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 – Cass Health will host an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) class on Monday, August 31, 2026 in their Education Center at 1500 E. 10^th Street.

Scott Carver, CRNA will instruct the class that runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Six Continuing Education (CE) credits will be provided upon completion of the course and evaluation. The objectives of the class include learning a systematic approach to cardiopulmonary emergencies, understanding emergency interventions, and improving high-quality CPR.

ACLS class is intended for EMS volunteers, nurses, providers, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Questions and registration inquiries can be sent via email to vinsk@casshealth.org.

ATLANTIC, IA – Families are encouraged to attend the Family Fun Day at the Cass County Fair on Saturday, July 25th from 10 am to 1 pm. This event features games and activities all at no cost and is presented by presented by Cass Health Public Health and its community initiatives, Healthy Cass County, Thrive Iowa of Cass County, and Pinwheels for Prevention, in partnership with local organizations.

“We have almost twenty different booths and activities that families can choose from. You can paint a mural, play yard games, try out water fights, and so much more,” said Cass Health Thrive Coordinator Kristen Brooks.

To start the day, families should pick up a passport at the Healthy Cass County booth inside the commercial buildings. From there, each family can collect stickers in their passport as they participate in different activities throughout the fair. Cards with at least six stickers can be turned in for a prize.

Participating organizations include the Atlantic Fire Department, Cass County Tourism/ Conservation, Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, ISU Extension/Iowa Learning Farms, Cass County Farm Bureau, 4-H Youth Council, Atlantic Public Library, Heartland Family Services, Headstart/Early Headstart, WIC, Catholic Charities, Atlantic Police Department and Cass County 4-H.

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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 — The next Thrive Iowa Alliance meeting is Lifting Together: Why the Community Wins When At-Risk Families Thrive. The meeting is Monday, July 27th at noon in Conference Room 2 at Cass Health in Atlantic.

Thrive Iowa Alliance meetings are held monthly with the goal of connecting local partners with ongoing education and information to better assist families in our community. Three local professionals will present Lifting Together — Erika Kirchhoff, Network Outreach Coordinator, Child and Family Resource Network; Gentri Meier, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Cass Health; and Laena Sonntag, Social Worker Supervisor, Iowa Health & Human Services.

Thrive Iowa is a collaborative, community-driven initiative focused on strengthening partnerships, improving access to resources, and helping individuals and families achieve greater stability and well-being. Through coordinated services and shared community responsibility, Thrive Iowa works to create stronger outcomes for families and communities across Iowa.

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 County community members, employers, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, and local leaders are encouraged to attend. Questions can be directed to Kristen Brooks, Cass Health Thrive Iowa Coordinator at 712-250-8266.

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.

Cass Health will break ground on its next major facility expansion and interior renovation construction project on June 11, 2026. The project includes three additions and interior renovations in several areas.

“It’s an advantage to our community that Cass Health is in a position to reinvest in our facilities by funding these improvements through operations without incurring debt. We have a strong local hospital and clinics because of community and regional support from our patients, and in return, we can continue to add providers, services, equipment, and improved facilities to even further meet our community’s needs. This cycle of support, growth, and investment is one of the things that sets us apart from other rural hospitals in providing access to quality healthcare services close to home,” said Cass Health CEO Brett Altman.

The three building additions will be in Surgery, Emergency, and Rehab Services. In Surgery, a third operating room will be built to help accommodate the growing number of surgeons. In the past year, Cass Health has welcomed five orthopedic surgeons, an additional gynecologist, and multiple specialists who all perform surgeries in Atlantic, including new robotic-assisted surgeries.

The Surgery addition also provides an opportunity to build three new observation rooms on the second floor, helping to better accommodate patient needs during high patient census periods.

In Rehab Services, the current physical therapy gym will expand south towards the parking lot. While this area is under construction, all Rehab Services patients will be directed to use a designated temporary entrance nearby.

“With a growing team of physical therapists, and growing demand for PT, OT, and Speech services, we simply need more space. This expansion increases gym exercise space and allows us to reconfigure the entire Rehab Services area, including our pediatric space, to be more cohesive,” said Cass Health Chief Information Officer Mitch Whiley, who is overseeing the construction project.

The third, smaller expansion will impact the Emergency and Inpatient Services departments. The Emergency Department will gain additional space for vital equipment, while Inpatient Services on the second floor will gain gym space for more intensive rehabilitation exercises and training for activities of daily living.

The interior renovations will occur across various areas of the building in phases. Notably, Radiology will expand to include digital PET/CT next to the current CT suite.

“Part of our efforts to further meet the needs of our patients is to bring PET/CT in-house so that it is available more routinely for patients throughout southwest Iowa. Digital PET/CT combines highly detailed 3D pictures of body anatomy with molecular-level data to help doctors detect, diagnose, and treat cancers, heart conditions, and brain disorders with greater speed and accuracy. While we are thankful to have the PET/CT mobile truck here twice each month, we really look forward to the day when these services are here in our building, ready for patients when they need it,” said Altman.

One of the other spaces to be renovated will be the vacated Eye Associates clinic. This area on the second floor will become a new education center, classroom, simulation lab, and conference center.

“Our apprenticeship program has seen a lot of success in the first few years of its existence. We are excited to continue investing locally in educating healthcare students, and this new space shows our commitment to providing superior experiences to our students and staff as they continue to learn and develop their skills,” said Altman.

Construction may impact parking, entrances, or wayfinding in the building. Patients and visitors are asked to watch for any construction-related signs and ask any employees for assistance in navigating the building. The entire project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2027.

Cass Health has achieved a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating report. Nationwide, a total of 385 hospitals — approximately 12% of the 3,203 hospitals evaluated this year — received a 5-star rating. In Iowa, only seven hospitals achieved this designation.

CMS created the five-star rating system to help patients and families compare hospitals, prioritizing measurements of high-quality and safe care. The overall rating from 1 to 5 stars summarizes a number of quality measures from data reported across five areas: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. The higher the stars, the better the hospital’s performance.

“Reaching a 5-star status is an incredible accomplishment for a hospital and is the highest rating awarded by CMS. Above all, we want our patients, families, and communities that we are privileged to serve to have a superior experience at Cass Health, which means superior quality, superior outcomes, and superior customer service. We are proud of this achievement and the culture of kindness emulated by our entire team,” said Cass Health CEO Brett Altman.

Hospitals report data to CMS through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.

The data used to calculate the ratings is publicly available, allowing patients and families to compare hospitals across Iowa and throughout the country. To see more details about any hospital’s ratings, visit medicare.gov/care-compare.