Atlantic, IA— For the fifth year in a row, Cass Health has been named one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). This prestigious honor places Cass Health in the top 1% of more than 1,300 critical access hospitals across the country.
Cass Health CEO Brett Altman shared his pride in the organization’s continued success: “Earning a spot in the Top 20 is a tremendous honor—but achieving it five years in a row is simply remarkable. Very few hospitals have ever maintained this level of excellence over time. While we know we’re not perfect, we are always committed to improvement and delivering the best possible care, every single day.”
The Top 20 designation is based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, which evaluates rural and critical access hospitals using 36 publicly available metrics across eight performance pillars—including quality, outcomes, patient satisfaction, and financial performance. From this data, the Chartis Center for Rural Health identifies the Top 100, and the NRHA recognizes the highest-performing 20 hospitals from that group.
Altman added: “This recognition reflects the strength of our people. We hire and train the best, we work together to achieve excellence, and we continuously invest in both our organization and our community. We’re proud of our outstanding staff, our supportive board, and the volunteers who make our work possible. Our mission and vision—to provide superior experiences and be one of the best rural hospitals in the nation—are validated by national honors like this. And when you consider that 99.3% of hospitals rank below us in objective data, that’s something worth celebrating.”
Cass Health will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony during the NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference this fall.
Atlantic, IA — Cass Health is looking for local photography to be featured at their facility — and your photo could be chosen to be printed and displayed in Atlantic.
“We recently removed old wallpaper and updated the wall finish in the corridors near Radiology, Emergency, Human Resources, and the cafeteria. It’s now the perfect blank canvas, ready to showcase the works of local photographers, which we think is a fun way to involve the community in making Cass Health a welcoming place,” said Ann McCurdy, Director of Marketing and Communications.
The photo contest is open to the public. Officials at Cass Health will review and select the winning entries, which will be printed as large, framed canvases and installed in the hallways of the first floor.
“Whether you’re a professional photographer, enthusiastic amateur, or a 4-H club member – we hope that people participate and are excited about the prospect of having their works displayed for the community to enjoy,” said McCurdy.
Participants are encouraged to submit their entries at casshealth.org. Entrants are limited to five hi-resolution images per individual, with a limit of 10 MB per file. The recommended minimum file size is 3 MB with a recommended minimum pixel size of 1200 x 1600.
Photos must be original work; no photos that infringe on the trademark, copyright, intellectual or rights of privacy will be accepted. All entries must be received on or before April 28, 2025. The completed artwork will be installed in May and will remain on display for at least one year. Winners will be recognized on a display at Cass Health and casshealth.org.
For more information or to submit photos, visit casshealth.org/photo-contest or call the Marketing and Communications Department at 712-243-7405.
Atlantic, IA — On March 19, 2025, the Cass Health Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reduce the hospital’s tax levy by $0.75, setting a new rate of $1.40 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation, down from the previous rate of $2.15.
“Lowering our tax rate is only possible because of the unwavering support we receive from our community,” said Kolton Hewlett, Chief Financial Officer at Cass Health. “Cass County residents consistently choose Cass Health for their care—whether it’s a routine check-up in the clinic, cancer treatment, or surgical procedure. By ‘shopping local’ for healthcare, they’re investing in their community hospital. In return, we’re proud to invest back in the community through new services, recruiting providers, and continuing to reduce our tax levy.”
Under Iowa Code Chapter 347A, county hospitals like Cass Health are authorized to levy taxes to fortify their annual budgets. However, local tax revenue represents a small fraction—just 2%—of Cass Health’s annual budget. The vast majority of funding comes from reimbursements through private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.
The Cass Health Board of Trustees has pursued a long-term strategy of gradually reducing the hospital’s tax levy over the past decade. In 2024, those efforts aligned with a pressing need to ensure the long-term stability of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Cass County. Designating EMS as an essential service was a necessary step to protect and strengthen emergency response in rural areas, where access to timely, high-quality care can be a matter of life and death.
“We understood that some residents were concerned about the potential financial impact of expanding EMS,” Hewlett said. “From the outset, our board and administrative leadership committed to growing and strengthening EMS without increasing the financial burden on local families. Now that the measure has passed, we’re proud to keep that promise by lowering the hospital’s tax levy and continuing our support for EMS expansion.”
This decision reflects Cass Health’s ongoing dedication to fiscal responsibility while still advancing critical healthcare initiatives. By making strategic investments and responding to community needs, Cass Health continues to strengthen its role as both a healthcare provider and a trusted community partner.
“The future is never certain, yet for now we’re confident that we’ve found a winning formula — provide excellent healthcare, be a good neighbor, and do what we can for the health of our community,” said Hewlett.
Atlantic, IA – The April session of Healthy U will be presented by the Cass Health Occupational Therapy team on Thursday, April 17, at noon in Conference Room 2.
The Cass Health Occupational Therapy team of Amber Michael, ORT/L, Ashley Williams, MOT, ORT/L, and Macy Ticknor, OTD, ORT/L will focus on safety education, possible home modifications, fall prevention techniques, balance exercises, and more!
Amber Michael graduated from the College of Saint Mary in 2016 with her Masters of Occupational Therapy. Amber has experience with a wide range of adults/geriatrics with various diagnoses such as orthopedic, cardiac, neurologic impairments/disabilities.
Ashley Williams graduated from College of Saint Mary in 2009 with her Masters in Occupational Therapy and joined Cass Health’s Rehabilitation Services team immediately following. Ashley became a certified lymphedema therapist in 2014 and is currently working to complete her certification in sensory integration.
Macy Ticknor graduated from the College of Saint Mary in 2024 with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate. She is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and licensed by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.
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.
UPDATED AS OF 9:40 AM on Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions has received the 2024 Program Finalist of the Year Award from Psychiatric Medical Care, which manages the program.
Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC) partners with more than 250 hospitals and health systems across the country to provide behavioral healthcare services. Top-performing employees and Senior Life Solutions programs are recognized annually based on their excellence in demonstrating PMC’s values of care, compliance, and community. Award recipients were chosen for providing outstanding patient care, excellent comprehension and execution of compliance regulations, and strong community engagement.
“It was an unexpected surprise to have received this great honor,” said Program Director Karmen Roland, RN. “I am truly humbled and grateful to see my team being acknowledged for all the hard work they have put into improving the lives of our community members.”
Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions program supports the unique needs of individuals, typically 65 and older, experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief and other mental health challenges that are often associated with aging. Senior Life Solutions program staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist, a nurse practitioner, a licensed therapist, a registered nurse, and other trained professionals to ensure each patient receives the best possible care.
Families, friends, community members, physicians, self-referrals, or other health professionals can refer people to the program. For more information, education, or if you would like to discuss support, please call 712-250-8100.
ABOUT SENIOR LIFE SOLUTIONS
Senior Life Solutions is managed by Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC). Founded in 2003, PMC is a leading behavioral healthcare management company. Focused on addressing the needs of rural and underserved communities, PMC manages inpatient behavioral health units, intensive outpatient programs, and telehealth services in more than 35 states. The company’s services provide evaluation and treatment for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, memory problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other behavioral health problems. For more information, visit www.seniorlifesolutions.com
ATLANTIC—The Cass Health Foundation is hosting their annual gala on Saturday, March 29th at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The gala is a fundraiser for the Cass Health Foundation, which is currently fundraising to support Cass Health workforce development and educational programs, including the Nursing Apprenticeship Program.
“The Foundation shifted gears a bit from past fundraisers that have focused on equipment purchases. This year we are dedicating the funds raised to support students in healthcare programs, because we believe it is important to invest in building, supporting, and training the next generation of nurses,” said Beth Spieker, Cass Health Director of Community & Guest Relations.
The fundraiser includes dinner, dessert auction, games, and a DJ. The Kentucky Derby is the inspiration for the theme this year, and attendees are encouraged to wear Derby-inspired outfits and hats.
Tickets to the event are limited and available through table sponsorships; RSVPs are due by March 1. For more information, please call Beth Spieker at 712-243-7545 or visit casshealth.org/donors/gala to view the details or pay online.
Atlantic, IA – Cass Health announced it has been named among the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.
“The Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award program elevates the very best performers and helps create a roadmap for those seeking to improve financial and operational performance while continuing to care for the communities they serve,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “This is our 15th year recognizing the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year’s winners.”
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 and finance.
Atlantic, IA — Cass Health is proud to announce that Registered Nurse Kristin Meyer was selected as one of the 2025 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.
Meyer was nominated by her supervisor, Inpatient Services Nurse Manager Danielle Powers, RN, who wrote, “Kristin is the night shift nurse everyone wants to work with, and the one our hospitalists count on to keep them organized. She’s simultaneously caring for patients while mentoring nurses, collaborating with providers, and keeping on task. While she puts up a humorous front, she always prioritizes her patients while showing and teaching compassion and empathy; she creates a sense of security and trust that is rarely found.”
Meyer has worked in nursing since she earned her RN in 1998. She spent the first 24 years of her career in skilled nursing with older adults before transitioning to inpatient care at Cass Health.
“I have worked with some exceptional co-workers over the years and am truly grateful for all I have learned from them. My last four years at Cass Health have been great. I was nervous about changing to hospital nursing after spending the majority of my career in skilled nursing. However, I could not have chosen a better organization to work in hospital nursing. The staff here have been so welcoming and great to work with.”
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.
The February session of Healthy U will be presented by Dr. Rick Rinehart. This session will be on Tuesday, February 25 at noon in Conference Room 2. Dr. Rinehart will be focusing on ear, nose, and throat concerns for older adults during this presentation.
Dr. Rinehart is a board-certified Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. He was born and raised in Iowa and did his undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. He then completed both medical school and his residency at the University of Iowa. He served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in ENT for the University of Iowa and instructed ENT residents in Des Moines for over a decade. In 2013 Des Moines Magazine presented him with the “Best Doc” award in his field as voted by his ENT peers. Dr. Rinehart provides clinical care in the Cass Health Surgery Clinic and performs surgeries locally as well.
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.