January 5, 2024

Students become first graduates of BSN program with accelerated clinicals at GPHealth

Congratulations to GPHealth's first two graduates of the ABSN program through the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), College of Nursing – Kearney Division: Jennifer Carrilo and Jason Westman.

In August of 2022, Great Plains Health and UNMC College of Nursing announced a collaboration to bring accelerated clinical in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program to North Platte. In the program, students complete their courses at the UNMC Kearney Campus while receiving exceptional clinical training at Great Plains Health.

“It’s helped in numerous ways,” said Jennifer Carillo, UNMC ABSN participant. “So, I still work downstairs, in our operating room as a surgical tech. It’s really advanced my knowledge and my practice. I work on the weekends still, and it’s really nice to see that everything I’m learning, I’m able to see first hand through work and also just my clinical here have just really expanded my knowledge.”

Lincoln County Native Jason Westman says the program is giving him an opportunity to give back to the Community that he grew up in and calls home.

”I thought healthcare sounded like a great way to go, I’m able to be here,” Westman said. “I was a Chaplin here for a little while, I just really enjoyed the environment. It’s just making it so I am able to move on further in the O.R. I’m wanting to work in an expanded role and be able to be the circulator in surgery because I was a surgical tech before. I wanted to be able to do more.”

Carillo and Westman encourage anyone interested in the nursing field to consider the program. To learn more, contact Samantha Clark, ABSN Program Coordinator and Clinical Educator with Great Plains Health, at 308.568.7290.

Focus on Wellness: A Leap Forward Virtual Challenge

Start the new year with a renewed focus on wellness!

Join a virtual challenge through the Platte River Fitness Series - free for GPHealth employees! The challenge for GPHealth employees starts January 15.

Simply log the minutes you spend in moderate exercise doing whatever activity you enjoy (walking, yoga, crossfit, swimming, etc.)

To sign up and view more information, simply:

• Go to www.platteriverfitness.com
• Click on Featured Event, A Leap Forward Virtual Challenge in the right header
• Scroll down toward the bottom of the page to locate the GPH Sign up button and click
• Fill out form and click red submit button

Please note that you must use your GPHealth email to register.

Grab a friend and get moving!

Engagement survey opens January 16

• On the morning of Jan. 16, all Great Plains Health employees will receive a link to a survey on employee engagement to share feedback. 
• Your input enables Great Plains Health to make strides in our ongoing quest for excellence. ​
• The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete and is administered through Press Ganey, an independent third party, so the survey is anonymous.
• Please do not share your survey link with others, as each link is unique. 
• Call Becca Arterburn at Ext. 8888 with any questions. 
• As a gesture of appreciation, after you complete your survey, print the submission page and take it to the cafeteria for a special treat.​​​​

GPHealth movie night set for January 18

Great Plains Health is hosting a movie night for employees and their families at the Golden Ticket on Thursday, Jan. 18. The theater will be open exclusively for GPHealth.​

GPHealth is covering the cost of a ticket, popcorn and beverage for each em​ployee and family member. Concessions will be open for other purchases.

A finalized list of show times and movies will be shared in GPOnline soon.

This is a one-day event only for GPHealth families. Makeup days are not be available, but watch GPOnline throughout the year for other engagement opportunities! ​​

With questions, please contact HR at Ext. 8885.​

Leader of the quarter: Kathy Phares

Congratulations to Kathy Phares, clinic manager,

Great Plains Health Outpatient Services, for achieving the leader of the quarter award.

Kathy has been an instrumental piece in specialty outreach and clinic onboardings, including most recently the onboarding of Great Plains Health Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in November.

Leaders note Kathy's positive, hardworking spirit and desire to put patients first - always. Congratulations, Kathy!

New hours at Urgent Care

Great Plains Urgent Care offers convenient walk-in care six days a week – and is updating its schedule to better serve the community on the weekends when primary care is closed.

Starting January 7, Urgent Care will be open on Sundays and the schedule will change to:

• Monday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.​

HIM updates hours

Our health information management (HIM) department is available to assist you with your requests to access GPHealth medical records from Monday to Friday, 8 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

To learn more about access to your medical records, including how to set up your secure and convenient MyChart patient portal, visit here.

Danelle Franzen, COO, earns top healthcare management credential

Danelle Franzen, MBA, MLS (ASCP), FACHE, Great Plains Health chief operating officer, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

“This is one of the most distinguished accomplishments that a healthcare leader can earn,” said Ivan Mitchell, Great Plains Health chief executive officer. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow, Franzen has demonstrated her commitment to serving our patients, our community and the broader healthcare profession.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, fewer than 9,000 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education hours, demonstrating professional/community involvement and passing a comprehensive examination. Fellows also are committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.

Read more here.

Welcome, New Year's Baby!

Great Plains Health welcomed its first baby of 2024 on Tuesday, January 2 at 10:45 a.m.

Lainey Rae Scott was born, weighing 5 pounds and 8 ounces.

Jessica Anderjaska and Lane Scott are the proud parents.

Lainey also has two older siblings, her sister Jaylee and her brother Charlee.

HERO of the month: Holly Edwards

Congratulations, Holly Edwards, on being selected as the December’s H.E.R.O of the Month!

Holly was nominated by both Sally Brecks and Carissa Yost. Here is what they submitted about Holly:

Sally – “Holly always goes above and beyond for our patients. She will make sure we can get them squeezed in when they need to be seen. Sally has also track down a nurse/provider if there are no more spots to schedule and have someone talk to the patient. She always has a smile on her face and if she doesn’t know the answer she will make sure to find out who does. She puts our patients first always.”

Carissa – “Holly doesn’t just live the mission – she is the mission. She is always helping patients in any way that she can within her means! She does this daily without hesitation! Even when the patient may be upset or frustrated, Holly steps in and has a way of calming and reassuring the patient we are going to help them so they always leave here happy!”

Here is your chance to get to know Holly:

Why are you a H.E.R.O club member? I wanted to be part of something that helps our community.

What would tell new employees about the H.E.R.O club? It’s super easy to join, and super easy to donate with payroll deductions.

What do you like most about the H.E.R.O club? I like that the donations help to improve the health and well-being of the community.

What project or activity is your favorite that the H.E.R.O club does and supports? I like the Christmas tree competition!

Pictured: back row left to right – Megan Moore, Megan Huddle, Megan McGown, Bailey Trusty

               Front row left to right – Carissa Yost, Sally Brecks, Holly Edwards, Crystal Welch

Accounting department shares holiday spirit

Instead of a gift exchange with each other for the holidays, the accounting department choose a cause to donate to. Here is what they shared:

"For 2023, we choose to donate $225 to the North Platte High School for students.

Amy, Lori, and Brenda ventured out and bought socks, hygiene kits, shampoo, lotions, etc. for the high school students that are in need during the Christmas school break. There are many students that go without some of the basics we often take for granite. We wanted to make a difference for those special students and let them know there are people who care about them this holiday season."

Kick off 2024 with a blood donation

It takes a lot of generous people to ensure blood is on hospital shelves when patients need it.

#NationalBloodDonorMonth is the perfect time to roll up a sleeve to make a lifesaving impact for patients.

Book your appointment with the Red Cross and Great Plains Health on Jan. 17 by visiting rcblood.org/donate and using the sponsor code “gphealth.” Only 18 appointment spots remain. Let's get them filled!

Healthy habits: Why do I need an annual checkup? I feel fine.

No news is not always an indicator of good news.

An annual physical is one easy way to help you stay on track to prevent health issues or get an early diagnosis when it’s easier to treat. And having a relationship with a primary care doctor keeps your records and history in one place, making it more likely to see potentially important changes that occur from year to year. 

What can I expect at an annual checkup?   

Regular checkups are separate from seeing your doctor or caregiver at an urgent care clinic for sickness or injury. In addition to physical exams, an annual checkup focuses on several things, including preventive care:

• Vital signs - recording your key numbers, such as, temperature, blood pressure, heart and respiration rate create a baseline. What’s “normal” for you may be different than what is for others, and important for your ongoing care.
• Screening tests - checking for diseases early, when they may be more easily and successfully treated.
• Vaccines - preventing diseases and other health problems by helping your body remember how to fight a specific infection in the future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares recommendations here.
• Medication management - making sure your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements don’t interact with each other is critical.
• Family history discussion - informing your doctor about family health issues, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis, lifestyle choices or environmental impacts, all of which can impact your health and help your doctor best care for you.
• Education and counseling - helping you make informed health decisions.

What are suggested health screenings?

Your doctor can advise you on the need and frequency of the below screenings, based on your health and family history. The CDC also has an easy list for reference.

• Breast cancer - mammograms do not prevent breast cancer, but are the best way to find it early, before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.
• Cervical cancer - Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix which may turn into cancer. The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes.
• Colon cancer - colonoscopy can find precancerous polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
• Lung cancer - low-dose computed tomography for people who have a history of heavy smoking, and smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years.
• Prostate cancer - prostate specific antigen (PSA) test identifies high levels of PSA in the blood and/or a digital rectal exam; either or both may be used for men with a family history of prostate cancer, and for African American men who have a higher risk.

Do it for yourself

An annual physical is one of the best appointments that you can make for yourself — and those who depend on you.  

"I was very satisfied overall with my recent visit at GPHealth Neurology. I was especially impressed with Cindy, my nurse practitioner. She is very knowledgeable and very thorough with clinical testing of my symptoms." - Patient feedback, Great Plains Health Neurosciences