(Atlantic) Cass County Health System CEO Brett Altman and Amanda Bireline Chief Nursing Officer and Incident commander appeared in front of the local media Tuesday morning to answer questions related to COVID-19.
“Without question, our priority has been the health of our patients, employees and the community,” said Altman. “And to no lesser extent, we want to make sure that we are well prepared for the communities we serve.”
Altman said early last week, CCHS set up Incident Command and started preparing for care. Altman says Amanda Bireline and her team have done a fantastic job preparing for this. He says CCHS employee’s commitment to families and communities they serve during this uncertain time has been unwavering. “They’ve been working day and night, and weekends,” stated Altman. “As more information becomes available, we continue to prepare with guidance provided to us from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC.”
Up to this point, Cass County Health Officials have sent six tests to the State Hygienic Lab; so far, the tests have been negative, with some of those tests have yet to be returned. It takes one to two days to determine the results. Altman says it’s not if, but when we receive a positive test in Cass County. “Cass County is surrounded with cases from Harrison, Pottawattamie, Carroll, and Dallas counties,” Altman said. “Obviously there are people at higher risk and those with suppressed immune systems. They’re the ones we’re most concerned about. Depending on the person’s circumstances, there’s a good possibility for recovery.”
The testing criteria at the State Hygienic Lab would include; fever, respiratory symptoms, a negative flu swab, and/or some type of travel guidelines. Those travel guidelines would travel to COVID-19 Hotbeds, International cruise lines, or exposure to a positive COVID test.
Amanda Bireline says according to pandemic guidelines once the virus shows up in a community it will take about six-to-eight weeks for it to run its course. Bireline says part of Incident Command is establishing trigger points. “We know that for our area, a trigger point would be potentially a positive case. We don’t have that here, but when we do, our guide to the general public may change.”
Bireline says those changes may come from the Public Health Officials. CCHS would continue to offer guidance at that time. “This is a great time to step back and find ways to reconnect with people in ways we’ve forgotten to with the age of technology. Write a letter; pick up the phone, do some of those things that have become lost arts.”
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Medical Center Rapid Care is still operating as usual; Physicians at AMC Rapid Care see patients in a separate hallway away from those tested for COVID-19 testing.
