Lincoln’s Outstanding Healthcare

by Julie Nichols

With 25 urgent care clinics, advanced hospitals and multiple clinic networks, help is always nearby. Lincoln’s healthcare services continue to grow, improving access to regional health care and expanding employment opportunities.  

Bryan Health

Bryan Health includes medical centers in Lincoln, Crete and Central City, as well as Bryan Heart, Bryan Physician Network, Bryan College of Health Sciences, Bryan Health Connect and the Bryan Foundation.

At its two Lincoln campuses, (East at 48th and Cotner Boulevard; West at 17th and South) 640-bed Bryan Medical Center focuses on leading edge treatment in cardiology, neurosciences, emergency, trauma and critical care, oncology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, orthopedics, bariatrics, rehabilitation, and mental health. Bryan East Campus is home to obstetrics, pediatrics and NICU care and is entering the final renovation phase of all surgical areas.

Bryan Heart leads the way in research and specializes in minimally invasive cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, electrophysiology, congestive heart failure and more. Our physicians serve more than 30 communities across
four states.

Bryan Telemedicine partners with over 78 facilities in 8 states to offer innovative telemedicine solutions, including 24-hour ezVisit.

Bryan Physician Network offers a comprehensive network of more than 100 providers, including primary care and Urgent Care locations across Lincoln.

Lifepointe at 27th and Pine Lake offers medically-based fitness, rehab and spa facilities to promote better self-care.

Bryan broke ground on the April Sampson Cancer Center in 2021. Slated to open in south Lincoln in 2023, this comprehensive facility unites all aspects of cancer care at one convenient location. The center will provide access to national clinical trials, mental health support, palliative care, infusions, nurse navigators, therapy, genetic assessments and counseling, prosthesis and appearance services, nutrition and spa services. 

Bryan College of Health Sciences offers undergraduate, graduate and completion programs, on-site and on-line learning opportunities, as well as minors in emerging health fields.

For a full list of Bryan Health services, locations, and educational programs, visit bryanhealth.org.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals

For over 60 years, Madonna has served the majority of traumatic injuries in the region. The only hospital in the U.S. with a secured pediatric rehabilitation unit, Madonna combines all levels of rehabilitative care in a single facility. Offering comprehensive industry-accredited programs for both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, Madonna covers services from diagnosis to release and applies collaborative treatment with teams of physiatrists, pediatricians, pulmonologists and internists. Independence Square, a simulated community, provides life-skills rehearsal for patients as they transition to home. On-campus housing for families to regularly participate in the rehabilitation process. 

In the largest expansion in its history, Madonna is adding a three-story patient wing, with 59 modern patient rooms replacing those built in the 1970s, now converted for storage and support. A new therapy gym and new entrance complete the new facility, planned to fully open in 2023.

Madonna’s Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering continues to develop innovative technology, interfacing researchers, clinicians, scientists and industry leaders. With the goal of returning patients to highest function, clinicians and patients collaborate in a living laboratory for rehabilitation devices. This institute invented the patented ICARE, an elliptical rehabilitation device, now common in therapy centers world-wide.

Madonna’s partnership with The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha launched a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program in Madonna’s new 110-bed, freestanding hospital. Serving as primary training site for medical residents, the program is the first of its kind in a five-state area. For details about Madonna’s rehabilitation services, visit www.madonna.org.

Lancaster Rehab provides excellent care at 10th and South streets. The facility has 293 licensed beds in private and semi-private rooms. Besides rehabilitation services, they provide memory care, long-term care, respite care, and hospice care.  

In additional to physical and occupational therapy, Lancaster Rehabilitation Center provides speech therapy, stroke rehabilitation, orthopedic injury and fracture therapy, and post-surgical recovery programs.  

For more information go to lancasterrc.com. 

St. Elizabeth/ CHI Health

One of 25 in the nation, St. Elizabeth’s Regional Burn and Wound Care Center houses Nebraska’s only Verified Burn Center, approved by the American Burn Association. Internationally recognized for wound and burn care research, St. E’s provides premier treatment for patients with severe, life-threatening burns. Advanced Burn Laser Therapy minimizes reconstructive surgeries, and teams concentrate on psychological healing to address patients’ return to pre-injury health. 

St. Elizabeth CHI, now certified as Lincoln’s second Level III Trauma Center, expands community options for severe injury, increasing trauma treatment by 45 percent in its first year. Equipped to perform emergency orthopedic surgeries, general surgeries and neurological procedures, St. E’s certification addresses increasing needs for regional emergency care.

Based on John’s Hopkins’ hybrid model for children’s trauma care, St. E’s new Pediatric Place serves children in an adjacent facility, staffed by pediatric nurses and separated from the potential chaos of the ER. 

In keeping with Lincoln’s boom in healthcare, a family health center with a “one-stop outpatient experience” is underway in south Lincoln, and will offer services beyond primary care: imaging, lab testing, diabetes management, OB/GYN, behavioral health, and physical therapy.

CHI Heart Institute delivers cardiovascular care from acute cases and diagnostics to post-op care in this state of the art facility. Patients are in the hands of experts, from cardiologists and specialty surgeons to highly-trained cardiology support staff. Post-operative care supports preventive care and lifestyle changes. Heart Institute specialists also travel to remote clinics throughout southeast Nebraska to offer cardiac care.

Offering premier standards for its tiniest patients, St. Elizabeth’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and High Obstetrics is the first obstetric hospital unit in the nation to receive two Gold Seal awards. The NICU has also received awards for Pre-Term Labor and Prematurity.

St. Elizabeth’s oncology services employ advanced techniques for precision surgical and non-surgical procedures. The Breast Care Center offers free classes to support patients before and after surgery. St. Elizabeth offers Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), a major advancement in surgical cancer treatment, as well as robotic surgery and Cyberknife radiation therapy.

St. Elizabeth’s aftercare motto: ‘the right care, the right time in the right place’ addresses transitional care. Whether managing a chronic disease or recovering from surgery, nurse navigators help patients face challenges at home after hospitalization.

For other information regarding CHI St. Elizabeth, visit the website at chihealthstelizabeth.com/.

Lincoln Surgical Hospital

One of only 250 surgical specialty facilities in the U.S. and Nebraska’s only multi-specialty surgical hospital, Lincoln Surgical rates in the top 100 in the nation for joint replacements. Consistently high ratings in patient experience and safety make this hospital a popular choice for orthopedic surgery. Physician-owned, Lincoln Surgical’s doctors are the decision-makers who promote custom care and post-op support. This comfortable surgical facility concentrates on rapid recovery, and high nurse-to-patient ratios strengthen patient relationships. With nine operating rooms and nearly 50 beds for recovery, inpatient and extended stay, Lincoln Surgical Hospital performs over 11,000 surgeries annually.

For more information, see lincolnsurgery.com.