Author: PCH Marketing
Pender Community Hospital is pleased to announce Shane Schuster, current ancillary services director, will be stepping into the role of interim chief executive officer while the search for a permanent CEO continues.
“I am honored to be chosen by the Pender Community Hospital Board of Directors to serve as our facilities’ interim CEO,” said Shane Schuster. “I look forward to working with our medical providers and organization leaders to keep us moving forward as we continue our search for a permanent CEO.”
Originally from Laurel, Nebraska, Schuster graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy in Omaha. He worked as a pharmacist for 12 years before joining Pender Community Hospital as The Apothecary Shop pharmacy manager in 2014. During his tenure as manager, Schuster led the opening of two additional retail pharmacy locations and optimized revenue opportunities through the federal 340B program. More recently, he was promoted to ancillary services director, overseeing hospital pharmacy, radiology, laboratory and rehab services, in addition to joining the administration team.
Schuster resides in Pender with his wife, Bev, who is also a pharmacist, and their two children. He’s very active in the community and volunteers on the Pender-Thurston Summer Rec Board of Directors and the Pender Booster Club. He also finds great joy helping to coach the sports teams his children are involved in. Schuster and his family are members of St. John’s Catholic Church in Pender.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Kneib attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City for his undergraduate degree. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, and completed his internship and residency in Urology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.
Dr. Kneib is board certified with the American Board of Urology. He treats all types of urological issues and performs MRI Fusion Prostate biopsies. He will be available at Pender Community Hospital Outpatient Specialty Clinic every four weeks on Monday afternoons. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 402-385-4090.
Dr. Kneib has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is known for his professionalism and compassion, and is eager to bring his experience and skills to the community.
Pender Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Hearing Instrument Specialist Melisa Sternberg to our Outpatient Specialty Clinic.
Melisa graduated from Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medication Technician. She is also an EMT-B. A firm believer in continuing education, Melissa enrolled in the Rehabilitation Technician – Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy program offered by SCC and, upon completion, ran a rehabilitation program.
From 2012-2018, Melisa was a practice liaison with a private audiology practice in Lincoln and joined Beltone Audiology and Hearing Center later that year. She has a background in all major hearing technology manufactures including Starkey, Phonak, Oticon and ReSound. Melisa’s commitment to helping patients is reflected in the many awards she has received, including Beltone Advanced Master Hearing Aid Practitioner in 2019; Consultant of the Year in 2018 and 2019; Senior Master Practitioner in 2020; and “Gage County Favorite” in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
In addition to her professional experience, Melisa makes patients feel comfortable through a special connection she shares with their families. “Being the spouse of a person with hearing loss allows me to better understand the challenges of my patients as well as the challenges of loved ones they live with,” says Melisa. “By helping the patient, I am thankful to also affect the lives of those around them.”
Melisa and her husband, Jason, have three children. She enjoys baking, traveling, water sports and most importantly, spending time with her family.
Pender Community Hospital is pleased to welcome new CFO Beth Wewel, MPA, and the new director of Little Sprouts Child Development Center, Ashley Tremayne-Ziska, to the community.
CFO Beth Wewel, MPA
After graduating with a master’s degree in public administration, Beth accrued two decades of financial experience in the healthcare industry and continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her combination of education and experience provides her with the skills necessary to successfully manage the financial needs of Pender Community Hospital.
In addition to working for multiple healthcare systems, Beth worked at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services where she helped increase revenue, streamline financial processes and balance budgets–all while helping to create an exceptional patient experience. Her talent for financial analysis, leadership and strategic planning make her ideal for Pender Community Hospital’s CFO position.
Beth is excited to join the community and enjoy the best that rural living has to offer.
Little Sprouts Director Ashley Tremayne-Ziska
Ashley is a mother of four and passionate about providing a nurturing and educational environment for children. She graduated from UNK with bachelor’s degrees in history and social science education with an emphasis in sociology and is pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling.
After serving as the youth theater program director at the Sioux City Community Theater, Ashley was inspired to follow her passion to work with children and join the Little Sprouts team. She is excited to find new ways to foster social and emotional development in children through educational and engaging programs.
Ashley enjoys meeting new people and is eager to get to know more families in the community.
Beat the Rush: Back-to-School Physicals
Summer break means long lazy days, life at a slower pace, and the past school year seems to be but a memory. Yet, the clock is ticking on the new school year. Make back-to-school a breeze by scheduling your child’s wellness physicals at one of our medical clinics.
All children develop differently, both physically and mentally. Wellness appointments track physical and mental growth, screen developmental progress, and provide crucial vaccinations to protect your child from serious diseases. Therefore, wellness physicals are a great way to gauge your child’s overall health and development.
As children age, they should be seeing their primary care provider for an annual checkup. These exams include a physical checkup and time to discuss topics like your child’s sleep, safety, and growth stages. As your child matures, wellness visits provide an opportunity to talk to your primary care provider about additional resources and services available to help your child grow up healthy and happy.
Annual wellness visits also create an opportunity to build relationships between your family and your primary care provider, which is an essential step for your child’s future. A team approach to family health is the best approach. Plus, insurance typically covers yearly wellness visits, so take advantage of the preventative care your child needs and deserves by calling one of our medical clinics to schedule your child’s checkup today.
Pender Medical Clinic: 402.385.3033
Bancroft Medical Clinic: 402.648.7606
Beemer Medical Clinic: 402.528.3288
Emerson Medical Clinic: 402.695.2453
Know Before You Go
What Your Child Should Expect at their Wellness Physical:
- Height and weight measurements
- Growth milestones and how they compare with appropriate growth charts
- Developmental milestones
- Vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate
- A urine specimen may be collected
- Eating and exercise habits discussion
- Vaccinations
What You Should Bring to the Appointment:
- Physical Form for School/Sports, if available and necessary
- Family medical history
- List of allergies
- Questions you or your child have
So, don’t delay! Get your child in for care and start the new school year off with a clean bill of health. All of our primary care providers are currently welcoming new patients.
It’s happening! Summer is nearly here and soon fun in the sun will be in full swing. The longer days mean more opportunities to go outside to enjoy the weather–but as fun as summer is, there’s nothing fun about skin cancer. Before you head out to hike, swim, garden or enjoy summer sports, remember to protect your skin from harmful rays that can lead to skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the nation, yet most cases are preventable. Skin cancer can be disfiguring and lead to expensive medical bills. Get to know your skin so you can notice changes that may indicate a problem. Discuss changes of moles or areas of your skin with your primary care provider. If you have a lesion for more than four weeks and it changes color or grows, call your provider and have it checked. Early detection is critical to treat–and beat–skin cancer.
To better understand and detect skin cancer, learn the three most common forms:
Squamous cell. Usually caused by sun exposure, squamous cell skin cancer appears on different parts of the skin. Squamous cell is a wart-like growth with a rough surface and a depression in the center. This type of skin cancer can also develop sores that stay open for weeks.
Melanoma. The most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanoma is very deadly. Melanoma looks like a new mole but with a more unusual appearance. The mole may have uneven, ragged edges with shades that range from tan to black. The biggest indicator of melanoma is if the mole is constantly changing.
Basal cell. Caused by sun exposure, basal cell skin cancer will look like a reddish patch on the skin that itches more than hurts. It is a growth with an undefined border and could be red, pink or white. Basal cell spots can become open sores that bleed or crust without closing for many weeks.
Soak up the fun–not the sun
Of course, don’t let fear prevent you from enjoying lovely weather. There are so many health benefits to getting outside and becoming more active. Simply learn what to do–and what to avoid–and enjoy your moments in the sun safely!
Sun Exposure Facts:
- There’s no benefit to getting a base tan. Getting a tan before serious exposure to the sun does NOT provide protection against increased risk of skin cancer.
- There’s no such thing as a healthy tan. Tan skin is damaged skin. Even without a sunburn, tanning still damages the DNA in your skin. The more you damage your skin, the greater the risk of skin cancer. In other words, tanning causes skin cancer.
- EVERYONE needs sunscreen. The daily use of an SPF 15 sunscreen can reduce squamous cell carcinoma risk by 40 percent and the risk of melanoma by 50%.
- Direct exposure to the sun? Use sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher. People out in direct sun should wear an SPF 30 or higher, applied 30 minutes prior to exposure and re-applied every two hours.
- Sunscreen is not just for a day at the beach. Sun damage happens whenever you are outside. If you’re doing yardwork, watching a baseball game or simply enjoying summer reading on the patio, the sun is just as damaging and dangerous. Wear sunscreen whenever you’re outside.
- Indoor tanning is not safer. Just one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of developing skin cancer; the risk of melanoma increases by 20%, squamous cell carcinoma by 67% and basal cell carcinoma increases by 29%.
- Protection beyond sunscreen. There are other ways to protect yourself from the sun–wear sun hats, coverings, long sleeves and stay in the shade to help reduce the risk of skin-damaging tanning and sunburn.
Discuss your skin with your primary care provider
If you have questions about your skin or a spot, please contact your healthcare provider to schedule an appointment.
Again, early detection is critical to treat–and beat–skin cancer.
Everyone under the sun needs protection
It’s easy to overlook these basic reminders but remember: a tan today could mean skin cancer in the future. Take a little extra time to apply–and reapply–sunscreen and use it every time you’re outside. Don’t miss a day; don’t miss a spot. You’ll appreciate the time you took to keep your skin healthier, more youthful looking and help prevent a very serious, even deadly, cancer.
1 American Academy of Dermatology indoor tanning fact sheet. Accessed April, 2018.
Pender Community Hospital received the 2021 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital honor, making this the third year in a row that the healthcare system has been recognized with the distinction. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, this 11thannual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX®.
Dr. Cole Reha, medical director for Pender Community Hospital, shared his thoughts on the recognition. “I’m so proud of our team’s hard work and dedication,” he said. “This distinction is something we never take lightly; it’s a true reflection of the strong commitment of everyone who works at Pender Community Hospital and Clinics, and also a reflection of our supportive community,” he continued. “We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality care and serving as a resource our community knows they can trust. We’re very honored to be among this elite group of healthcare providers.”
“The Top 100 program continues to illuminate strategies and innovation for delivering higher quality care and better outcomes within rural communities,” said Michael Topchik, national leader of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We are delighted to be able to spotlight the efforts of these facilities through the INDEX framework.”
Over the course of the last 11 years, the INDEX has grown to become the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Based entirely on public data and utilizing 36 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses rural hospitals across eight pillars of performance, including market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and financial efficiency. The INDEX framework is widely used across the nation by independent rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints and state offices of rural health, which provide access to INDEX analytics through grant-funded initiatives.