Atlantic, IA – Cass Health is pleased to announce that Angie Turner, CMA, has been named the latest recipient of the ROSE Award, recognizing her outstanding commitment to service excellence and compassionate care.
Turner graduated from Iowa Western Community College in 2000 and joined Cass Health in 2002. From the start, she knew she wanted a career that allowed her to build meaningful connections with both patients and providers.
“I went to school to become a CMA because I knew I wanted to work closely with both patients and practitioners. I love seeing all our patients and my coworkers. Since I have been here for a long time, we have patients that I have known since they were born, that are now starting to have kids of their own, and it’s fun to see them grow up. We also have patients that come regularly, and you get to know them well on a professional and personal level,” she said.
For the last 18 years, she has worked alongside Dr. Angela Weppler, who nominated Turner for the award for her ability to keep their office running efficiently while also ensuring patients get the care they need on time and delivered with compassion.
Dr. Weppler wrote, “I have often described how things get done in our office as ‘magic,’ meaning that I have no idea how things get done, but Angie always makes it happen seemingly effortlessly. She has an excellent instinct for sorting out what’s urgent and makes sure our patients are not only cared for but know that we care about them. This has been, in my opinion potentially lifesaving to patients as in one instance, she noted a patient who was due for a pap smear, found the time for us to get it done at that visit and ultimately, was responsible for getting an endometrial cancer diagnosed before the patient even had symptoms. I cannot even begin to mention how much more I can get done with preventative care and disease management because she makes my office flow manageable. Angie has made me a better doctor, mother, and daughter by doing all of the little things she does, which I am sure she thinks is just doing her job and that it is nothing special. That in itself is what makes her and so many of our staff at Cass Health particularly special.”
The ROSE Award was created to honor and celebrate non-nursing employees of Cass Health who exemplify dedication, compassion, and a commitment to service excellence in carrying out their duties and advancing the goals and mission of Cass Health. The criteria are being knowledgeable and efficient, being compassionate and respectful, working with the care team, and going above and beyond for others. Nominations can be made by anytime online at casshealth.org/rose.
ATLANTIC, Iowa — Community members are invited to attend a free presentation on human trafficking in Iowa, aimed at raising awareness and equipping individuals with tools to recognize and respond to the issue locally.
Stacy Besch of Team Iowa will lead the 90-minute session, covering the realities of trafficking in Iowa, common misconceptions, warning signs, and practical steps anyone can take to help.
Cass Health will host a session Thursday, April 9, at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 2.
Additional opportunities to attend in Atlantic include:
All presentations are free and open to the public.
Atlantic, IA — A Community Baby Shower will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 10 to 11:30 am at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. This free event is geared towards all new and expecting mothers in southwest and west central Iowa.
Any women who are pregnant, planning for the future, or who have an infant less than six months old are encouraged to attend along with their support person. All attendees can enter to win prizes, pick up free baby supplies, learn more about community resources, and enjoy refreshments while meeting individuals from local organizations. Drawings for door prizes will be held, including one drawing for a Graco jogger stroller.
“Our Community Baby Shower last year was a success, and we are excited to offer this fun event again this year to expecting moms. There are so many things to learn about as a new mom, and we hope that this event helps local parents feel more connected, prepared, and excited for the arrival of their baby,” said Megan Roberts, Director of Public Health.
Participating organizations include Cass Health, Cass County ISU Extension, Iowa Total Care, Wellpoint, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Catholic Charities, Firefly, and WIC.
For more information, or if you need transportation to the event, please call 712-243-7552.
Cass Health is excited to welcome Gynecologist Dr. Amy Bingaman, who will begin providing care to patients on Thursday, April 2.
Dr. Amy Bingaman has been in practice since 2006. She graduated from Drake University and earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Iowa. Dr. Bingaman is a proud United States Navy veteran, having served almost 9 years on active duty. She completed her OB/GYN internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia.
“I served in the United States Navy, where I completed my internship and residency training, followed by an additional four years of service in Virginia. I returned to Iowa 15 years ago and have been practicing full-spectrum OB/GYN ever since,” said Dr. Bingaman.
After deciding to open her own practice, Dr. Bingaman now serves patients across central and western Iowa at multiple hospitals and clinics.
“My practice today is more focused on full-spectrum gynecologic care through every phase of life. I provide care with a particular focus on peri- and postmenopausal care including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, robotic surgery, adolescent gynecology, and LGBTQ care. I’m very dedicated to offering personalized treatment options that support and improve my patients’ lives,” said Dr. Bingaman.
Dr. Bingaman is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and a member of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Iowa Medical Society.
Patients interested in appointments can call 712-243-2850.
ATLANTIC, IA – Cass Health announced that it is now providing mental health services in its primary care clinic, Atlantic Medical Center, RHC.
“We are excited to further expand our healthcare services for the community, especially in a specialty like mental health where rural areas like ours have a shortage of providers. Adding this service in our primary care clinic also hopefully removes some of the stigma or unease around seeking mental health care,” said Melissa Maas, Director of Primary Care.
After a small construction project to revamp existing space within Atlantic Medical Center, the mental health clinic is now open and seeing patients. The clinical staff is currently comprised of a board-certified psychiatrist, a nurse practitioner, and one therapist.
Dr. Greg Keller is a psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana, earning a bachelor’s degree in Cellular Molecular Biology. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City. Dr. Keller then completed his general adult psychiatry residency through the Creighton University and University of Nebraska combined training program, where he earned multiple awards, including Resident of the Year. He is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Cyndi Wu is a dually certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College in 2007, her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner from Clarkson College in 2014, and her PMHNP from the University of Cincinnati in 2026.
Mental Health Therapist Gentri Meier earned an undergraduate degree from Wartburg College followed by a master’s degree from Drake University. She has experience in forensic community treatment, care coordination across southern Iowa, and school-based therapy in multiple districts. Meier is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and uses various modalities such as CBT, EMDR, and play and art therapy.
Patients interested in appointments can call 712-243-7481 to speak with Brandi Schmitt, Mental Health Coordinator.
Atlantic, IA- Cass Health has cancelled its March session of Healthy U.
The next Healthy U program will take place on Thursday, April 16 at noon in Conference Room 2. The April session will feature a presentation on strokes, led by members of Cass Health’s Emergency and Education Departments. Attendees will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke and understand the importance of seeking immediate medical care.
Space is limited. A free boxed lunch will be provided for all attendees, and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 712-243-7479.
For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.
Cass Health is proud to announce that Brittni Schmidt, RN, BSN, CEN was selected as one of the 2026 Great Iowa Nurses. Great Iowa Nurses is a non-profit program that recognizes nurses in Iowa and spotlights qualities that demonstrate efforts beyond those expected of a nurse within their normal duties.
Schmidt serves as the Director of Educational Services at Cass Health. She first earned her RN in 2019, followed by her BSN in 2020, and is currently on track to complete her Master of Science in Nursing this December.
In her role at Cass Health, Schmidt oversees multiple aspects of education and training. Perhaps most notably, she oversees nursing students and nurse apprentices. Her nominators wrote, “When an idea was born for a nurse apprenticeship, we needed the right leader to make it happen … her passion for education makes her perfect for this new program. She collaborated with leadership to shape an apprenticeship and now oversees the next generation of nurses. We believe that if we want exceptional care for ourselves & loved ones, then we bear the responsibility of teaching exceptional care. Brittni’s contribution to nursing is just that – blending clinical best practices and ongoing education with high expectations for compassion, communication, and integrity. Her legacy will be the LPNs and RNs whom she teaches and impacts.”
Schmidt said, “When I found out that I was being recognized as one of the Great Iowa Nurses, the first thing I thought about was how much I love my job! I think that when you really love what you do that it shows in the quality of your work. It makes me very happy that what I do has a positive impact on our team and the future of healthcare. It is incredibly fulfilling to help people discover their potential, build their skills, and grow them into the best versions of themselves.”
“Brittni is an exceptional leader who is widely respected across our organization for her professionalism, credibility, and collaborative approach,” said Kolton Hewlett, Chief Financial Officer at Cass Health. “Through her work in education, mentorship, and workforce development, she is helping shape the next generation of nurses while strengthening the future of care at Cass Health. Her impact extends well beyond her role, and this recognition reflects the meaningful contributions she makes every day.”
Originally called 100 Great Iowa Nurses, the recognition was established in 2004 and hosted by the University of Iowa until 2020. In 2022, with the support of Mary Greeley Medical Center, the program, now called Great Iowa Nurses, returned to recognize Iowa nurses that routinely go above and beyond every day and take that extra step to ensure safe, compassionate care for their patients. These great nurses share their experience and knowledge to improve the health of their communities. They also take on leadership and mentoring responsibilities, serving as role models for everyone they work with, especially those just entering the profession.
Cass Health announced today it has been recognized as a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This marks the tenth year in a row that Cass Health has achieved this impressive national recognition. The Top 100 awards program celebrates outstanding performance annually among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.
Brett Altman, Cass Health CEO, noted, “For the past 10 consecutive years, this honor has served as a powerful vote of confidence from our neighbors. We are deeply grateful to the communities we serve for trusting us with their personal health care needs. While we strive for perfection every day, we are never complacent; we remain committed to challenging the status quo and delivering the meaningful improvements our patients deserve.”
“The delivery of care within rural communities is perhaps more complex today than at any point in recent memory. This year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals have emerged as true leaders – committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to recognize this year’s winners and celebrate their Top 100 status.”
Now in its 16th year, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is utilized nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations, quality, patient perspective and finance.
ATLANTIC – Cass Health and its affiliate organizations have released their scholarship applications for the upcoming school year. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Friday, April 3, 2026.
2026 Scholarships
Applications are available at casshealth.org/scholarships and can be submitted to Human Resources by the respective deadline. For more information, contact Kat Niemann, Director of Human Resources, at 712-250-8022 or careers@casshealth.org.
Atlantic, IA – The February session of Healthy U will feature Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Ann Narmi. The presentation will take place on Thursday, February 19, at noon in Conference Room 2.
Dr. Narmi’s presentation will focus on women and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for one in every five female deaths. Understanding the signs and symptoms of heart disease and how they can present differently in men and women can help individuals recognize when to seek medical care.
After graduating from Creighton University School of Medicine, Dr. Narmi completed her residencies and a fellowship at Creighton. She is board-certified in both Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She provides care to patients in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic.
Space is limited. A free boxed lunch will be provided for all attendees, and reservations are required. To reserve your seat, call 712-243-7479. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.