2025 brought many changes
The Jefferson Community Health & Life board of directors held the organization’s annual membership meeting for fiscal 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 15. Anyone who has donated $100 or more to Jefferson Community Health & Life is a member of the private not-for-profit corporation and eligible to attend the meeting.
Two board members were elected to serve four-year terms: Steve Snyder was elected to his second four-year term; and April Stone was elected to her first four-year term. Stone was elected to take the board seat that had been held by Carolyn Scherbarth for four years. Board members are elected from among members of the corporation and may serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
Ross Boeckner, board chairman, said 2025 was a year of strong performance despite challenges.
“We maintained solid financial health through effective leadership, the dedication of our outstanding staff and the steadfast support of this community,” Boeckner said.
He credited CEO Holly Wolff with superb guidance.
“Her contributions have helped us navigate uncertainty while staying true to our mission to provide exceptional health and life services for every person, every time,” Boeckner said.
He noted that the absence of two outstanding physicians is deeply felt, with the death of Dr. Craig Shumard and Dr. Brett Wergin leaving for another position.
He said JCH&L is excited about the future: new providers, the addition of robotic-assisted surgery, and construction of a new therapy addition. He said the improvements coming will enhance JCH&L’s ability to provide high-quality care for its community.
Highlights in the CEO’s annual report to members from Holly Wolff, CEO, included a number of awards and recognition: being named for the 10th time as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, receiving the Performance Leadership Award; receiving the Nebraska Quality Award; being named a Top Workplace for Healthcare; receiving culture awards for Appreciation, Professional Development and Employee Well-being; and being named a Top Workplace for Frontline Workers. JCH&L also earned a 5-Star rating from the National Rural Rating System. Gardenside long-term care also continued to receive a 5-Star rating.
Rick Blum, PA-C, was named JCHL’s Caring Kind employee the fall of 2025 (fiscal 2026.) Sarah Bauer, surgery manager, was named JCH&Ls Caring Kind employee in the fall of 2024 (fiscal 2025.)
JCH&L hired Abby Hanzlicek, MD, to join JCH&L Fairbury Clinic and Syed Akbar, DO, to join JCH&L as family medicine physicians. A new Behavioral Health department was added, and Nicole Topliff, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP, and Caitlin Tucker, PMLHP, were hired as behavioral health providers. Megan Knutson, FNP-C, and Kensly Williams, PA-C, were certified through The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy for wound care and began offering wound care clinics through the outpatient specialty services area.
To better serve our staff members and enhance retention and recruitment efforts, JCH&L increased benefits. PTO accruals and maximums were increased (new max of 240 hours for part-time staff and 400 hours for full-time staff). Retirement benefits were also enhanced – matching by JCH&L now begins right away, and matches range from 4 percent to 10 percent based on the employee’s years of service.
In November 2025 (Fiscal 2026) JCH&L announced it will add the Intuitive da Vinci 5® surgical platform in early 2026. In December 2025 (Fiscal 2026), JCH&L began a fund-drive to help purchase the THINK TMINI ® robotic system for orthopedic surgery, which will also be added in early 2026. Heartland Bank has pledged matching funds up to $50,000 for the fund drive.
JCH&L earned designation in July as a Level IV (Basic Level) Trauma Center by the NDHH Office of Emergency Health System/Nebraska Statewide Trauma System.
JCH&L Occupational Health staff members began providing services for inmates at the Jefferson County Jail in August.
JCH&L entered into a partnership with Avel eCare in October 2025 (Fiscal 2026). Avel eCare is a telemedicine provider that supports hospitals with virtual emergency services. At the push of a button, local emergency room staff have immediate virtual access to Avel’s team of board-licensed emergency physicians and expert nurses.
In Fiscal 2025, the Board approved significant updates to the hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy to further strengthen access to care for patients and families. Eligibility for financial assistance was expanded from 300 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, and additional consideration is now given to patients whose medical bills exceed a defined percentage of annual household income. These changes reinforce the hospital’s commitment to affordability, equity, and community access while aligning with best practices for rural healthcare organizations.
JCH&L remained active in community collaboration and events. JCH&L partnered with the Fairbury Public Schools, Nebraska Hospital Association and Nebraska Healthcare Foundation to bring the Health Care Heroes League to Fairbury third graders for its second year. JCH&L hosted the Nebraska Community Blood Bank bloodmobile and directed the NCBB Hometown Heroes donation the Fairbury Rural Fire Department. JCH&L and the Fairbury FBLA worked together to raise cancer awareness and fund-raise for the Alzheimer’s Association. Many other events and projects were offered to benefit our area residents.
Chance Klasek, CFO, presented a report containing a comparison of financial data over the past five years. Chance noted that our gross revenues increased to just under $53 million in fiscal 2025. After bad debt and contractual adjustments of $13 million and expenses of $36.8 million, this left us with $2.1 million of operating income which equated to a 5.37 percent operating margin. We recognized gains on investments and grants of roughly $2.3 million for a total increase in net assets of $4.4 million.
At the regular monthly board meeting which followed the annual meeting officers were elected for 2026. Officers are: Ross Boeckner, chairman; Steve Snyder, vice chairman; and Diane Wellsandt, secretary-treasurer.