Atlantic, IA – Cass Health is alerting patients about a phishing email currently circulating that uses the MyChart name and logo to appear legitimate. MyChart is Epic’s patient portal that is utilized by hospitals nationwide, including Cass Health. 

The fraudulent emails may reference a “2026 MyChart Senior Health Package,” Medicare-related wellness benefits, or a free health kit. Recipients may be prompted to click a button or link to confirm their address or provide additional information. These emails are not legitimate MyChart communications. 

Anyone who receives an email like this should not click any links or buttons, reply to the message, or provide personal, medical, financial, or insurance information. Recipients are encouraged to report the email as phishing or junk through their email provider and then delete it. 

Scammers often use familiar names, logos, and language to make fraudulent messages appear trustworthy. Cass Health encourages patients to use caution when receiving unexpected MyChart messages and to avoid clicking links or providing information if they are unsure whether a communication is legitimate. 

Cass Health also encourages community members to share this warning with family and friends who use MyChart to help spread awareness of the scam.

Atlantic, IA – Cass Health’s blood drive partner, LifeServe Blood Center, is reporting critically low blood supplies both locally and nationwide, prompting an urgent call for blood donors ahead of the Cass Health Blood Drive on Tuesday, August 11. 

According to LifeServe, supplies of O-negative, O-positive, and A-negative blood have fallen to just a one- to two-day supply, while several other blood types are at similarly concerning levels. The organization reports that donations have lagged behind hospital demand by approximately 2,500 units during July, creating significant strain on the blood supply. 

Every donation has the potential to help patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care, and other medical emergencies. LifeServe supplies blood products to more than 175 hospitals throughout Iowa and the surrounding region, helping ensure blood is available when patients need it most. 

“Blood donations are one of the simplest ways community members can make an immediate impact,” said Cass Health Laboratory Director Laura Wieser. “We encourage anyone who is eligible to consider donating on August 11 to help replenish the blood supply and support patients across our region.” 

 The Cass Health Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, August 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Conference Room 2 at Cass Health. Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled at casshealth.org/community/lifeserve. 

Atlantic, IA – The July session of Healthy U will be presented by Cass Health’s Registered Dietitian Sarah Andersen, RD, LD and will focus on understanding ultra-processed foods and how they fit into a healthy lifestyle. The session will take place on Thursday, July 16 at noon in Conference Room 2. 

“Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, and it can be confusing to know what foods to choose and how they impact our health. We’ll break down what ultra-processed foods are, how to identify them, and share practical strategies for building balanced meals while still enjoying the foods you love,” said Andersen. 

Andersen earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University and completed her Iowa State Dietetic Internship in 2018. She is a credentialed Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and is a State of Iowa Licensed Dietitian. She is a member of the Iowa Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu. 

Atlantic, IA — Kalli Rush, DPM is now seeing patients at Cass Health in Atlantic, Iowa. As a foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Rush provides care in clinic at Atlantic Medical Center, and she will also perform surgeries in Atlantic. 

“We are delighted that Dr. Rush is joining our team. Since Dr. Egertsen came to Cass Health in 2023, we’ve seen a continued demand for podiatry care. Having Dr. Rush here now enables us to expand access to care for our patients and community,” said Melissa Maas, Director of Primary Care. 

Dr. Rush lives in the rural Griswold area. She earned a Master of Science in Public Health from George Washington University in 2018 and a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Des Moines University in 2022. She completed her residency at the University Health Lakewood Medical Center in 2025. She is currently board-eligible according to the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. She is licensed to practice in Nebraska and Iowa, and she is an active member of the ACFAS, APMA, and ABFAS. 

Appointments with Dr. Rush can be made by calling 712-243-2850. 

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Atlantic, Iowa — Community members, employers, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, and local leaders are encouraged to attend the official launch of Thrive Iowa in Cass County on June 23, 2026. The event is scheduled from 10 to 11 am at Bluebird Hill and features remarks from state and local leaders, community partners, and organizations that have helped bring the initiative to Cass County.

Through a secure digital platform, Thrive Iowa brings together community organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, and faith-based partners to create a more coordinated approach to serving individuals and families. The initiative focuses on improving communication among organizations to help families more easily access resources and support within the community.

Cass Health Thrive Coordinator Kristen Brooks said, “Simply put, our goal is to help families who are in difficult situations get to a more stable place in life. These situations are usually complex for an individual to navigate on their own— maybe it’s employment issues, substance use, and also food insecurity within one household. A situation like that needs multiple organizations from across the area to intervene. Thrive gives us that space for all of the applicable helpers to know about the family, know what their needs are, monitor their progress, and continue to connect them to the right people as the family makes progress towards a more secure, healthy household.”

Attendees at the launch will learn more about the vision of Thrive Iowa, opportunities for partnership, and how the community can work together to create stronger pathways for families and individuals throughout the county. Attendees can also meet the Thrive staff — in addition to Brooks, Cass Health also recently onboarded two Thrive Navigators, Mady Tibken and Vicki Williams, who will work directly with families.

“Our community already has incredible organizations doing important work. Thrive Iowa gives us a way to strengthen connections between organizations, coordinate services, and make it easier for individuals and families to find the support they need when they need it,” said Brooks.

Cass County was selected by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services as one of the first counties in Iowa to launch Thrive Iowa, recognizing the community’s strong history of collaboration and readiness to build a coordinated system of support for local families. Cass Health was selected to serve as the local backbone organization responsible for convening partners, coordinating implementation efforts, and supporting the development of a shared community framework through its Public Health Department.

Atlantic, IA — The May session of Healthy U will provide attendees with an informative, pharmacist-led program focused on medication safety and education. The session will be held Thursday, May 21, at noon in Conference Room 2 at Cass Health.

“While we had originally planned to hold one-on-one consultations during the presentation, we switched gears a little. We’ll be presenting to everyone about medication safety, storage, disposal, and how to maintain an accurate medication list — all key information that we would want each attendee to know,” said Director of Pharmacy Sara Arnold, PharmD.

Patients who want a one-on-one session with a pharmacist will still be able to sign up for an appointment that will be held at a future date and time. The consultations will be provided free of charge.

“We want to make sure that we have ample time to meet with each person, so by having people sign up for a longer consultation with us we can better ensure that we’ll have time to adequately answer their questions, and discuss any recommendations,” said Arnold.

Space is limited. A free boxed lunch will be provided, and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 712-243-7479. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

ATLANTIC, Iowa — Community members are invited to attend a free presentation on human trafficking in Iowa, aimed at raising awareness and equipping individuals with tools to recognize and respond to the issue locally. 

Stacy Besch of Team Iowa will lead the 90-minute session, covering the realities of trafficking in Iowa, common misconceptions, warning signs, and practical steps anyone can take to help. 

Cass Health will host a session Thursday, April 9, at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 2. 

Additional opportunities to attend in Atlantic include: 

• Wednesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. at New Life Church  

• Thursday, April 9, at noon in the Pizza Ranch Party Room, hosted by Atlantic Kiwanis  

All presentations are free and open to the public. 

Atlantic, IA- Cass Health has cancelled its March session of Healthy U. 

The next Healthy U program will take place on Thursday, April 16 at noon in Conference Room 2. The April session will feature a presentation on strokes, led by members of Cass Health’s Emergency and Education Departments. Attendees will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke and understand the importance of seeking immediate medical care. 

Space is limited. A free boxed lunch will be provided for all attendees, and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 712-243-7479. 

For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu. 

ATLANTIC – Cass Health and its affiliate organizations have released their scholarship applications for the upcoming school year. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Friday, April 3, 2026. 

2026 Scholarships 

• Cass Health offers a $500 scholarship to a southwest Iowa student who is enrolled or accepted into a nursing program.  

• Cass Health offers a $500 scholarship to a southwest Iowa student pursuing a degree in a health-related career. 

• Cass Health Auxiliary provides $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career. 

• Cass Health Foundation offers $5,000 scholarships to a graduate from a Cass County high school with a goal of becoming a healthcare provider subject to licensure requirements in the State of Iowa, including testing to obtain certification and requires continuing education to maintain that licensure. 

• The Cass Health Nurse Honor Guard is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to an individual with the goal of entering the nursing profession. Applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a nursing program leading to completion of LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, or DNP. Pre-nursing, other pre-programs, and CNA students are not eligible. 

• Cecile E. Kopecky Nursing Scholarship is awarded to a graduate of Atlantic High School or a nurse currently employed in Atlantic. Applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a nursing program leading to completion of LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, or DNP. Pre-nursing, other pre-programs, and CNA students are not eligible. 

Applications are available at casshealth.org/scholarships and can be submitted to Human Resources by the respective deadline. For more information, contact Kat Niemann, Director of Human Resources, at 712-250-8022 or careers@casshealth.org.