The Atlantic Medical Center will close at 5pm today – No Evening Clinic

Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, Massena Medical Centers and AMC Rapid Care will be opening at 10am

Anita, Massena, and Griswold Medical Centers are CLOSED today. Dr. Berry is available via telehealth for Griswold patients.

The CCHS Test Iowa Site is CLOSED today

The Atlantic Medical Center will open at 10 am.

AMC Rapid Care will open at 8 am.

This is likely to change due to road conditions we ask patients to check local media, social media, or call CCHS at 712-243-2850 before setting out for their appointments.

The Atlantic Medical Center will close at 5 pm today (1/25/21)

The Anita, Griswold, and Massena Medical Centers will close at NOON today (1/25/21)

The CCHS Test Iowa site will close at NOON today (1/25/21)

The following areas of CCHS are closed due to inclement weather:

Anita Medical Center

CCHS Test Iowa Clinic will close at 10:30 am – all samples collected this morning will be held and transported tomorrow (12/30)

Griswold Medical Center will close at 11 am today

Eye Associates will close at NOON

AMC Immunization closed at 12:30 pm

Rehab Services will close at 2:30 pm

Atlantic, Iowa – Cass County Health System’s Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors, successfully made the transition to providing services remotely due to COVID-19 safety precautions.  Senior Life Solutions began offering teletherapy to its patients on June 1^st allowing them to receive the care they need while remaining safe and secure at home.

Teletherapy services are provided via telephone or computer by a licensed mental health counselor.  After an initial assessment, Senior Life Solutions individualizes a care plan for each patient where they meet up to three times per week in an encouraging, supportive setting.  All Senior Life Solutions services are confidential and HIPAA compliant.

Karmen Roland, Senior Life Solutions Program Director said, “Our new teletherapy services allow our patients to continue to reap the benefits of group and individual therapy but from the safety of their homes.  During a group session, we all dial in on the phone or log in from a computer at the same time, and each patient has the opportunity to form a bond and sometimes even friendship with other members in the group who are experiencing similar life changes.”

“We are also grateful for the wonderful community support,” stated Roland. “Because of the generous donation from Dave Schwab at Modern Woodmen, we were able to purchase HD Fire Tablets for patients to check out. Not having the right technology at home was a significant problem for some of our patients, and this donation helps them overcome that barrier.”

Senior Life Solutions is managed by a national behavioral healthcare management company, Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), and was able to move so quickly to a remote environment as a result of PMC’s previous investment in telehealth services.  Senior Life Solutions has incorporated telehealth into its care model for more than a decade.

Other Senior Life Solutions staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed social workers, and a registered nurse, dedicated to the emotional well-being of the seniors in the community. Individuals may benefit from the program if they are experiencing symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, dealing with difficult life transitions, a recent health diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one.

Roland added, “It is wonderful being part of a program that improves the quality of life for such a vulnerable population in our community, and emotional health services are needed more than ever during these difficult times.”

Referrals to the program can be made by anyone, including a patient’s physician, family member, self-referral, or another healthcare professional.  For more information, call 712-250-8100 or visit casshealth.org.

Cass County Health System (CCHS) officials announced increased visitor limitations for patients will begin on Monday, November 30.

“We truly believe that visitors are good medicine. While we know that many hospitals and clinics are not allowing any visitors, we continue to make it a priority to put ourselves in the shoes of our patients and their loved ones. We will keep allowing visitors as long as it is reasonable and feasible to do so. With increased COVID-positive patients, allowing visitors around the clock becomes a challenge. These patients need a higher level of care, which can strain staff who are juggling more than ever these days. Because of the increased spread in our community, and the increased hospitalizations, we felt it was the time to dial up our visitor limitations,” said CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline.

Beginning on the 30^th, the visitor policy is as follows:

• All visitors must be 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• All visitors must always wear a mask over their nose and mouth; additional PPE may be required dependent upon the patient’s diagnosis.
• Outpatients may have one visitor with them during their appointment.
• Inpatients may have one designated visitor.
• Daily visiting hours will be between 3 and 6 pm only.
• Emergency Department patients may have one designated visitor with them; visitors may be asked to leave at any time if staff deems it necessary for the health and safety of either the patient or visitor.
• Obstetrics patients will have two designated visitors/support persons who are 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• Special exceptions may be made in all departments on a case-by-case basis for pediatric patients, end-of-life patients, or other unique situations.

All visitors will be screened at the entrance before being allowed to proceed.

CCHS encourages friends and family to use technology to keep in contact with their loved ones.

As part of National Rural Health Day, Cass County Health System today announced it has been recognized by The Chartis Center of Rural Health and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) for overall excellence in Quality and Outcomes. The Performance Leadership Award program utilizes the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX® to recognize top quartile performance among Critical Access Hospitals and Rural & Community Hospitals.

“We are very pleased to receive this recognition of being in the top 25% for both quality and outcomes of more than 2,200 rural hospitals across the country,” said CCHS CEO Brett Altman. “This is a direct result of the outstanding team we have who strive to make these quality and outcome measures a top priority with every patient, every time.”

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Based entirely on publicly available data sources, the INDEX methodology is the data foundation for a number of industry-leading rural recognition programs, rural health safety net-related research, and legislative initiatives. Performance Leadership Award recipients are rural hospitals ranking in the 75th percentile or above in the INDEX performance pillars for Quality, Outcomes, or Patient Perspective.

“Despite the fact that COVID-19 has created greater instability across the rural health safety net, we continue to see countless examples of rural hospitals rising to the challenge to serve their communities,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “I believe this dedication to mission and drive to overcome unexpected challenges echoes the long-standing commitment among rural hospitals to deliver high-quality care. We are thrilled to honor this year’s top quartile performers.”

“Across the nation, rural hospitals have been working exceptionally hard to adjust to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has not been an easy year, I believe the perseverance displayed by rural hospitals and their partners at the State Offices of Rural Health exemplifies the true spirit of National Rural Health Day,” said Teryl Eisinger, Chief Executive Officer, NOSORH. “We are delighted to join The Chartis Center for Rural Health in honoring the 2020 Performance Leadership Award winners.”

Cass County Public Health’s Care for Yourself Program is celebrating Breast Cancer month by raising awareness of resources available to women in Cass County and Southwest Iowa.
The Care for Yourself program is part of the National and State Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program that helps reduce risks from breast and cervical cancer by offering free or low-cost cancer screenings to eligible individuals throughout the state of Iowa.
“The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is nearly 1 in 8 and every year over 2,000 women in Iowa are diagnosed with breast cancer,” stated Victoria Means, Care for Yourself Program Coordinator. “Just being a woman and growing older increases your risk, but having regular mammograms, in conjunction with breast self-exams and clinical exams, are critical for early diagnosis.” The Care for Yourself program is a statewide program and can assist women from all of Iowa’s 99 counties. “We are able to assist women from any county in Iowa,” stated Means. “Women who otherwise might not have access to life saving preventative care, could through the Care for Yourself program and many are able to see their regular primary care provider.”
Those interested in learning more about the Care for Yourself Program can contact Victoria Means, at Cass County Public Health, 712-243-7443.

ATLANTIC- Cass County Health System (CCHS) is thrilled to announce that Jennifer Arp, RN, BSN has been selected as the winner of the Outstanding Iowa Quality Professional Award presented by the Iowa Association for Healthcare Quality (IAHQ).
“I am so honored to receive this award,” said Arp. “I couldn’t have done it without my team.”
Arp has been recognized as a valued member of the CCHS Team since 1995. Her journey to quality began at the frontlines as a RN at in on the Med/Surg and Special Care Unit. Since that time, Arp has served CCHS as a nurse in Cardiac Rehab, Quality Coordination, and served as the Nursing Clinical Instructor. She found her passion in quality and performance improvement in 2004, which inspired her to receive her Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality certification in 2009. Arp was promoted into her current position as the Director of Performance Improvement in 2012.
“Jennifer truly exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding quality professional. Regardless of workload, she is quick to accept new challenges and does so with a willingness to learn and challenge the status quo. Jennifer compels those around her to strive for high standards, keeping our patients as our catalyst for change. It has been a privilege to work alongside her and I can think of no one more deserving of this award,” said CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline.

The Iowa Association for Healthcare Quality (IAHQ) annually grants the Outstanding Iowa Quality Professional award to recognize a dynamic and passionate IAHQ member who has demonstrated enthusiasm and leadership with local, state and national healthcare associations and has made contributions to healthcare quality through healthcare consultation, publications and presentations.