Nebraska Healthcare News

Steve Schieber, MBA, FACMPE, FACHE, has been appointed as the new president of CHI Health Good Samaritan, having served in an interim capacity since January. In this new dual leadership role, he will also continue to serve as president of CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island.

CHI Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jake McCarty, MPH, MPA, as the next president of CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy. McCarty brings nearly 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, most recently serving as chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente’s San Leandro Medical Center in California.

Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) is proud to announce that Leigh-Anne Lehmann, PA-C, has been selected as the organization’s 2026 Caring Kind Award recipient, recognizing her outstanding compassion, service excellence, teamwork, and dedication to patients and colleagues.

Community Hospital Health Foundation recently approved funding for a new car seat demonstration seat to support Community Hospital's child passenger safety education efforts. The addition provides parents and caregivers with a hands-on opportunity to learn proper car seat installation.

CHI Health St. Francis was recently honored with the prestigious PRISM Award from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) — the first hospital in the state to achieve this distinction. The national accolade recognizes medical-surgical units across the country for outstanding nursing practice, leadership and patient outcomes.

A new Nebraska Medicine health center under construction at the southeast corner of 42nd and Farnam streets now has a name: Shikhar & Kristin Saxena Family Health Center.

Community Hospital, Red Willow County Emergency Management, and the City of McCook will partner to conduct a yearly community-wide emergency preparedness DRILL on Thursday, August 20, to test and strengthen coordinated emergency response efforts. The drill is scheduled for approximately 5 to 7 p.m. and will take place on South Street at the southeast corner of Parker Hannifin.

Columbus Community Hospital and Mike's Auto Sales and Towing invite you to learn safety tips from local experts at this year's Kids Safety Day. The event will be from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 19, at Mike's Auto Sales and Towing, 1858 33rd Ave. in Columbus.

Registration is now open for Light Up the Night 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Yanney Park in Kearney. Coordinated by CHI Health Richard Young Behavioral Health, the 13th annual Glow Race and Family Fun Night for Mental Health event raises community awareness, encourages resiliency and supports advocacy for emotional, psychological and social well-being.

Columbus Community Hospital welcomed Dr. Kip Anderson to its board of directors as of Aug. 1, 2026.

Columbus Community Hospital invites community members to participate in a special insurance educational session presented in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI), the Nebraska Hospital Association and the Nebraska Rural Health Association.

CHI Health St. Francis, in collaboration with CHI Health Clinic Heart Institute, is providing a free community education event focused on cardiovascular wellness. “Low-Carb Living: Your Questions Answered” will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, in Conference Room 2/3 at the hospital.

Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Farrah Stunkel, LIMHP, to its Behavioral Health team. Farrah provides counseling services for patients ages 12 and older and treats a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and substance use disorders.

Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) is proud to announce that Brenna Bartruff, Chief Communications Officer, has been selected as a member of the prestigious 2026 Class of Rising Stars by the Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD).

Hey, Kool-Aid! Mary Lanning Healthcare is recognizing Kool-Aid Days (August 14-16) by celebrating babies born here as Kool-Aid Babies.

Community Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Bednar to its Board of Directors. Bednar was appointed during the Board's July meeting and is completing the remainder of a term previously held by Grant Norgaard. Upon completion of the current term, Bednar will be eligible to serve up to two additional three-year terms.

To members of the media who are covering the death of Dr. Harold M. Maurer, former chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (1998 to 2014), here are comments from UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD (who succeeded Dr. Maurer as UNMC chancellor).

Columbus Community Hospital recently received recognition as a patient care leader in OB-GYN (obstetrics and gynecology) surgery and general surgery from Castle Connolly, earning a spot on its 2026 Top Hospitals list.

When you choose to support Columbus Community Hospital through the foundation, you have many options. One of those choices is to donate in memory of a friend or loved one.

The Walkway Gallery at CHI Health Good Samaritan is hosting a new exhibit by self-taught Nebraska painter Lon Krugman. Running through November, the display showcases oil paintings of diverse scenes. Some works are inspired by real photographs, while others are purely imaginary, with most including a bird or animal.

Nebraska Medicine, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will celebrate a decade of innovation and patient impact in CAR T-cell therapy during a special event, "Trailblazing a Decade of CAR T-cell Therapy: 10 Years of Innovation at Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.”

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Hospitals edition as a “High Performing” hospital for rehabilitation, the highest distinction awarded in the publication's Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. The recognition also places Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals' Lincoln Campus as the No. 1 rehabilitation hospital in Nebraska, with the Omaha Campus ranked No. 2 in Nebraska and No. 1 in the Omaha metro area.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has just been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 92 Nebraska cyclosporiasis cases have been linked to an ongoing multi-state outbreak. Nebraska currently has 218 confirmed cases. 191 cases were acquired in the United States. Not all of these cases are related to this outbreak.

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center has earned a national ranking in cancer care from U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the nation's top programs for treating complex cancer cases. The recognition is part of the publication's annual Best Hospitals rankings and follows Nebraska Medical Center being named the No. 1 hospital in Nebraska for the 15th consecutive year.

Columbus Community Hospital has released the 2025-26 annual report on its cardiopulmonary rehabilitation department, which continues to have a big impact on patients.

It’s an elite distinction that only 16% of evaluated hospitals receive: a U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals designation.

Community members of all ages can learn more about healthcare products, services and new offerings in the community at Columbus Community Hospital’s Harvest for Health and Living Swell events on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Columbus Fieldhouse.

Healthcare professionals won’t want to miss Columbus Community Hospital’s latest Scrubs and Uniforms Sale. The event starts Tuesday, Sept. 1, from noon-7 p.m. in the hospital’s south parking lot. It will continue Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the same location, and from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on the east side of the hospital’s South Campus.

CHI Health Good Samaritan recently honored Avery Dakan, MSW, as its 2026 Caring Kind Award honoree. Recipients of this prestigious award go above and beyond the call of duty displaying outstanding compassion, collaborative teamwork and an unwavering commitment to professional excellence. Dakan, a care coordination social worker, has dedicated her service to Good Samaritan and the region for more than three years.

With the nursing shortage projected to continue for the next decade, CHI Health St. Elizabeth is launching another layer of care that will help attract and retain nurses while also caring for patients in a groundbreaking manner.