Atlantic, IA— As part of National Rural Health Day, Cass Health today announced it has earned a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for Excellence in both Patient Outcomes and Quality. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards recognize top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes, and/or Patient Perspective.
“Our vision is to be the best rural hospital in America because we care deeply about the health of our patients and community, which means we are committed to always providing excellent quality of care and striving for the best possible outcomes. Even though the award identifies top quartile performance, we know that we are actually in the top 4 percent for both quality and outcomes. Being recognized for eight years in a row is certainly testament to the level of care provided at Cass Health, and not only are we extremely proud to achieve this award, we hope that our community is also pleased to know that the care they receive here is among the very best in the country,” said Cass Health CEO Brett Altman.
The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of The Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index®, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. Index benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
“The Performance Leadership Awards capture the commitment, diligence, and innovation with which America’s rural hospitals approach the delivery of care within their communities,” said Troy Brown, Network Consultant, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “It’s a tremendous honor to be able to recognize the efforts of this year’s award winners and celebrate their achievement as part of National Rural Health Day.”
Atlantic, IA— Cass Health Registered Nurse Austin Larson presented the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award to his leadership team this summer. Larson specifically recognized Inpatient Services Nurse Manager Danielle Powers, RN for her support and also recognized the entire leadership team as playing a role in his continued success navigating both full-time employment and his service in the Guard.
An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nomination Service member and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed. Patriot Awards are issued through the Department of Defense and are presented to recipients by ESGR volunteers.
Larson joined the National Guard on July 2, 2015, and currently serves as a Staff Sergeant (E-6) in B-Company 1-168 Infantry.
“My duties within the National Guard have constantly conflicted with my weekends to work, which leaves the hospital’s inpatient unit with short staffing. It also conflicts with my ability to meet full-time hours throughout the year since I work night shift and require the day before drills off as well. My manager has never once displayed any frustration with these conflicts and has always worked with me when errors in scheduling occur to ensure that I am off for drills with no complaints or negative comments. Even when I had just started at Cass Health and had to leave for a few weeks to complete my Advanced Leader Course,” said Larson.
Becky Coady, Iowa ESGR state chair commented, “Supportive employers like Cass Health are vital to the success of our mission and the defense of this nation. Our Guard and Reserve members could not perform their military duty without knowing their civilian employers support them 100 percent.”
ESGR, an office of the Department of Defense, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly 100 Iowa Committee volunteers across the state serve members of the Iowa Army and Iowa Air National Guard, the Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Army Reserve, as well as their families and their civilian employers.
Atlantic, IA—Following the success of the public measure to declare EMS an essential service in Cass County, the Cass County EMS advisory council expressed their gratitude to the community.
“Thank you for allowing us to continue to work together with a consistent and transparent funding source to support and promote the most cost-effective and efficient EMS system possible for our county going forward. We promise to do our very best to continue quality care for each other in our county,” said Chairperson and Cass County EMS Association Medical Director Dr. Elaine Berry.
The council’s next steps include annually advising the county’s board of supervisors on the tax levy, which cannot exceed 75 cents per thousand, as well as deciding on the annual distribution of those tax dollars around the county.
The advisory council has seven votes, one from each of the volunteer services in the county. The representatives include Chairperson Elaine Berry, MD; Bob Reynolds, Paramedic (Atlantic); Brian Wendt, EMT (Anita); Madison Lund, EMT and Ericka Stender, Firefighter (Cumberland); Brad Amos, Paramedic and JC Wyman, EMT (Griswold); Julie Kline, Paramedic (Lewis); Josh Krause, EMT (Marne); and Alisa Kool, EMT (Massena).
Separately from the advisory council, the Cass County EMS Association will do ongoing work with the county board of supervisors, the hospital, and the city of Atlantic to work on developing the most cost-effective and efficient ways that EMS can be run in our county.
“We have various ad hoc attendees to the meetings who do not vote but give input from various perspectives around the county including Steve Green from the board of supervisors, Erik Johnson, Cass County First Aid Program Coordinator, and Mike Kennon from Cass County Emergency Management,” said Dr. Berry.
The November session of Healthy U will focus on MyChart, presented by Cass Health Chief Information Officer Mitch Whiley, with other staff on hand to help with any MyChart related questions. This session will be on Thursday, November 21 at noon in Conference Room 2.
MyChart is a secure online tool that allows patients to manage their health information and communicate with their healthcare providers. During the presentation, Whiley will show patients how to navigate within MyChart to access information like visit summaries, test results, medications, and immunizations. Attendees will also learn how to access their billing summaries, how to use E-Check In, and how to manage proxy access to their MyChart account for family or caregivers.
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 – Cass County Public Health has immediate openings for the current session of A Matter of Balance. This free class is designed to help decrease falls and help older adults manage their fears about falling. Though the class officially begins the first week of November, there are still slots available for interested participants.
A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program to help older adults learn to manage their concerns about falling, make changes to reduce the risk of falling, and increase their physical activity. It includes 8 weekly two-hour sessions for a small group of 8-12 participants led by trained facilitators.
Cass County Public Health has been offering this program since 2018 because falls among adults aged 65 and older are common, costly, and preventable. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older, with 1 in 4 older adults reporting falling every year. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults ages 65 and older.
For more information, or to sign up now, call Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.
Atlantic, IA— On Friday, November 1, Dr. Elaine Berry was presented with the Iowa Association of County Medical Examiner’s Distinguished Service Award for her 35 years of service.
Dr. Berry began serving as Cass County Medical Examiner in 1989. Throughout the first 27 years of appointment, she was the only medical examiner in Cass County aside from an occasional appointed deputy who took call on the rare occasion that Dr. Berry was out of town.
“Being a death investigator can be emotionally, mentally, and physically strenuous, and even more so when you are unable to share the burdens of the role. She recounts memories of having to leave early from her children’s musical concerts and family holiday parties, so she could fulfill her duties to her patients and the role of medical examiner,” said her nominator and fellow medical examiner investigator Tabetha Smith, RN.
In 2016, she was able to recruit additional help. Thanks to the support of other investigators sharing the duties, Dr. Berry was able to give her time to her other passions: volunteering at her church teaching Sunday school and serving on medical mission trips. Today, Dr. Berry serves as the Cass Health Chief Medical Officer, and she continues to serve in the roles of Director for Emergency Services and County Medical Examiner.
Dr. Angela Weppler said, “Dr. Berry, more than anyone I know, has committed to our community in multiple ways, from EMS and nursing home directorships to her years of service as our County Medical Examiner. I cannot think of another provider who has sacrificed more of their time and skill or who is more deserving of recognition for their service to Cass County than Dr. Berry.”
Atlantic, IA – Cass Health is proud to announce that Whitney Schafer, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C is the newest recipient of the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award.
After more than a decade of nursing experience, Schafer graduated from Clarkson College and now serves as a primary care provider at Atlantic Medical Center and Massena Medical Center. Since joining the medical staff in January 2023, she has been consistently recognized by her patients as a provider who truly listens and cares.
Cass Health Director of Primary Care Melissa Maas said, “Over the years, we have seen Whitney consistently deliver exceptional patient care both as a nurse and provider. Her nomination is an example of the personalized, compassionate care that she delivers with each patient encounter, and we were not at all surprised to hear about yet another example of her going above and beyond. It is an honor to recognize and celebrate Whitney at the ROSE ceremony, alongside her fellow Cass Health colleagues, family, and friends.”
Schafer’s nomination specifically recognized her for her compassionate listening and assistance. She was surprised with the award during a recent medical staff meeting, where she was celebrated in the presence of her family, friends, and colleagues.
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, IA—Cass Health is excited to announce that Maria Hoegh, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C is now seeing patients. Hoegh is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She provides family practice care with special interests in women’s health and pediatrics.
In addition to seeing patients in Atlantic and Griswold, Hoegh will also provide care through Cass Health’s outreach clinics in Red Oak, Corning, and Greenfield.
“I am excited for this new chapter of my career at Cass Health to build new relationships and collaborating with a dedicated healthcare team to deliver high quality care,” she said.
Hoegh received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Creighton University in 2021, and recently moved from Utah where she was practicing in a family medicine clinic.
“I love being a nurse practitioner because it allows me to build meaningful relationships with patients and their families. I enjoy working alongside my patients to create a plan that best fits their needs and empowers them to take charge of their health. It is fulfilling to see the improvement in a patient’s wellbeing and quality of life,” she said.
Prior to the start of her career as a Nurse Practitioner, Hoegh’s nursing career began in 2013 after graduating with her BSN from Clarkson College. She has worked as a Pediatric Emergency nurse at Blank Children’s Hospital, and she also worked at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital in both the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Medical Surgical Unit.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Cass Health at 712-243-2850.
Atlantic, IA– Officials at Cass Health reported that the organization has been closely monitoring its IV fluid supplies in response to nationwide concerns regarding its continued availability.
Hurricane Helene flooding caused damage to Baxter, which is the country’s largest manufacturer of intravenous (IV) fluids used in the United States. Cass Health is one of the thousands of entities regularly supplied by Baxter. The company has reported that it may take several months for the business to fully recover.
“We are preparing for the fact that IV fluids have become increasingly difficult to secure. While the state and federal governments are working on larger remediation efforts, locally we have put plans into place to help us cope with this disruption. We immediately began discussing this issue and putting conservation practices into place,” said Chief Operating Officer Amanda Bireline.
Conservation practices for IV fluids may include decreasing total fluid amounts during certain procedures where it is safe to do so or working with patients on alternative treatments and hydration strategies. Meanwhile, Cass Health’s Incident Command group is reviewing daily inventories of its IV supplies throughout the facility.
“We hold a safety huddle where all departments gather to discuss all safety concerns. A potential IV shortage is at the top of our priority list, and so it is part of our daily conversation. How much do we have? When and where are we planning to use it? Are there alternative options? Because at the end of the day, we are committed to providing the care our patients need in the safest, most efficient way possible, while also making sure we’re prepared for whatever lies ahead,” said Bireline.
ATLANTIC—The Cass Health Foundation is hosting their inaugural Handbag Bingo Night on Thursday, November 14 at Bluebird Hill. This new event will wrap up the Cass Health Foundation’s 2024 campaign to purchase endoscopy equipment.
Cass Health Community & Guest Relations Director Beth Spieker spoke on the anticipation of this new event saying, “This is a unique, fun ladies’ night out complete with delicious food, bingo, and great prizes including designer purses. Best of all, this final event wraps up our successful 2024 campaign, and we’re so close to our goal thanks to the generosity of our community.”
Each $50 ticket for the evening includes dinner, six bingo cards per game for all ten “regular” games throughout the night, and 5 raffle tickets for the purse raffle. Bingo game winners will earn extra raffle tickets to enter for a chance to win a purse of their choice at the end of the night. Registration begins at 5:30 pm, with dinner at 6:00 pm, and bingo to follow. Stay tuned to Cass Health on social media to see the prizes that will be featured at the event.
Tickets to the event are limited; both single tickets and table sponsorships are available. For more information, please call Beth Spieker at 712-243-7545 or visit casshealth.org/bingo to view the details or pay online.