than Friday, May 21st at 5 pm.

Judy Mahony, Coder at Valley County Health System, recently earned the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential. 

Certified Coding Specialists are mastery-level professionals skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in the hospital setting. These coding practitioners review patients' records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. To perform this task, they must possess expertise in the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding systems. In addition, the CCS is knowledgeable in medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology.

Mahony has worked in the Health Information department at Valley County Health System since December, 2006.

During the weeks of April 26 and May 3, continued progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  Vinyl floor covering was installed in the acute care patient rooms.  Glass windows were installed at the west end of the acute care department, dining room and in some portions of the main entry.  The floor and wall tile in the kitchen was glued and grouted. 

In the next few weeks the therapy pool will be installed in the Rehabilitation department and vinyl wall covering will be started in the Surgery and Emergency departments.  The helicopter pad and other miscellaneous paving will be completed.  Cabinetry will continue to be installed throughout the building as well as ceiling tile.  Kitchen equipment will be installed the first week of June.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 1-4 pm.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Becky Ries, Administrator of the Valley County Health System Foundation, attended the Association of Fundraising Professionals Mid-America Conference in Omaha on May 3 and 4.

The Mid-America conference brought together fundraising professionals from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to learn and discover new and current trends for nonprofit organizations.  The conference consisted of educational sessions on the latest trends in fundraising and donor relations, led by nationally-recognized presenters. 

Ord, NE - Valley County Health System is pleased to announce the addition of Chris Unterseher, M.D. to its staff of medical providers.  Dr. Unterseher will begin his practice on August 2, 2010 at Ord Family Health Center.

Unterseher earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2000 and his Doctor of Medicine in 2005 from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.  Dr. Unterseher is currently completing a combined residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine.

"On behalf of the Board, Medical Staff and our employees, we are extremely pleased that Dr. Unterseher, with roots in the central Nebraska region, has agreed to begin his medical practice in Ord. He will be a very complementary fit to our medical staff and fulfills our objective to add another physician to better serve the medical needs of the residents in this region," stated Larry Schrage, CEO of Valley County Health System.

For more information, call Ord Family Health Center at 308.728.3606.

ORD - David Twyman has been named Employee of the Quarter at Valley County Health System.

In a letter nominating Twyman for the honor, a co-worker wrote, "He is very respectful of residents and patients, always going the extra mile to make each person feel special.  Dave is also a team player and will assist fellow co-workers whenever they are in need.  He is very friendly, and he can always be seen in the halls with a smile on his face.   Dave makes a special effort to say hello to everyone he meets.  We are so fortunate to have Dave as a valued member of our VCHS team!"

David works as a Nutritional Services Assistant in the Nutritional Services Department.  He has worked at VCHS since September 2, 2003.

Ord - The main attractions at Valley County Health System's 2nd Annual Health Fair will be blood chemistries, blood pressure checks and a free will donation breakfast.  The Health Fair will focus on health education and the promotion of wellness within our service area. In addition, health related vendors will have displays available to provide educational information to those who attend.

The Health Fair will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 from 6-9 am at St. Mary's Gym in Ord. 

The lab tests offered during the Health Fair are a Health Screen and PSA test. 

Health Screen:

• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: Kidney & Liver Function, Electrolytes
• Complete Blood Count
• Thyroid: TSH
• Cholesterol & Triglycerides

PSA:  Prostate cancer screening recommended for males over the age of 50. 

A fee of $35 for the Health Screen and $15 for the PSA will be charged to cover the cost of supplies for each person screened.  Those who participate in the blood chemistry draw will be mailed their results and will be responsible for contacting their medical provider if they have values outside the normal range. 

Fasting is necessary prior to the blood chemistry draw, including consumption of caffeine or decaf coffee.  A free will donation breakfast will be served so you may eat after your blood is drawn.

Pre-registration is available by clicking here or by picking up a pre-registration form at the hospital admissions desk, Ord Family Health Center, or at any of the banks in Ord, Arcadia or North Loup. Pre-registration is recommended for anyone wishing to have a blood chemistry drawn.  Vendors who wish to register a booth may click here for a registration form.

For more information, contact the Public Relations office at 308-728-4347.

During the weeks of April 12 and 19, substantial progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  Vinyl wall covering in the acute care patient rooms was hung.  The copper floor and wall lining in the MRI suite was substantially completed.  Installation of ceramic tile on the walls in the kitchen was finished.  Flashing and gutters on the exterior of the building were installed.

Over the next few weeks, installation of the floor covering in the acute care department will begin.  Glass will be installed at the west end of the acute care department, dining room and some areas of the front entry.  Ceiling grid will continue to be hung throughout the hospital.  The floor tile in the kitchen will be installed and vinyl wall covering installation will begin in the surgery and emergency room departments.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Janice Benson, Specialty Clinic RN at Valley County Health System, recently completed a two-day training course sponsored by Great Plains Regional Medical Center.  The course, titled Chemotherapy and Biotherapy, was developed by the Oncology Nursing Society.  During the course, participants are provided with a comprehensive review of the knowledge needed to administer cytotoxic and biotherapeutic agents.  The course is required every two years.

Valley County Health System has offered chemotherapy treatment for several years.  The chemotherapy room has been renovated to provide patients with a relaxing environment during treatments.  For more information about this service, contact the Specialty Clinic at (308) 728-4249.

ORD - The annual Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) survey was completed at Valley View Living Center on March 31, 2010.

During the three-day inspection, the State looked at many aspects of quality. The inspection team observed resident care processes, staff/resident interaction, dietary and environment. The surveyors interviewed a sample of residents and family members about their life within the nursing home, as well as caregivers and administrative staff.

In their exit interview, the state surveyors were very complimentary of the entire continuum of care given to our residents. Valley View Living Center's evaluation was completed and continues to meet all standards of DHHS.

Valley View Living Center is committed to providing our residents with the highest quality of life by encouraging independence while providing dignity and respect in a caring atmosphere.

ORD - Valley County Health System is pleased to announce the hiring of three physical therapists who will work in the Rehabilitation Services department.   

Bob Wieck will graduate in May from Franklin Pierce University in Ringe, NH, with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.  He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Kansas State University.  He has been a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) for the past twelve years and is currently working in that capacity at VCHS until he graduates in May. Bob is originally from St. Libory, NE. 

Obadiah Johnson will begin working at VCHS in June.  He attended Hastings College and graduated with a degree in Health Promotion Management.  He will graduate from Creighton University in May with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.  Obadiah grew up in Hastings.  He and his wife, Ashley, have an 18 month old son named Ticen.

Lindsey Michael will begin her position in July.  She attended Chadron State College, majoring in Health Sciences/Pre-Physical Therapy.  Lindsey will graduate from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in May with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.  She is originally from Albion, NE and is engaged to be married on September 4 to Melvin Oldaker, a police officer in Burwell.

"Each of these therapists comes with very high recommendations.  We are so excited to have this caliber of therapists join our team," said Christy Peterson, Physical Therapist and VCHS Rehab Services Coordinator.

VCHS currently offers Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy in Ord, Burwell and Loup City.  For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call Rehabilitation Services at 308.728.4247.

Pictured from L to R:  Bob Wieck, Obadiah Johnson, Lindsey Michael

Jeff Breitkreutz, PA-C and Robert Reilly, PA-C at Valley County Health System attended the Nebraska Academy of Physicians Assistants (NAPA) Spring Conference in Kearney on April 14-17.  The conference covered numerous sessions on diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Breitkreutz or Reilly, call Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.

Dr. Jennifer Bengston recently attended the 62nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians in Omaha, April 8-10, 2010.

She attended the meeting to obtain continuing medical education credit. Subjects covered during the meeting are of immediate interest to family doctors, both in their everyday practices and in their continual endeavors to keep abreast of the latest preventive advances in medicine.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians.  That is 208 million office visits each year - nearly 83 million more than the next largest medical specialty.  Today, family physicians provide more care for America's underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bengston, call Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.

Betty Wheeler, Physical Therapist at Valley County Health System, attended a specialized obstetric course at the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association Spring Conference on April 9 and 10 in Grand Island. 

The course she attended was "Examination and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction in the Obstetric Client."  Course objectives included reviewing the normal musculoskeletal and physiologic changes of pregnancy, providing background information on the obstetric population and birthing process and practicing treatment interventions for musculoskeletal dysfunction in the pregnant and postpartum client.  Betty looks forward to applying these principles into the treatment program at Valley County Health System.

Betty graduated from Central Michigan University in 2004 with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy.  She has been practicing at the VCHS Burwell Rehabilitation clinic since October of 2008.

For more information, call VCHS Rehabilitation Services at 308.728.4247.

Since the Valley County Health System Board announced that Melanie Kolar of Arcadia was the winner of their logo design contest, they have been working through the process of completing the new brand.  A professional marketing firm transformed the new logo into digital format with colors that would complement the new hospital design - teal blue and burnt orange.  In addition, focus group sessions were conducted with employees, community members and board members to compile information to develop key messages and the new tag line, "Progressive Care with Compassion."

Going forward, VCHS will be using the new logo and tag line in a variety of publications. Valley County Health System looks forward to opening our new healthcare destination with this new brand.

For more information, or to view the logo in full color, visit ValleyCountyHealthSystem.org or call 308.728.4347.

During the weeks of March 29 and April 5, substantial progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  The concrete floor for the MRI, CT Scan and X-Ray rooms was poured.  The standing seam roof on the entry canopy was completed.  Interior stone work was finished in the chapel.  The private bathrooms in the acute care rooms were equipped with the toilets, sinks, mirrors and fixtures.  The freezer and cooler in the kitchen were installed.

In the next few weeks the helicopter pad will be poured as well as the loop drive connecting Valley View Living Center to the new hospital.  Vinyl wall coverings will be hung in the acute care department and framing for the front entry will continue.  The aquatherapy pool is scheduled for delivery and installation the week of May 3 and the CT, MRI and X-Ray are scheduled for installation in June.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held prior to this date.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

This public service announcement is issued by Valley County Health System. 

One case of whooping cough was recently confirmed at Valley County Health System Medical Clinic. VCHS has been in contact with the NE Health Department and Loup Basin Public Health Department and are following their recommendations for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. 

Whooping cough, formally known as Pertussis, is a respiratory infection that usually starts like a cold with sneezing, runny nose, and sometimes a mild cough or fever.  After 1-2 weeks it develops into severe attacks of coughing that can last for another 1-6 weeks.  Most adults do not get very ill with this disease, but it is highly contagious through droplet transmission produced from a cough or sneeze.  Most susceptible are infants and young children who have not completed their initial vaccination series.

Vaccination is the cornerstone of pertussis prevention and control.  Infants should receive a DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by booster DTaP shots at 12-15 months of age and at 5 years of age.  All persons over 10 and less than 65 years of age should receive a single does of a pertussis-containing vaccine, called Tdap.  Vaccination is 80-90% effective in preventing clinical illness. A five day course of azithromycin, now available as a generic drug, is the preferred antibiotic for both treatment of cases, and prophylaxis of contacts.

For more information, contact Ord Family Health Center at 308.728.3606 or Loup Basin Public Health Department at 1.866.522.5795.

The 12th Annual Valley County Health System Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, July 2, 2010 at the Ord Golf Course. The tournament is a 4-person scramble and will begin at 8 am.  Following the tournament an auction will be held at the Ord Veteran's Club.

The entry fee is $400 per team and includes green fees, lunch on the Golf Course, and hors d'oeuvres at the auction following the tournament at the Ord Veteran's Club.  Entries will be accepted until Friday, June 18^th and only 27 teams are allowed. 

Proceeds from the 2010 tournament will benefit Valley County Health System Foundation in supporting the mission of Valley County Health System, with a total of $5,000 going to the endowment fund to provide the highest quality health care in our service area.

The Valley County Health System Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization. The Foundation's mission is to seek, receive and administer donations and gifts for the sole benefit of Valley County Health System. The Foundation's number one priority is enhancing and sustaining high-quality healthcare in Central Nebraska.

To register a team, click here.  To sponsor or make a donation, click here.  For more info, contact Becky Ries at 308-728-3011 or at foundation@valleycountyhospital.org.  

Ord - Valley County Health System will be hosting two Lunch & Learn sessions on Tuesday, April 27.  The sessions, titled "Debt & Wealth Management" will be instructed by Sally Bernard.  Sally is a well respected speaker on Debt and Wealth Management throughout the Midwest.  Ms. Bernard has been a featured guest on the regional NTV's Good Life program's featured segments on personal money management, which include topics on debt management, home ownership, and wealth building and management.  She is a native of Fairmont, NE.  She earned a BS in Consumer Science and Business at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1991.

A session will be held from 11:15 am - Noon and a repeat session will be held from 12:15 pm to 1 pm.  Both sessions will take place at the VCHS Education Building, 1617 M Street in Ord.

The Lunch & Learn sessions are held monthly and are one component of the VCHS Wellness Matters Initiative.

The sessions are open to the public.  A brown bag lunch can be purchased from the VCHS Dietary Department for $3.00.  For more information or to register, contact Sheri Schrage at 728-4213 no later than Friday, April 23rd at 5 pm.

Sally Wagner, volunteer for Valley County Hospice, was honored as Ord's outstanding volunteer at the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership's (NHPCP) annual awards banquet on March 31st in Lincoln.  The banquet was part of the 2010 conference, "Living a Good Life...at the End of Life."  Each Hospice program in the state can nominate an outstanding volunteer to be recognized and honored at the banquet.

Sally has been a hospice volunteer since March of 2007.  Sally helps to co-facilitate Hospice's Adult Grief Support Group each year, has been a part of the volunteer orientations, has helped with Hospice's Memorial Services, and is always willing to bring compassion, caring and a special understanding to the Hospice patients and their families.

The Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership's Executive Director, Heath Boddy, presents Sally Wagner with a certificate honoring her as Valley County Hospice's Outstanding Volunteer.

During the weeks of March 15 and 22, continued progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  Casework installation was completed in the acute care patient rooms.  The framing for the windows at the front entrance continued.  Taping of dry wall neared completion.   

In the next few weeks the helicopter pad will be poured as well as the loop drive connecting Valley View Living Center to the new hospital.  The concrete floor in the MRI, CT Scan and X-ray rooms will be poured.  The interior stone work in the chapel will begin and ceiling grid installation will continue throughout the building.

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held prior to this date.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

David Farrar, PA-C and Jane Meyer, APRN-NP at Valley County Health System attended the Emergency Medicine for the Rural Practitioner conference in Omaha on March 24-26.  The conference objectives focused on recognition of patients who require rapid assessment and acute intervention in the Emergency Department, designing a plan for the management and intervention of the acutely ill patient and applying learned skills in the acute care setting.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Farrar or Meyer, call the Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.

Ord - Janet Harkness, Carolyn Lukesh, Helen Hulinsky and Bebe Dahlsten, employees in Valley County Health System's Nutritional Services department, have taken the ServSafe Food Safety certification class.  Harkness and Lukesh took the class February 8-9 in Grand Island.  Hulinsky and Dahlsten received their certification last year. 

The certification is designed for employees who handle and/or prepare food in restaurants and other food service establishments and lasts for five years.  It is the second level of the Nebraska Restaurant Association's "Food Safety First" program. 

Some of the training concepts included:

• Sanitation - the dangers of food borne illness, how to prevent it and the keys to food safety, where and how contamination starts, and the components for good personal hygiene.
• Flow of Food Through the Operation - how to prevent cross contamination, how to utilize time and temperature control effectively, and safe receiving, food storage, preparation, serving, cooling and reheating.

Valley County Health System congratulates these four employees on their achievement. 

Ord - Valley County Health System will be hosting two Lunch & Learn sessions on Tuesday, March 30.  The sessions, titled "Clever Low Carb Solutions" will be instructed by Amy Vore RD, LMNT.  She will cover low-fat substitutions for your favorite meals, how to eat healthy without sacrificing taste and a demonstration and samples of low carb lasagna, low fat garlic bread and unbelievable chocolate chip cookies.

A session will be held from 11:15 am - Noon and a repeat session will be held from 12:15 pm to 1 pm.  Both sessions will take place at the VCHS Education Building, 1617 M Street in Ord.

The Lunch & Learn sessions are held monthly and are one component of the VCHS Wellness Matters Initiative.

The sessions are open to the public.  They are limited to 18 seats per session.  For more information or to register, contact Sheri Schrage at 728-4213 no later than Friday, March 26th at 5 pm.

Pam Moninger, Registered Technologist in Radiography and Computed Tomography, RT (R) (CT) at Valley County Health System, attended the Medical Technology Management Institute's 40 hour course on Comprehensive Mammography in Las Vegas March 1-5.  Course content included digital mammography training, pathology, image evaluation, anatomy, positioning, quality control and interventional procedures.

Valley County Health System now has two mammography technicians.  This training prepared us for the proper use of our new digital mammography unit that will be placed in the new hospital.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment for a mammography, call the VCHS Scheduler at 308-728-4249.

During the weeks of March 1 and 8, continued progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  The general contractor began the blocking and backing in the kitchen.  The trim carpenters began installing the vanity tops in the patient bathrooms.  Casework is also being installed in the acute care patient rooms.  The framing for the windows at the front entrance continued.  Dry wall installation and taping continued in the rehabilitation and administrative areas.  Installation of glass in the chapel was finished.

Installation of case work for the acute care department continued in the patient rooms.    Ceiling grid installation continued in the emergency and surgery departments.  Contractors are on site installing cable tray and cables for the computers and nurse call system.  Ceiling installation began in the surgery and maintenance departments. 

Next week the walk-in cooler, freezer and exhaust hood will be installed in the kitchen. 

The opening date for the new hospital will be Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held prior to this date.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Valley County Health System raised a total of $1,030.16 from a penny war held to raise funds for the Valley House of Hope Haiti orphanage project.  Employees were divided into four teams - Love, Give, Care and Hope.  The contest began February 15 and ended February 26.   

Team Hope had the only positive total once the other coins and dollar bills were subtracted from their penny total. The departments represented on this team were Acute Care, Radiology, Dietary, Ambulance, Infection Control, Materials Management and Information Technology.  Team Care had the most pennies given.  Departments represented on this team were Wound Card, Lab, Cardiac Rehab, Specialty Clinic, Pharmacy, Transportation, Home Health, Patient Financial Services, Accounting, Laundry and Maintenance.

Valley County Health System is proud to provide funds for the Valley House of Hope Haiti.

Ord - Valley County Health System will be offering four fitness classes for the public beginning March 22 and continuing through May 21. Johnathan Tomjack, Personal Trainer at VCHS will instruct a core conditioning and toning class.  The class consists of dynamic balance, strengthening and improved range of motion through weight training, kickboxing and use of an exercise ball.  This class will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:00 to 6:45 am at St. Mary's Gym in Ord.  Each participant will need a 65 cm exercise ball, 2 or 3 lb. hand weights and a yoga mat.

Sheri Schrage, Certified Health Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, will teach a low impact aerobics and toning class, a step and sculpt class and a yoga class.  The low impact aerobics class will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the VCHS Education Building, 1617 M Street in downtown Ord.

The step and sculpt class will be offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the VCHS Education Building.  This class will consist of aerobics performed by stepping up onto and down from a portable platform. 

The yoga class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:15 am - Noon and on Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:30 pm in the VCHS Education Building.  This class is a great way to relax and unwind.  No special clothing is needed. Participants in these classes will need to bring an exercise mat.

Registration is $40.00.  This fee allows the participant to attend any or all classes.

To register, call Johnathan Tomjack at 728-4257 or stop by the VCHS Rehabilitation Department.

Denise Smith, Licensed Massage Therapist at Valley County Health System, attended the "Effective Treatment of Common Cervical and Upper Thoracic Pain Conditions" seminar in Omaha on Feb. 25.  Course content included understanding cervical pain, treatment strategies and considerations, cervical/thoracic anatomy, muscle releasing techniques and how to achieve effective results.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Denise, call the VCHS Rehabilitation Department at 308-728-4247.

During the weeks of February 15 and 22, continued progress was made on the interior of the new hospital.  Dry wall installation and taping continued in the rehabilitation and administrative areas.  Electrical and plumbing rough-in work continued in the rehabilitation and dietary departments.  Glass was installed in the chapel and in the nearby hallway.  Installation of window frames in the front lobby continued. 

Installation of case work for the acute care department continued in the patient rooms.    Ceiling grid installation continued in the emergency and surgery departments.  Contractors are on site installing cable tray and cables for the computers and nurse call system.

The VCHS Board of Trustees has set an opening date of Monday, October 4, 2010.  A public open house will be held prior to this date.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Jane Meyer, APRN-NP at Valley County Health System attended the Nebraska Nurse Practitioner Conference in Lincoln, Feb. 18-20.  Conference objectives focused on updating advanced practice knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention as it relates to acute and chronic illnesses across the life span, discussion of the most current pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of acute and chronic conditions, and review of current research and the application of research to clinical practice.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Meyer, call the Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.

Burwell -An open house and ribbon cutting for Burwell Rehabilitation's new location was held on Thursday, February 11 at 150 North 9th Avenue.  The new location allows for more space, new and updated equipment and better service for the residents of Burwell and surrounding areas.  Physical therapy services will be offered five days a week with occupational and speech therapy available by appointment. 

Betty Wheeler, PT at Burwell Rehab stated, "We would like to thank everyone who helped welcome us into our new building during the open house.  We sincerely appreciate the time and effort that the Burwell Chamber of Commerce put into the celebration and the outstanding representation from the community.  We enjoy working with and for the people of Burwell and the surrounding area and are so excited about the additional space and equipment that our new building allows.  Our new surroundings provide even further opportunity to offer excellent care."

To schedule an appointment with Burwell Rehabilitation call 346-4060.

The night of Saturday, January 9^th, was filled with generous people and lots of giggles, as the annual Valley County Health System Foundation Gala was held at the Ord Veteran's Club.  We are very pleased to announce that this year's Gala raised $20,000 for the benefit of Valley County Health System and that $5,000 will be placed into the endowment fund. 

This year's theme was "Denim & Diamonds", and Josh Zangger served as emcee for the evening.  He was later joined by Ben Lansman ("Benshema") when the evening's entertainment began.  Before the entertainment began, Steve Wolf of Wolf Auction and Real Estate auctioned off several live auction items to the large crowd of 250 plus. 

This year's entertainment proved to be a hit, as the crowd watched the "Miss Red Hot Womanless Contest".  Those participating were Johnathan Tomjack, Rich McKenney, Neal Carson, Brent Bengston, Trent Proskocil, Roy Farrens, Jim Coover and Kerry Petska.  This group of guys and the emcees went all out and had the crowd laughing non-stop. They started off by entering the ballroom to Chris Brown's "Forever", which has become a hit on YouTube for the couple who used it as their wedding entrance.  The contest included an evening gown, talent, night wear and question competition.  Both Zangger and Lansman had the crowd rolling with their quick whit and humor.  Three guest judges volunteered to help with the contest, and they were Mike and Senator Kate Sullivan and Miss Nebraska Belinda Wright.  At the conclusion of the contest, they chose Rich McKenney (Miss Jackie Shakers) as Miss Congeniality, and Brent Bengston (Miss Libby Doe) as the winner.  The Foundation would truly like to thank this group of guys for providing an unbelievable night of entertainment.

In between the different areas of the contest silent auction tables were closed and winners announced.   Many nice items were offered on both the live and silent auctions and generous bids were received.  The large raffle prize winners were Marilys Sears, Ord Medical Spa Package donated by Sarah Brinkman; Marie Mason, Benelli Nova Shotgun donated by Ag Pro Insurance/Steve Vech and Misko Sports; and, Jo Trofholz, $500 Savings Bond from the Ericson State Bank. 

The Foundation is very grateful to everyone who made this year's Gala a great success.  We feel so blessed that this community is so giving and supportive and we truly appreciate each and every one of you, and look forward to another great Gala again in 2011.  

Our next event is the annual golf tournament, and that will be held on Friday, July 2, 2010 at the Ord Golf Course.   

If you would like more information about Valley County Health System Foundation, please contact Becky Ries at 308-728-3011. 

During the weeks of February 1 and 8, subcontractors made a lot of progress inside the new hospital.  Tile installation continued in the bathrooms throughout the hospital.  Dry wall installation began in the rehabilitation department and taping continued in the medical clinics.  Electrical and plumbing rough-in work was started in the rehabilitation and administration areas.  Glass was installed at the end of the main hallway and in the rehab department's large window facing the west.  Installation of window frames in the front lobby was started. 

Case work for the acute care department was delivered and installation has begun in the patient rooms.  The rails for the patient lifts in the private acute care rooms are being installed.  Ceiling grid is being installed in the emergency and surgery departments.

The project is still on schedule for completion this fall.  An public open house will be held prior to the opening date.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Valley County Health System has launched, with the support of the VCHS CEO and the approval of the Board of Trustees, a wellness initiative titled "Wellness Matters".

This program, developed for the VCHS employees, provides opportunities and support for behaviors that are conducive to good health and optimal wellbeing.  The CEO's Wellness Advisory Council was formed to assist with the Wellness Matters initiative which began with employees participating in a voluntary personal health assessment to determine current health status.

The components of the Wellness Matters initiative include programs directed at nutrition, weight management and exercise, along with monthly Brown Bag Lunch & Learn presentations.  The Lunch and Learns, which feature various presenters and are open to the public; are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month and employees and the community are invited to learn about various health topics.  The Wellness Matters program also offers the employees the benefit of an onsite wellness coach for supporting behavior changes.  

The picture of the CEO's Wellness Advisory Council was taken on Friday, February 5th, National Wear Red Day where all members wore red.  February is heart month and the CEO's Wellness Advisory Council has planned several fun activities for the employees during the month to increase their knowledge about living a healthy lifestyle and ways to minimize cardiovascular disease.

Council members include Cheryl Christenson, Linda Freeman, Tina Hrbek, Jill Lane, Jen McBride, Jane Meyer, Lea Miller, Viv Patrick, Danielle Proskocil, Larry Schrage, Sheri Schrage, Marcy Shafer, Johnathan Tomjack and Amy Vore

For more information, contact Sheri Schrage at 728-4213.

Roy Farrens, Certified Executive Chef (CEC) and Nutritional Services Manager and at Valley County Health System, has been selected to participate in the 2010 Nebraska Hospital Association's (NHA) Leadership Institute.  Roy is the first employee of Valley County Health System to participate in this course.

The Institute includes a comprehensive curriculum, combining core leadership competency working sessions with multiple layers of applied practice in health care. Participants in the NHA Leadership Institute will improve their leadership skills; enhance their effectiveness in the health care field, while preserving the care and compassion critical to quality health care delivery. The curriculum is designed to be highly interactive, yet with flexible, online and teleconference accessibility-perfect for busy health care personnel.

Farrens attended the orientation retreat Jan. 29-30 in Nebraska City at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center.  The course continues through October at various hospital locations throughout Nebraska and via webinars.  Participants completing the NHA Leadership Institute will be recognized as Class VII graduates at the NHA 2010 Annual Convention Caring Kind Luncheon on October 29, 2010.

ORD - Valley View Living Center is offering a free educational and social seminar series. The series, titled "Caring Across Generations" is offered each quarter and is open to anyone who would like to attend.

The winter 2010 session will be held on Thursday, February 18th at 7:00 pm in the Valley View Living Center Atrium.  Sue Bochart from Central Nebraska Community Services will give a presentation on the Respite Care Program available for all ages.  She will bring a door prize and some small giveaways.

The program is expected to last an hour and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.  Free transportation will be provided within Ord City Limits.  To schedule a ride, call
728-5581. 

For more information, contact Connie Fread or Julie Rowse at 728-5868.

Laci Shoemaker has been named Employee of the Quarter at Valley County Health System.

In a letter nominating Shoemaker for the honor, a co-worker wrote, "She does a great job at being organized, and she always has a great attitude.  She is never judgmental and appreciates all the help she gets." Another co-worker stated, "Laci is always patient and positive.   She goes the extra mile to brighten the days of her co-workers and the patients that she serves."

Laci is the Scheduler in the Patient Access Department.  She has worked at VCHS since October 20, 2008.

Ord - The Valley County Health System Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the three winners of their logo design contest.  Twenty-eight people submitted a total of 33 logo designs.  A committee comprised of VCHS employees and community members selected the top three logo designs based on the guidelines that were established for the contest.  These designs were forwarded to the Board for their consideration.  After the board made a decision on the winning logo as well as the 1st and 2nd runner up, the names of the three people who designed the logos were revealed.

The winning logo was designed by Melanie Kolar of Arcadia.   Melanie received $500 for her logo design.  First runner up was Tobias Michnik of Scotia.  Tobias is a German foreign exchange student living with Russ and Annette Bloom.  He received $250.  Second runner up is Kathryn (Valasek) Nygren of Wahoo.  She is a 1999 graduate of Ord High School and received $100 for her logo submission.

The services of a marketing firm are now being utilized to finalize the winning logo.  The colors and final layout of the winning logo will be approved at the February VCHS Board meeting. At that time, the new logo design will be released to the public.

For more information, contact the Valley County Health System Public Relations Department at 308-728-4347.

Burwell- The Rehabilitation Services department of the Burwell Medical Clinic opened in a new location on February 1.  Physical, occupational and speech therapy services provided by Valley County Health System are now located in a new building at 150 North 9th Avenue in Burwell.  The new location allows for more space, new and updated equipment and better service for the residents of Burwell and surrounding areas. 

A ribbon cutting and business after hours are scheduled for Thursday, February 11 from 4-6:30 pm in partnership with the Burwell Chamber of Commerce.   Hors d'oeuvres will be served. 

To schedule an appointment at Burwell Rehabilitation call 346-4060.

ORD - As construction of the new hospital continues ahead of schedule and under budget in anticipation of a Fall, 2010 opening, officials at Valley County Health System have completed a position statement on the use of the current health care facilities. According to CEO Larry Schrage, the Board of Trustees has carefully considered all relevant options in the interest of patient service, community partnering and financial feasibility with the following conclusions:

The Support Services Building, located at 400 South 23^rd St., will be the permanent location of the Home Health and Hospice staff. In addition, the staff and vehicles which serve the Public Transportation Department will be located at this site.

Ord Family Health Center, located at 207 South 26^th St., will be moving to the clinic in the new hospital. The future use of this building remains under consideration.

Valley View Living Center, the long term care intermediate care center located at 217 Westridge

Drive, will remain in its current location. As announced in earlier releases the Board of Trustees has authorized funding for interior renovation, new resident room furniture, dining and kitchen improvements and a new paved parking lot.  Future expansion of long term care services will be announced as space becomes available in the hospital connecting corridor, known as "C" wing.

The old hospital will be vacated and locked for the first year with consideration of future use at a later time. Although the board has considered various use and user option proposals, studies indicate that the financial feasibility of these projects, including boiler replacement, utility costs, asbestos removal and negative reimbursement impact would result in several hundred thousand dollars worth of unreimbursed costs and ongoing operational deficits. According to Schrage "our initial thoughts on the use of the old hospital were to provide a joint community based approach that would have mutual advantages to both VCHS and the community we serve. However, in the final analysis, the negatives of trying to convert the old hospital to other alternatives far exceeded the positives, particularly from a risk and financial management perspective. VCHS is committed to continuing our fitness and wellness program for the community and we are in the process of analyzing the scope and location of this program. As time goes by we will continue to evaluate the best and ultimately the final solution in terms of the future use of the old hospital space."

During the weeks of January 18 and 25, multiple subcontractors continued work inside the new hospital.  Ceiling grid installation was finished in the acute care department.  Tile installation continued in the private patient bathrooms in acute care.  Dry wall installation began in the administration department and taping began in the medical clinics and emergency department.  The ceiling grid in the acute care patient rooms was finished.

Case work for the acute care department will be delivered the first week of February.  The large windows along the south end of the main corridor as well as the windows near the chapel and in the dining room were delivered and will be installed soon.  The lifts in the acute care department are being installed in the patient rooms.

The project is still on schedule for completion this fall.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Jeff Breitkreutz, PA-C and Bob Reilly, PA-C at Valley County Health System attended the Principles of Critical Care conference in Kearney on January 28-29.  The conference objectives were to prioritize assessment needs for critically ill patients, identify appropriate diagnostic tests, identify and respond to significant changes in the unstable patient, recognize and initiate management of acute life-threatening conditions and prioritize the steps in dealing with sudden deterioration of the critically ill patient.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Breitkreutz or Reilly, call the Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.

Larry Proskocil, Facilities Director at Valley County Health System, has been elected to the Nebraska Society of Engineers (NSHE) Board of Directors.  NSHE membership represents hospitals and their environments of care staff in Nebraska. The vision of NSHE is to be the region's premier organization for professionals specializing in healthcare facilities management. Larry will serve a two year term on the board.

During the weeks of January 4 and 11, the contractors continued work inside the new hospital.  Framing of the windows in the chapel began.  Ceiling grid installation began in the acute care department.  Tile installation began in the private patient bathrooms in acute care.  Dry wall installation continued in the medical and specialty clinics.

Plumbing rough-in was completed in the emergency room, surgery and maintenance departments.  The main lines for the fire sprinkler system have been installed throughout the building and they are now starting on the branch lines in the medical clinic and specialty clinic.  Electrical rough-in has begun in the administration and rehabilitation departments.

The project is still on schedule for completion this fall.  For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Ord - The Hospice Department at Valley County Health System will be holding a children's bereavement day retreat called Camp Healing Hearts.  It is a day long camp for children and adolescents (age 7-14) who have experienced the loss of a loved one.  The camp is scheduled for Saturday, February 6th at the United Methodist Church in Ord from 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Camp Healing Hearts will offer activities that provide comfort, understanding and skills to children who are grieving.  Campers will have the opportunity to meet others their age who know what it is like to lose a loved one. The day closes with the release of balloons in memory of each loved one.

There is no cost for the retreat. The camp is made possible by memorial gifts made to Valley County Hospice.  Lunch, snacks, materials and a t-shirt will be provided to each child. For more information on Camp Healing Hearts, contact Marilyn Winkelbauer at 308-728-4315 or Renee Karre at 308-728-3539.

During the weeks of December 21 and 28, the contractors continued work inside the new hospital.  Painting of the acute care department began and taping of the dry wall in the surgery and emergency room departments was underway.  Dry wall installation in medical records, medical clinic and specialty clinic continued.  Cable tray installation and sprinkler piping rough in continued.

The roof on the entry canopy will begin as soon as the weather cooperates.  Ceiling grid, installation of case work and painting will begin in the acute care department in January.   

Paving of the helicopter pad, connecting drive between Valley View Living Center and the new hospital, and sidewalks will be completed in the spring.

For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Burwell - The Rehabilitation Services department of the Burwell Medical Clinic will soon be moving to a new location in Burwell.  Physical, occupational and speech therapy services provided by Valley County Health System will be located in a new building at 150 North 9th Avenue in Burwell.  The new location allows for more space, new and updated equipment and better service for the residents of Burwell and surrounding areas. 

Physical therapy services will be offered five days a week with occupational and speech therapy available by appointment.  Betty Wheeler, PT, serves the Burwell clinic location.  Betty graduated from Central Michigan University in 2004 with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy.  She has been practicing in Burwell since October of 2008 to promote wellness throughout Burwell and the surrounding communities.  Betty utilizes not only traditional therapy measures, but also includes specialized training from the Postural Restoration Institute.  This approach is designed to restore diaphragm and appropriate breathing function combined with repositioning and balancing the pelvis, hip, back, and shoulder muscles to create a restored posture that moves and functions more normally.  These techniques may effectively treat many difficult diagnoses including hip bursitis, sacroiliac, and low back pain, leg and foot pain, headaches, and neck pain as well as pain in the upper back and ribcage regions.  Exercises focused on proper breathing patterns as well as manual techniques are utilized in order to relieve pain and promote proper movement and function.  Custom orthotics will be a new addition to the clinic to assist in holistic patient rehabilitation for foot, knee and low back pain.

Physical therapists diagnose and treat pain and movement dysfunction following injury, illness and surgery.  Treatment involves utilization of various forms of exercise, manual skills and healing technology to assist in decreasing pain and restoring function.

Occupational therapists are educated to facilitate patients' return to performing functional and meaningful activities of daily living more independently. Whether the debility is due to injury, disease, or deconditioning, occupational therapy can maximize independence and function in a wide variety of patient ages and functional levels.

Speech therapists are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of speech, voice, and language disorders.

The new location for Burwell Rehabilitation is planned to be open for business mid-January.  An open house for the new location will be held in early February.  More information will be released soon about these two dates.

To schedule an appointment at Burwell Rehabilitation call 346-5442.