Atlantic, IA— Cass Health is excited to announce that Hunter Pflughaupt, MD recently joined the primary care team and will begin seeing patients of all ages this week at Atlantic Medical Center.
Dr. Pflughaupt is originally from Walker, Iowa and received his undergraduate degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids. He graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2022, and he recently finished his Family Medicine Residency at Iowa Lutheran in Des Moines. Dr. Pflughaupt says that he has a strong focus on preventive care and patient education, and he is committed to delivering patient-centered care that addresses not only physical health but also emotional and social well-being.
“I want patients to feel comfortable and safe. They can talk to me about whatever is on their mind and know that they will get the best care possible,” he said.
Dr. Pflughaupt is a member of the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Pflughaupt, please call 712-243-2850.
Atlantic, IA— September is Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month and Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is committed to raising awareness about mental health and preventing suicide. With local partners, they are hosting a free community walk on Thursday, September 11, 2025, beginning at 7:00 pm at City Park in Atlantic.
Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month is a time for communities across the nation to come together to educate, support, and spread hope. Each year, organizations like Senior Life Solutions work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, improve access to care, and educate the public about the warning signs of suicide and how to help those in need.
“Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month is a critical time to remind everyone that help is available, and that mental health is just as important as physical health,” says Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions. “By starting conversations and providing education, we can all play a part in breaking the stigma and supporting those who may be struggling.”
Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to learn more about mental health and suicide prevention, hear from local speakers, and connect with others in the community who share a commitment to saving lives. After the program, the walk will take place around the City Park.
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call, text, or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
The walk is co-hosted by Cass Health, Healthy Cass County, and the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness, with additional support provided by Atlantic Parks & Recreation and Atlantic Bottling Company. For more information about the walk, call 712-250-8100.
Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions is an outpatient program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults experiencing depression and/or anxiety related to life changes that are often associated with aging or a chronic diagnosis. This program is managed in conjunction with Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC). Founded in 2003, PMC is a leading behavioral healthcare management company focused on addressing the needs of rural and underserved communities. PMC manages inpatient behavioral health units, intensive outpatient programs, and telehealth services in more than 30 states. The company’s services provide evaluation and treatment for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, memory problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other behavioral health problems. For more information or if you or someone you know could benefit from this program, please call 712-250-8100.
Atlantic, IA – Cass Health invites women of all ages to attend “Glow & Grow: A Women’s Health Retreat” at Bluebird Hill in Atlantic, September 2-4, 2025.
Following the success of last year’s event, Glow & Grow returns with a refreshed format designed to be more flexible, interactive, and personal.
“We had a wonderful response last year, and we’ve made a few changes to keep things fresh,” said Ann McCurdy, Director of Marketing & Communications. “Rather than keynote sessions, we’re offering a variety of shorter, topic-focused sessions so attendees can choose exactly what interests them most. We’ve also built in more time for conversation—both with presenters and with other attendees—because those personal connections are part of what make these evenings so special.”
Event Lineup
Registration for each evening is $20 and available online at casshealth.org/glowandgrow, or in person at the Cass Health Gift Shop. A multi-day registration for all three nights is available at the discounted rate of $50.
Questions about the event can be directed to the Marketing & Communications Department at 712-243-7405.
Due to a planned software update, the phones at Cass Health will be down temporarily beginning at approximately 10 pm on Thursday, August 14th. Residents will not be able to call any Cass Health phone number during this time. The disruption to phone service is expected to be less than 30 minutes.
In case of emergency, always call 911. The Cass County Communications Center and Cass Health do have alternative modes of communicating about emergencies during this time.
Atlantic, IA — Cass Health Chief Executive Officer Brett Altman, DPT, MBA, FACHE was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare on two separate lists: Rural Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know and Community Hospital CEOs to Know.
Becker’s Hospital Review noted that rural and community hospital CEOs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of local healthcare by developing and executing strategic plans that elevate patient care, expand services and enhance hospital facilities. In close collaboration with their leadership teams, they actively engage with the communities they serve, ensuring hospital offerings are tailored to local needs.
Becker’s Healthcare is proud to recognize these visionary leaders for their dedication to improving community health, fostering strong workplace cultures, driving sustainable growth and securing the long-term success of their hospitals.
Altman joined Cass Health in January 2017 as CEO. During his tenure, Cass Health has received the Performance Leadership Award for being in the top quartile in the country for quality and outcomes every year since 2017. The National Rural Hospital Association has named Cass Health a Top 20 hospital each year since 2021 and a Top 100 critical access hospital since 2017.
Becker’s Healthcare is the go-to source for healthcare decision-makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry. Through print, digital and live event platforms, Becker’s Healthcare equips healthcare leaders with information and forums they need to learn, exchange ideas and further conversations about the most critical issues in American healthcare today.
Cass Health is excited to announce that construction will soon be underway for a new Eye Associates clinic. Jensen Builders Ltd. was officially awarded the construction bid for the new building to be located at 1501 E. 7th Street in Atlantic.
With demolition of the old Farm Bureau building and initial site work nearly finished, construction is expected to begin by the end of July. When completed this winter, Eye Associates will move to the new location, where it will continue providing eye care for patients of all ages.
The new building is approximately 6,900 square feet and will be used by Optometrist Dr. Jeff Goergen as well as by Dr. Jesse Himebaugh and Dr. David Ingvoldstad, visiting ophthalmologists from Midwest Eye Care.
Atlantic, IA — Cass Health is happy to announce the winners of the photo contest have been chosen, and most of the new artwork is installed.
“We are thrilled by the positive response from the community! We had more than 90 individuals participate, with more than 300 photos submitted. We have more than 35 canvases already displayed in our hallways, and we are expecting a few more to arrive soon. We also received several beautiful winter images, which we will put on display this December,” said Ann McCurdy, Director of Marketing and Communications.
The winning entries were submitted by the following:
Honorable mentions were also given to photos submitted by Sue Hunt, Taylen Abarr, and Bob Lane.
The winning photos can be viewed in the hallways near the Cass Health Pharmacy, Radiology, and Rehab Services, and an online gallery of the winning photos can be viewed here.
Atlantic, IA — Cass Health is proud to announce that Physician Assistant Max Starlin is the newest recipient of the Cass Health Spirit of Volunteerism Award. This award was established to recognize the volunteer efforts of Cass Health employees in their communities.
Starlin and his wife Jordan have been members of Griswold Fire & Rescue for five years. He serves as a firefighter, and she serves as an EMT. Their commitment to Griswold Fire & Rescue includes monthly meetings, trainings, ongoing education, fundraising, and responding to calls.
Starlin received two separate nominations. The first stated, “His willingness to drop everything and assist during emergencies is a testament to his selflessness and courage. He inspires others through his work ethic and willingness to help, whether it’s during training sessions or in emergency calls.”
The second nominator wrote, “As if being a health care provider was not enough to take up most of Max’s days, he finds the time to give back to our community by protecting our homes and farms from fires and responding to search and rescue calls. They can be called out at any time for mutual aid to neighboring fire and rescue departments … and they undergo rescue training that includes responding to motor vehicle accidents, extrication, ice rescue, ropes and grain bins. Fires or accidents can result in tragic events, and only if something happens to us, a loved one or a neighbor do we think about how fortunate we are to have our fire and rescue departments and the people who volunteer their time to train and respond like Max Starlin.”
Starlin responded, “I don’t expect to be recognized as a volunteer. It’s nice, but I don’t do it for those reasons. I volunteer because I grew up in the Griswold community, and now it’s my turn to give back. Jordan and I talked about it for years, and we finally got to a point in our life a few years ago where we felt settled and like it was the right time for us to start into our training and volunteering,” said Starlin.
As to what he loves about his volunteer role, Starlin said, ”it’s the camaraderie. It’s a brotherhood/sisterhood where you make friends, and you form deep bonds, often with people that you never thought you would. You work in challenging situations and circumstances you would otherwise not be in, and it takes a lot of trust to work together. It’s really rewarding,” he said.
As part of the Spirit of Volunteerism Award, the winner receives a $250 check to donate to the non-profit organization of their choosing. Starlin chose Griswold Fire & Rescue and presented the check to Fire Chief JC Wyman at their May meeting.
Atlantic, IA — This May, Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions program is proud to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month by embracing the theme, “Turn Awareness into Action.” Mental health is vital at every stage of life, and we are dedicated to supporting older adults and their caregivers in our rural communities as they navigate mental health challenges.
As we spotlight mental health this month, Senior Life Solutions aims to address the unique mental health needs of older adults in our community by encouraging everyone to:
“Mental health awareness is just the beginning,” said Senior Life Solutions Program Director Karmen Roland, RN. “Turning awareness into action means recognizing the signs of mental health challenges, supporting caregivers, and ensuring older adults in our rural communities feel valued and connected. Together, we can build stronger, more supportive environments for everyone.”
Cass Health invites you to join us in honoring Mental Health Awareness Month by taking action:
If you’re taking steps to improve your mental health but are still struggling or are not sure where to start on your mental health journey, we encourage you to connect with your healthcare provider or reach out to a member of our team today.
Senior Life Solutions is an outpatient program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults experiencing depression and/or anxiety related to life changes that are often associated with aging or a chronic diagnosis. If you or someone you know is struggling with a decline in their mental health, our program wants you to know we are here to help. Whether through our program, or another service, our team works to identify and address the emotional needs of those in our community and provide support.
For more information or if you or someone you know could benefit from this program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Call us today at 712-250-8100.
Atlantic, IA — The Iowa Medical Society and Copic proudly announce that Dr. Elaine Berry is the 2025 recipient of the IMS/Copic Physician Humanitarian Award.
The IMS/Copic Physician Humanitarian Award is presented annually to honor a physician for volunteer medical services and contributions to their community, specifically those individuals who unassumingly volunteer outside the spectrum of their day-to-day lives.
Dr. Berry has been a pillar of the Cass County community since she began her career at Cass Health in 1988. Through 2022, she worked as a Family Medicine physician, primarily at Atlantic Medical Center, but also in satellite clinics in Griswold and Massena. She also provided care to patients in the hospital, obstetrics unit, and the Emergency Department.
Her other roles have included Cass County Medical Examiner, Medical Director for Cass County volunteer Emergency Services, Hospice Medical Director, and her current position as Chief Medical Officer at Cass Health. She has been instrumental in disaster preparedness, EMS advocacy, advancing electronic health records and quality medical care, and mentoring future medical professionals. Dr. Berry has also participated in medical mission trips to Egypt, India, Romania, Dominican Republic and Honduras, has supported newly immigrated families in her church community, and has been active in her local church with the worship team and teaching youth.
Each year, the recipient of this award is asked to designate a $10,000 donation from Copic to be provided to a healthcare-related nonprofit organization within their community. Dr. Berry has designated the Cass Health Foundation to receive this donation, specifically to support the Nurse Apprenticeship program, an innovative initiative to train nurses and address the healthcare workforce shortage.
The Copic Humanitarian award was established in 2001 in memory of Harold E. “Hal” Williamson. Hal was one of the first non-physician board members of Copic. His inspiration and his dedication to going above and beyond led to the establishment of the Copic Medical Foundation. Today, Copic collaborates with state medical societies in offering this award.
Copic is a nationally renowned provider of medical professional liability insurance. Recognized for industry-leading patient safety and risk management programs, Copic works to support and educate healthcare professionals and help make medicine safer for all.