Nebraska Healthcare News

At its heart, MED is a community organization. And one of the most enjoyable things we do every year is spend time in the communities we serve. We attend many events and conferences, especially in the fall. Here are a few of the places we've been and the people we've seen in the last few months.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. From cancer patients and trauma victims to mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, donated blood saves lives every day. However, many hospitals face ongoing shortages.

Amanda Miller, APRN, Great Plains Health Callahan Cancer Center, is the Great Plains Health Caring Kind Award recipient for 2026.

Columbus Community Hospital is proud to recognize Benjamin Dush, a food service aide in nutrition services, as the second-quarter Sheaf of Wheat Award winner. Dush’s patience, kindness and commitment to exceptional service made a lasting impression on a patient during a recent hospitalization.

Proper disposal of prescription drugs plays an important role in keeping Nebraska families safe. Leftover medications, including prescription pain relievers, can lead to accidental poisoning, misuse, addiction, or overdose if not disposed correctly.

Join Eileen Hebets, PhD, George Holmes Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, for the Oct. 27 Omaha Science Café as she presents “Sex, Silk, and Eight Legs: The Wild World of Spiders” at 7 p.m. at the Rathskeller Bier Haus, 4524 Farnam St.

Hastings Family Care (HFC) recently received three gold awards from the American Heart Association (AHA) outpatient program achievement awards for its commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. HFC received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold Achievement Award, the Check. Change. Control. CholesterolTM Recognition Gold Achievement Award and the Gold Target: Blood Pressure Award.

The Mary Lanning Healthcare Wound Center recently received RestorixHealth’s highest achievement, the Center of Excellence Award, for meeting or exceeding national wound care quality standards.

Jesse Bell, director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is a co-author of the commentary “Research priorities for robust climate assessments in the United States,” recently published in Earth’s Future and Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Lexington Regional Health Center recently celebrated the completion of its newly renovated Labor & Delivery rooms with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the culmination of a year-long project designed to enhance the birth experience for mothers, babies, and families across the region.

Boone County Health Center (BCHC) is pleased to announce that President and CEO Caleb Poore, MHA, has been elected to the Clarkson College Board of Directors. Poore, a Clarkson College alumnus, was officially welcomed to the Board at its September 21, 2026, meeting.

Lexington Regional Health Center is proud to announce that Austin Eldredge, Karen Rojas, and Magali Ruiz have successfully completed the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) Leadership Institute, a prestigious 10-month program designed to develop current and emerging healthcare leaders across the state of Nebraska.

This fall, men and women who are interested in becoming a nurse will be able to apply for Columbus Community Hospital’s highly successful Student Nurse Internship Program.

Columbus Community Hospital’s impact extends far beyond patient care. A recent analysis conducted by the Heartland Health Alliance found the hospital generated nearly $386 million in economic activity, supported approximately 1,944 jobs and contributed more than $11 million in state and local taxes across Nebraska in 2026.

Columbus Community Hospital recently recognized Sara Becker, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She received it for the compassionate care and support she provided to a patient during an unexpected and emotional birth experience.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Nebraska State Director Neil Moseman announced a $75 million Community Facilities Direct Loan to Community Hospital Association (CHA) in McCook. The expansion project will add more than 70,000 square feet to its campus, including a new McCook Clinic, an expanded cancer center and improvements to the central utility plant.

On Friday, October 9 the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) will host its 17th Annual Walk for Mental Health Awareness. The walk unites individuals with lived experience and care providers in accessing resources in the community. LRC strives to promote accurate information about mental health challenges, uphold individuals as people instead of a diagnosis, and promote mental healthcare and resources for all Nebraskans.

Hastings Orthopaedics recently began offering walk-in appointments for orthopaedic injuries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.

On average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween than on any other day of the year according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

To honor and remember infants lost to miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death, CHI Health St. Francis will host its annual Infant Memorial Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the hospital Chapel.

This October, Nebraska's Every Woman Matters (EWM) Program celebrates 35 years of serving Nebraska women. Over the past three and a half decades, the program has improved access to lifesaving preventive health screenings, growing from breast and cervical cancer screenings to a comprehensive set of services that now includes cardiovascular, diabetes, and colon cancer screenings.

Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bridgett Linger as the new Chief Quality Officer (CQO). With more than eight years of leadership experience across healthcare, Linger brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for rural healthcare to BBGH. "We are excited to welcome Bridgett to the executive team. Her extensive background in continuous improvement and healthcare administration will make her a great asset for us moving forward," said Gabriel Behling, CEO at BBGH.

Get ready for the Columbus Community Hospital volunteers' 25th annual Holiday Open House! This year, the event takes place on Monday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. in the hospital's gift shop.

Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) is proud to announce it has been ranked nationwide in the category of providers and insurers on Modern Healthcare's 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare list. The recognition was announced during the annual Best Places to Work in Healthcare Awards Gala held September 16 in Houston, Texas.

Did you have a special reason to celebrate, milestone to cherish or memory of a loved one you'd like to honor this past year? This holiday season, you can buy a keepsake ornament from the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation. The ornament provides a meaningful way for you to capture treasured memories and have a lasting reminder of those who hold a special place in your heart.

If you want to learn more about diabetes, Columbus Community Hospital has just the event for you. Diabetes Awareness Day, in association with the Living Swell event, takes place from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Columbus Fieldhouse. The event will include a cooking demonstration, informational booths and free and discounted screenings and immunizations.

Starting Oct. 1, CHI Health Orthopedics (Good Samaritan) will offer walk-in care for orthopedic injuries and concussions, featuring exclusive weekday hours and Saturday availability. Operating alongside the clinic's existing services, the Orthopedic Urgent Care requires no appointment and is open Monday-Friday from 7:30-11 a.m. and Saturdays from 8-11 a.m.

Steffanie Holtrop, Co-Founder and VP of Sales & Marketing at MED (Midwest Medical Edition) and Publisher of 'hood Magazine, received the EmBeliever Award at The EMBES – A Tribute to Women on Thursday night in Sioux Falls.

Congratulations to Kendra Becker, BSRT, (R), (M), (CT), (MR), Columbus Community Hospital's 2026 Caring Kind Award winner!

A program to provide hair, wig, makeup and prosthetic services to patients at the Morrison Cancer Center is the focus of a large donation from an annual golf tournament.