Carter Anderson, Author at Cass Health

Atlantic- Cass Health is excited to announce a special community event, “Car Seats and Cool Rides,” on Saturday, September 27, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Cass Health Employee Parking Lot (Lot D).

Parents and caregivers are invited to bring their children and car seats for a complimentary safety check. Multiple certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand to inspect car seats, help parents install them correctly, give tips about car seat safety, and answer any questions.

“Car seat safety is crucial for children of all ages. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that while most parents believe they know how to correctly install their car seats, about half (46%) have incorrectly installed their child’s car seat. Whether it’s a quick trip to the store or a long road trip, taking the time to check and adjust car seats can make all the difference in keeping our children safe,” said Maddy Peppers, RN, OB Navigator and Child Passenger Safety Technician at Cass Health.

In addition to car seat checks, families can enjoy fun activities and refreshments. The Atlantic Police Department, Atlantic Fire & Rescue, Cass County EMS, and a LifeFlight Helicopter will all be on hand for children and families to check out together and learn more about each vehicle from the first responders who operate them.

There is no cost for the inspections, but appointments are needed. Please make an appointment by calling Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7475, or easily schedule online at outlook.office.com/book/PublicHealthCarSeatCheck@casshealth.onmicrosoft.com/.

Atlantic- Beginning today, Cass Health is upgrading its in-house MRI machine. The upgrade is expected to take approximately five weeks to complete.

A mobile MRI unit will be at Cass Health from September 1 through the 26th. Due to the differences between the in-house and mobile units, breast and prostate MRI scans will not be available until the upgrades are complete, but all other appointments will continue as scheduled.

While the mobile MRI is in Atlantic, PET/CT will not be on-site, and those services will resume in October.

Questions about the MRI upgrade can be directed to Cass Health Radiology at 712-243-7450.

Atlantic, IA – The August session of Healthy U will be presented by Cass Health Pharmacist Sara Arnold on Thursday, August 21 at noon in Conference Room 2.

Arnold will be presenting on over the counter medications and supplements. Her main points will include what to look for when buying over the counter as well as what medications and supplements work best for treating certain conditions.

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 – Cass Health is paying the tab for all admissions to Sunnyside Pool every Friday in July.

Free swim days will be held on July 4, 11, 18, and 25. The pool is located at 1000 Sunnyside Lane in Atlantic. Open swimming is from 11 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 6 pm on Sundays. Free sunscreen will be available during free swim days as well, while supplies last.

The sunscreen is made possible by the Iowa Cancer Consortium, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and the Melanoma Program at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The number of lifeguards available each day may impact the pool capacity. Make sure to follow Sunnyside Pool to stay up to date on pool hours or closures.

Atlantic, IA – The June session of Healthy U will be presented by Emergency Department Provider Tammy Bireline, ARNP on Thursday, June 19 at noon in Conference Room 2.

Bireline will present on heat related illnesses, and how to best prevent them, which is top of mind during the warm summer days here in Iowa.

Bireline is board certified in family practice by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Over the course of her career, she has had varied clinical experience in healthcare including Medical/Cardiac Intensive Care at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Emergency Department/Trauma Coordination at Lutheran Hospital-Des Moines and Cass Health, Cardiac Rehab, Wellness, Medical/Surgical, as well as Outpatient Clinics including chemotherapy and infusion services at Cass Health. She has also completed extensive training specific to emergency care, including ER fundamentals, boot camp and procedures courses.

ATLANTIC, IA – Cass County Public Health will host a new session of A Matter of Balance beginning Monday, June 16. This free class is designed to help decrease falls and help older adults manage their fears about falling.

A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program to help older adults learn to manage their concerns about falling, make changes to reduce the risk of falling, and increase their physical activity. It includes 8 weekly two-hour sessions for a small group of 8-12 participants led by trained facilitators.

Cass County Public Health has been offering this program since 2018 because falls among adults aged 65 and older are common, costly, and preventable. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older, with 1 in 4 older adults reporting falling every year. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults ages 65 and older. The age-adjusted fall death rate increased by 41% from 2012 to 2021. Over 30% of older adult Iowans reported a fall in the past year, totaling over 157,000 individual older adult falls.

For more information, or to sign up, call Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.

Atlantic, IA – The May session of Healthy U will be presented by Kacey Peterson, MS, LMHC on Thursday, May 15, at noon in Conference Room 2.

Peterson will present “Cultivating Healthy Aging.” The program will include information about easy things older adults can do to change their perspectives, update their routines, improve their mental health, and promote healthy aging.

Peterson, who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, joined the Cass Health Senior Life Solutions (SLS) team in 2020. She graduated from Drake University in 2005 with a BS in Psychology and in 2010 with her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is licensed by the Iowa Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Prior to becoming Program Therapist for SLS, where she provides group and individual therapy services, Kacey worked in private practice with children and families in both community and school settings. In 2015 Kacey was honored with the Professional Leadership to a State Chapter Award by the American Mental Health Counselors Association for her service as Board President and Legislative Committee Chair with the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association. In 2019 she was recognized by Drake University’s School of Education with an award for outstanding leadership in her field, and in 2021 she was named Therapist of the Year for her commitment to the patients she serves at SLS.

Atlantic, IA – Cass Health is hosting “Breaking Par: A Men’s Health Event” this summer on Sunday, June 29, at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club.

The day will start off with a nine-hole best ball par three tournament teeing off at 9:00 am. After golf wraps up, all attendees will enjoy a steak lunch followed by a panel of healthcare professionals. Cass Health presenters will speak on topics like the importance of relationships, physical strength, orthopedics, eye care, and more. Following the panel, flight winners and door prizes will be announced to conclude the event.

“This event is about engaging men to help them thrive in their lives and create healthier futures by connecting them to Cass Health professionals who want to help break the stigma around men accessing healthcare,” said Dr. Adam Verhoef, who will be one the presenters during the event.

There are three ticket types available for Breaking Par. All tickets include lunch, program materials, gift, and door prize entries. Single tickets are $40 per person or $160 for a full foursome. Attendees can also choose to skip the golf tournament, and simply attend the lunch and panel presentation, reducing the ticket price to $15 per person.

Tickets for individuals and teams are available online at casshealth.org/breakingpar. Questions about the event can be directed to the Marketing & Communications Department at 712-243-7487.

Atlantic, IA – The April session of Healthy U will be presented by the Cass Health Occupational Therapy team on Thursday, April 17, at noon in Conference Room 2.

The Cass Health Occupational Therapy team of Amber Michael, ORT/L, Ashley Williams, MOT, ORT/L, and Macy Ticknor, OTD, ORT/L will focus on safety education, possible home modifications, fall prevention techniques, balance exercises, and more!

Amber Michael graduated from the College of Saint Mary in 2016 with her Masters of Occupational Therapy. Amber has experience with a wide range of adults/geriatrics with various diagnoses such as orthopedic, cardiac, neurologic impairments/disabilities.

Ashley Williams graduated from College of Saint Mary in 2009 with her Masters in Occupational Therapy and joined Cass Health’s Rehabilitation Services team immediately following. Ashley became a certified lymphedema therapist in 2014 and is currently working to complete her certification in sensory integration.

Macy Ticknor graduated from the College of Saint Mary in 2024 with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate. She is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and licensed by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.

The February session of Healthy U will be presented by Dr. Rick Rinehart. This session will be on Tuesday, February 25 at noon in Conference Room 2. Dr. Rinehart will be focusing on ear, nose, and throat concerns for older adults during this presentation.

Dr. Rinehart is a board-certified Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. He was born and raised in Iowa and did his undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. He then completed both medical school and his residency at the University of Iowa. He served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in ENT for the University of Iowa and instructed ENT residents in Des Moines for over a decade. In 2013 Des Moines Magazine presented him with the “Best Doc” award in his field as voted by his ENT peers. Dr. Rinehart provides clinical care in the Cass Health Surgery Clinic and performs surgeries locally as well.