Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System officials, Sunday afternoon, announced updated measures for the public about being within CCHS facilities. This measure is being enacted to protect the health of patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors, and our community. What is a visitor? A visitor is any person who is at CCHS to accompany a patient, or any person at CCHS who is here to visit a patient. A visitor is simply anyone who does not have a personal medical reason to be within a CCHS facility.

• Visitors are limited to 1 or 2 essential support persons per patient. Essential support persons must be 18 years of age or older and in good health. Exceptions may be made for special circumstances (obstetrics patients, end-of-life or critically ill patients).
• Visitors who are at high risk of severe illness (over the age of 60 or have underlying health conditions) should not visit patients at CCHS.
• People who eat in the cafeteria or walk the halls daily are asked to discontinue this practice until further notice.
• Additional friends or family members can keep our community healthier by using phone or video technology to connect with loved ones who are hospitalized rather than waiting in public spaces, where person-to-person transmission of illness can happen.

Are all CCHS services still up and running? As of March 15, 2020, all CCHS services are up and running as usual. We encourage you to keep your appointments, whether you are going to Atlantic Medical Center, Rehabilitation Services, Senior Life Solutions, Cardiac Rehab, or any other department. We also encourage you to seek care at AMC Rapid Care or the Emergency Department as needed. If you develop fever and/or respiratory symptoms, then you should call your provider’s office prior to coming into any CCHS facility.