The Cass Health Foundation is hosting their annual gala on Saturday, March 26th at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The gala is a fundraiser for the Cass Health Foundation’s 2022 campaign to purchase a mobile telemedicine stroke system. This system will be used to immediately connect a suspected stroke patient with a neurologist. “The mission of the Cass Health Foundation is to support Cass Health. Our project this year helps get important equipment into the hands of providers who are caring for us, our family, and our neighbors,” said Dave Chase, Cass Health Foundation Treasurer. The theme of this year’s gala is “Wild, Wild West.” Attendees are encouraged to wear western wear like boots, hats, jeans, etc. The evening includes dinner, dessert auction, and entertainment. Tickets to the event are limited and available through table sponsorships. For more information, please call Dawn Marnin at 712-243-7409 or visit casshealth.org/donors/2022gala to view the details or pay online.
Atlantic, IA—Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of Suicide Awareness Month on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Rotary Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The event is being co-hosted by Healthy Cass County and Cass County Iowa State University Extension.
“We welcome participants of all ages to join us to show support for those who have been impacted by suicide. Showing up to community events like this is one small way that each of us can help normalize mental health care and show our neighbors that we’re here for them,” said Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions.
The event will kick-off at 6:30 pm with local speakers, Noelle Whitney and Christal Sullivan, who will share their story on how suicide has touched their lives. The walk portion of the evening will begin around 7 pm. Participants will walk the trail loop at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Information about mental health services and community resources as well as light refreshments will be available at the Rotary Shelter.
“People across the county identified mental health as the number one health need in the recent Community Health Needs Assessment. It’s so important to have events like this where we can come together and show our support. It’s OK to not be OK. We want to end the stigma in Cass County,” said Brigham Hoegh, Cass County Wellness Coordinator.
For community members who would like to contribute their own experiences and stories about how suicide has impacted their lives, an anonymous form is available at casshealth.org/suicideawarenessevent “We want to share stories from our own community members. We’ll post their comments on the night of the event for all participants to read, but we will keep it anonymous,” said Roland.
For more information, go to casshealth.org or check out the Facebook event.
Cass Health is partnering with local schools to offer influenza vaccinations to area students. Students can get their flu shots at school from Cass Health staff on the following dates:
• CAM Community School District — October 18th
• Atlantic High School — October 19th
• Atlantic Middle School — October 19th
• Griswold Community School District — October 20th
Parents and guardians should receive the required consents and information from their student’s school district. All completed consent forms are due back to schools no later than October 1st. Consents will not be accepted after October 1st and incomplete consents will not be processed and the student will not be immunized.
Need a consent form? Download here –> Influenza Immunizations at School Consent Form.
Any questions regarding school influenza vaccination clinics can be directed to your school or the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Room at 712-250-8122.
ATLANTIC- The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to the laboratory at Cass Health based on the results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs.
Cass Health Laboratory Director, Mitch Whiley, MLS (ASCP)CM was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. The Cass Health Laboratory is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.
“We are very proud to achieve this accreditation,” said Mitch. “Our mission is to provide a superior experience to our patients, and for us, that means that we have to hold ourselves accountable to the highest levels of patient satisfaction, accuracy, and efficiency. It is vital that the data we provide to our providers and patients is precise and timely. This accreditation helps validate that we’re living up to that mission.”
The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the government’s own inspection program.
During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program, records, and overall management.
About the College of American Pathologists
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide.
Atlantic, IA – Cass Health is paying the tab for all admissions to Sunnyside Pool from Thursday, August 5th through Sunday, August 8th.
The pool is located at 1000 Sunnyside Lane in Atlantic. Open swimming starts every day at 1 pm; closing time varies. Stay up to date on Sunnyside Pool hours and closures their Facebook page @sunnysidepool.
Atlantic, IA — Beginning Monday, June 28, 2021, the Cass Health Main Entrance and Parking Lot A will be closed temporarily due to construction.
Crews will be replacing the driveway to the building, and the work is expected to continue through October.
“There’s never a great time to close your main parking lot and entrance, but we chose to do this work during the summer and early fall so that we could have it wrapped up prior to any inclement weather this winter,” said Cass Health Chief Financial Officer Abbey Stangl. “The goal of this portion of construction is to improve our patients’ safety and ease of access into the building. While we hate to inconvenience anyone, the long-term gain will be worth it.”
While the parking lot and entrance are closed, all patients and visitors should use Emergency Drive to access parking lots B and C. Patients and visitors should use the Emergency entrance; PT, OT, Speech, and Radiology patients can use the Rehabilitation Services entrance.
Free valet parking is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Atlantic, IA – Cass County Board of Health Chairman, Dr. Gerald Wessels, DVM was recognized on Monday, May 24, 2021 for 51 years of service on the Cass County Board of Health.
“Serving on a local board of health is an honorable and noteworthy task, and to do that for 51 years is astonishing. We can’t thank Dr. Wessels enough for his dedication to the health of Cass County residents and the support of Cass County Public Health,” stated Beth Olsen, Cass County Public Health Director. “We were unable to safely celebrate Dr. Wessels in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are especially thankful for today, that we now get to celebrate 51 years.”
Local boards of health are responsible for public health in their jurisdiction. They support the local public health vision, mission, and encourage community involvement in setting public health priorities. The Cass County Board of Health consists of five members: Dr. Gerald Wessels, Betty Johnston, Gary Dinkla, Mary Strong, and Cass County Board of Supervisors Representative Mark O’Brien.
Atlantic, IA – Cass County Health System is proud to announce that Britni Olson, RN BSN was honored with the DAISY Award on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
“I’m so grateful, “Being a DAISY nurse is such an honor and I’m so thankful to now be considered one.” said Britni. Britni has been a nurse for 13 years, with the last 8 years spent at CCHS in the Obstetrics unit.
Her nominator said, “Finding people who do not just do their jobs but love their jobs is so rare! You are a rare gem in this world! Your kind of passion and selfless, genuine care for people is something that I strive toward personally, and it is something so seldom found anymore. You challenge me and inspire me to take that same kind of passion and genuine care for people into my home, church, and community!”
CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline added, “Britni is incredibly deserving of this award and truly encompasses what a DAISY nurse is. She is kind, patient, passionate, and selfless. Britni works every day to deliver the care that is individual to each patient. She is a true patient advocate and we are so privileged to have her share her passion and talents with our organization and our patients.”
Nurses at Cass County Health System are honored twice annually with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Award committee at CCHS wishes to thank all nominators for their submissions. Each nurse who was nominated will be presented with a special pin and a copy of the nomination.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org. An online nomination form is available at https://www.casshealth.org/daisy.
All Iowans Now Able to Sign Up for COVID-19 Vaccine
Atlantic, IA —Cass County Public Health is now scheduling vaccine appointments for all adults. Anyone 16 or older is eligible beginning on April 5.
Anyone in the area that would like to be vaccinated is encouraged to sign up immediately. To sign up, complete the form at casshealth.org/covidvaccine or call (712) 243-3250 and press 7.
It will take time to vaccinate everyone eligible. Cass County Public Health continues to receive approximately 300 doses per week, and they will schedule appointments as they have doses available.
It’s critical to continue practicing the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Vaccinated Iowans should continue these precautions as we are still learning whether getting a vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself.
• Wear a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick
• Get tested if you are exposed to, or have symptoms of COVID-19
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible
More information about coronavirus in Iowa can be found at coronavirus.iowa.gov.
Cass County Public Health continues to make progress administering the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents. At this time, Phase 1A and Tier 1 of Phase 1B are still the only eligible populations.
The Iowa Department of Public Health announced this week that they expect a delay in next week’s shipments due to adverse weather conditions across the country. At this time, Cass County Public Health does not expect these delays to have an impact on their currently scheduled appointments; should that change, they will immediately notify the patients impacted.