Atlantic, IA – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced 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.”

Whitney Schafer, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C. (Photo submitted)

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.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s state universities have reallocated more than $2.1 million originally used for positions and offices relating to diversity, equity and inclusion on campus as a result of Iowa Board of Regent directives and a state law set to go into effect next summer, according to a report released Tuesday. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says nearly a year after the board of regents implemented directives for state universities to restructure or eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and programs, the board and universities are working to come under compliance with a state law barring them from opening, maintaining or funding DEI offices.

Board President Sherry Bates announced at the board’s September meeting that board office staff had begun analyzing university departments, programs and positions relating to DEI in order to bring the universities under compliance with legislation pertaining to DEI activities on college campuses. Bates, along with Regents Greta Rouse, David Barker and JC Risewick, led this process.

(Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Senate File 2435 bars the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University from launching, maintaining or funding DEI offices, which it defines in the law. Public universities cannot hire, either themselves or through a third party, anyone to conduct the duties of a DEI office, or assign these duties to a current employee. They also cannot make or compel anyone to submit a DEI statement.

Units that are exempt from the legislation include student organizations, student recruitment offices and offices tasked with making sure the university is following state and federal laws and court orders, according to the report. Despite the bill not going into effect until July 2025, Bates emphasized at the September meeting that the board and universities’ work will be complete by Dec. 31.

According to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report, board office staff worked with the universities starting in June to study areas of their operations and determine whether they are in line with the legislation “from a structural perspective.” They split the units they reviewed into four categories, the report stated, based on whether they meet the definition of DEI under the law and whether they are exempt from it, either because they meet the criteria in the legislation for exemption or because they are required by law or for accreditation.

In addition to studying university programs and departments, the group also reviewed state and federal laws, as well as accreditors, as some have policies relating to DEI. The review identified commonalities among the three universities, including positions that could have DEI aspects or responsibilities being vacant, broader definitions of DEI than the one written in the legislation and certain programs that were still in transition in response to the board’s directives from last November.

Each of the universities will provide updates to the board at its Nov. 6-7 meeting at the University of Northern Iowa.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A Des Moines Police Department patrol officer is recovering after being injured Monday evening during the arrest of a person wanted for multiple felony offenses. Authorities say at approximately 5:00 p.m. Monday, the (Unidentified) 24-year-old officer attempted to make contact with 46-year-old Tohamad Fowler near SW 9th Street and Watrous Avenue, who was wanted by detectives in connection with an arson investigation.

Fowler, who also had unrelated active felony drug warrants, ran as the officer approached. The officer was able to catch Fowler, and in the process of taking Fowler into custody the officer sustained a dislocated shoulder and laceration to his head. The officer was treated at a local hospital, and released to recover at home.

The arson investigation began at approximately 9:00 a.m., October 26th, at a residence in the 400 block of E. Marion Street. Des Moines Police Department patrol officers and Des Moines Fire Department firefighters responded to investigate the report of a “Molotov cocktail” being thrown at a house, igniting a fire. The fire was extinguished, however the home did sustain moderate damage.

Arson investigators from the Des Moines Police Department Crimes Against Property Section and the Des Moines Fire Department responded to the scene. Investigators recovered evidence at the scene, including debris from a hand thrown incendiary device. Additionally, “Yahtzee,” the Des Moines Fire Departments arson investigation dog, alerted to the presence of an accelerant at the scene. Investigators also learned that Fowler and the resident of the home, who was within the home when the fire was started, were previously in a domestic relationship that ended approximately 9 years ago.

Yahtzee, the Des Moines Fire Department arson investigation dog, and Capt Huntoon arrive at the scene of an Oct. 26th arson. (Dsm PD Facebook photo)

In addition to the two felony drug warrants, Fowler has been charged with the following offenses:

• Arson – 1st Degree (Class B felony)

• Possession Of An Incendiary Or Explosive Device (Aggravated Misdemeanor)

• Interference With Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury (Serious Misdemeanor)

(Radio Iowa) – The federal Rural Emergency Hospital model was launched nearly two years ago to give hospitals increased federal financial support if they offer just outpatient care with an emergency room. Julia Harris is with the Bipartisan Policy Center says the feds need to get increased funding to the converted hospitals faster because many are on their last leg.  “Payroll hasn’t been met and being able to be paid for a month or so, and they’re waiting for that check. And these are really small operations. You know, a majority of the jobs could be held up in that one facility,” she says.

The Center recently released a report on the model’s progress. Harris says they recommend the feds revise the rules to allow hospitals to retain a small number of inpatient beds and cites an example.  “An elderly patient comes into the E-R and needs just to be kept under observation overnight…maybe just a day, or two, or three,” Harris says.

The report finds 32 hospitals in 14 states have converted to the Rural Emergency Hospital designation since it was implemented. None of the facilities are in Iowa.