North Platte, September 19, 2012 – Great Plains Regional Medical Center today was named one of the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. Great Plains Regional Medical Center was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services.

Great Plains Regional Medical Center is one of 620 hospitals in the U.S. earning the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance. Great Plains Regional Medical Center was recognized for its achievement on the following measure sets: heart attack, pneumonia and surgical care. The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2011 calendar year. The list of Top Performers increased by 50 percent from its debut last year and represents 18 percent of accredited hospitals reporting data.

Each of the hospitals that were named as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures met two 95 percent (95/95) performance thresholds on 2011 accountability measure data. First, each hospital achieved performance of 95 percent or above on a single, composite score that includes all the accountability measures for which it reports data to The Joint Commission, including measures that had fewer than 30 eligible cases or patients. Second, each hospital met or exceeded 95 percent performance on every accountability measure for which it reports data to The Joint Commission, excluding any measures with fewer than 30 eligible cases or patients. A 95 percent score means a hospital provided an evidence-based practice 95 times out of 100 opportunities to provide the practice. Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – for example, giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics one hour before surgery, and providing a home management plan for children with asthma.

“When we raise the bar and provide the proper guidance and tools, hospitals have responded with excellent results,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. “This capacity for continual improvement points toward a future in which quality and safety defects are dramatically reduced and high reliability is sought and achieved with regularity. Such day-to-day progress will slowly but surely transform today’s health care system into one that achieves unprecedented performance outcomes for the benefit of the patients.”

“We understand that what matters most to patients at Great Plains Regional Medical Center is safe, effective care. That’s why Great Plains Regional Medical Center has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. Great Plains Regional Medical Center is proud to be named to the list of The Joint Commission’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures,” says Greg Nielsen.

In addition to being included in today’s release of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, Great Plains Regional Medical Center will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website (www.qualitycheck.org). The Top Performer program will be featured in the November issue of The Joint Commission Perspectives and the October issue of The Joint Commission: The Source.

North Platte, Neb.– Helping the Union Pacific Railroad celebrate its 150th anniversary, North Platte Rail Fest attracted near record numbers. “Our best estimates are that Rail Fest attracted 15,000 railfans over the three-day celebration,” said Ginger Ady of the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “We spent the early part of the week polling each individual event organizer and calling the area hotels and attractions to get their attendance numbers.”

What those numbers show is that the North Platte Rail Fest continues to grow in popularity. According to Original Town President and Rail Fest Chairman David Harrold, “All of the events, whether geared for locals like the UP Family Day events or the Bailey Yard tours that attract Railfans from across the world, grew in attendance in 2012.”

Rail Fest’s national and international appeal can be seen in the fact that visitors were logged from 33 states and 11 foreign countries. According to Ady, “Rail Fest’s promotion campaign was hugely effective this year. Railfans saw our advertisements in dedicated rail-related magazines such as Trains and Model Railroader, and historic publications such as True West. Many such as Yoshitaka from Tokyo and Claudio from Buenos Aires made the trip to the United States specifically to visit Rail Fest in North Platte.”

All of this comes at a time of year when the travel season is on the decline, known as a “shoulder” season within the industry. “Events that come after Labor Day are very good for the North Platte economy,” said Ady. “Because of the busy Interstate 80, visitors to summer events can sometimes find it difficult to find rooms, and end up paying a premium price. In September, occupancy drops and these visitors fill rooms that otherwise might remain empty.”

The impact could be seen all over the area, as many of the railfans stayed for multiple days so they could photograph trains throughout Union Pacific’s corridor through Lincoln County. “Communities from Brady to Sutherland saw railfans stopping to watch the trains at different vantage points,” said Harrold. “Railfans don’t just want to see one train, they want to see them all.”

Plans are already underway to organize Rail Fest 2013, which has already been named one of the American Bus Association’s Top 100 Events in North America, scheduled for September 20, 21 and 22.

North Platte, Neb. – September 17, 2012 – The American Cancer Society, in conjunction with Great Plains Regional Medical Center, will be holding a free program called Look Good…Feel Better for cancer patients in the North Platte area on Monday October 8.  Look Good…Feel Better is a program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.  The class will be held on Monday, October 8 at 1pm at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center Sioux Room in North Platte.  For more information or to register for a class, please call Marlayna Blanchard at 308-520-3803.

Look Good…Feel Better group programs are offered nationwide in comprehensive cancer centers, hospitals, American Cancer Society offices and other community settings.  In these sessions, Look Good…Feel Better trained, volunteer cosmetologists teach women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry.  The free cosmetic kits provided at these group sessions are valued at over $200 each and are available in light, medium, dark and extra dark shades to enhance all complexion types.  Women also learn ways to disguise hair loss with wigs, scarves and other accessories.

For information on other Look Good…Feel Better programs or to find out how to volunteer in your community, contact Jill Koch from the American Cancer Society at 308-237-1631 or by email at [email protected].  More information on American Cancer Society programs and services can also be found at www.cancer.org or www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

In addition to free Look Good…Feel Better classes, the American Cancer Society also coordinates with local businesses to provide appearance centers across the region.

These centers can help by providing free wigs, hats, scarves, turbans, prosthesis and more for women in cancer treatment.  In the North Platte area, ACS offers the following appearance centers:

–       Callahan Cancer Center, 601 W Leota, 308-696-7386

–       Women’s Orthotics & Prosthetics, 220 W Leota, Suite 400, 888-234-3323

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in Americawho have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

On September 5, Governor Dave Heineman signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 10-16 as Nebraska Lifeline Awareness Week.  The Nebraska Public Service Commission administers the program.

The proclamation brings attention to the national Lifeline phone assistance program.  Lifeline provides a monthly credit of $12.75 off monthly service for one landline or wireless phone to a qualified household.  This program helps those eligible to obtain phone service and access to emergency services.

Nebraskans seeking Lifeline assistance must be participating in one of the following programs offered through these agencies:

Department of Health and Human Services:  Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps); Low-Income Home Energy Assistance; Kids Connection (Children’s Health Insurance including SAM, MAC, EMAC) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (also known as Aid to Dependent Children)

Department of Education:  National School Free Lunch Program

Social Security Administration:  Supplemental Security Income (SSI)\

Federal Housing Administration:  Federal Public Housing Assistance

In addition, households may seek assistance if their income is at or below 135% of the poverty level.

If you have questions, please call our office and ask for the Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program (NTAP) at 402-471-3101 or toll free 800-526-0017.

A North Platte man who was wanted by police for nearly a month was found and apprehended in a place he might be revisiting in the near future.

On August 11^th around 2:30 in the morning officers received a call about a prior assault and protection order violation. The33-year-old female victim told officers that her domestic partner 23-year-old Blake Suhr appeared at her home and wanted to talk.

The victim said they began to argue then things escalated to Suhr reportedly choking and striking her.

After investigation officers had probable cause to arrest Suhr for violation of a protection order and 3rd Degree Assault – (Domestic). The only problem was that Suhr was no-where to be found.

On Friday September 7^th Officers responded to a call that Suhr was at the Lincoln County Courthouse at around 8:50AM. Suhr was told by an unknown person to sit in the courtroom.

Suhr then made contact with investigators and began to hurry down the stairs in an attempt to get out before arrest. Investigators commanded him to stop, and he did.

Suhr was placed under arrest and taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed for 3rd. Degree Assault Domestic-Strangulation (IV Felony), Violation of a Protection Order and 3rd. Degree Sexual Assault.

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On Wednesday August 29^th Officers from the North Platte Police Department went to the 400 block of South Sycamore after a report of  burglary was made.

The victim said he was missing four fire arms, a knife as well as $1000 cash.

On Tuesday September 4^th officers received some information pointing to where the firearms may be. Investigation led officers to believe the stolen rifle is in the possession of convicted felon Troy Culpepper.

Alas a warrant was obtained so officers could search a vehicle found on the 400 block of N Ash that was believed to be involved in the crime. Inside the vehicle officers found a Steyr AUG .223 Caliber assault rifle and a knife that was similar to the one reported missing.

Culpepper was found shortly after in a residence near the vehicle. There was probable cause to arrest Culpepper for Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Class III Felony), Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, (Class 1D Felony) and Possession of Stolen Property,(Class II Mis.)

Culpepper was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.  Following further investigative efforts it was determined that there was probable cause to also charge Culpepper for Burglary, (III Fel).