New JCH&L Clinic Set To Open Next Week

The long-awaited new Jefferson Community Health and Life (JCH&L) clinic is scheduled to open its doors on Monday, May 16. A grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting is being planned for June.Groundbreaking for the new clinic was held in October of 2020.The clinic is an $8.4 million project that attaches JCH&L Fairbury Clinic to the west side of the health center. The community has provided more than $100,000 in fund-raising support for the project.The new clinic features enhanced handicapped accessibility and infection prevention.FJN was given a tour of the new facility by Dr. Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, CHFP, FACHE, CEO of JCH&L. Some equipment, such as examination tables, had not yet been moved in but will be in place by opening day.Of particular note, given the project began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the negative pressure area and other infection prevention enhancements.Negative pressure isolation units contain the spread of infection by keeping the pressure inside the room lower than that of the air outside the room, which prevents any harmful particles inside the room from flowing out of the room.“We’re one of the only clinics in the state that has negative pressure in a clinic,” said Dr. Kline. “We have two clinic rooms that are negative pressure.”Team work spaces will assist staff in cooperating in patient care, and technology improvements will assist with the new electronic health record.Increased space and the new arrangement of staff is expected to improve efficiency. Lana Likens, Public Relations Director for JCH&L, told FJN, “At the old clinic, one of the downfalls was nursing staff for one doctor were very far away from the staff from another doctor. They were at opposite ends of the building.”Also of note are the pediatric physical therapy and occupational therapy areas. Dr. Kline said, “We’re pretty excited about it. We have a balance swing. We have a rock wall for dexterity.”Dr. Kline added, “We’re also going to be throwing speech (therapy) into that as well.”Patients will park in the parking lot north of the new clinic and enter and exit at the main entrance. A circle drive at the main entrance allows for easy drop off and pick up. The main entrance will provide access to the clinic, health center services, and fitness center.No decisions have been made yet on the future use of the existing clinic building.

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