The Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) in Atlantic is now offering community blood screenings for people ages 18 and over. CCMH Community Health Coordinator Denise Coder says “Regular blood screenings are a valuable tool in the early detection and treatment of many chronic diseases,” and that they’re “Very pleased to be offering this community health service at such a reasonable cost.”

The screenings will be held in the CCMH Atrium on Monday, October 24th from 7 am – 9 am, Thursday, October 27th, from 7 am – 9 am, and on Friday, October 28th, from 7 am – 9 am. Appointments can be made by logging on to www.casscountyclinics.com or by calling 243-7475. The cost for the blood profile is $35.

The basic blood profile includes the following: Lipid Panel (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL), Glucose, Hemoglobin, White Blood Count, Red Blood Count, Hematocrit, Liver Functions, Kidney Functions, Thyroid Screening. The PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen) is available to men for an additional $20.

The cost for a blood profile with A1c is $47, and a Vitamin D screening is an additional $30. Participants should fast overnight before their appointment, although a small amount of water or black coffee the morning of the blood draw is fine.

A little over three-weeks ago, 37 Iowa Workforce Development Offices closed due to a decision made earlier this year by Governor Terry Branstad, including the office in Atlantic. IWD Officials late last month tried to put a positive spin on the situation, by touting their work to set up an “access point system” to replace those offices, but during Wednesday’s meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, County Mental Health and General Relief Coordinator Teresa Kanning said the promise has fallen through, mostly due to technology issues. She says the information she’s received from IWD and what’s happening in Cass County “Isn’t matching up.” Kanning says she was told there were several access points the unemployed could go to seek help in finding work or filing claims, including the local substance abuse prevention office, but the service is not available because the software support is not available or compatible with current computer systems. She says one of her staffers checked with the Zion Substance Abuse Treatment Center, who said the software was dropped off at the agency, but their staff was not told what to do with it. Yet IWD is still telling people they can access the internet there to check job postings and apply for unemployment.

In fact, this week IWD officials asserted terminals were available for those purposes at a location at the courthouse, but that’s not the case. She says none of the offices in the courthouse has even been contacted about being an access point. Kanning says she’s “Very disappointed in how Iowa Workforce Development has handled (the situation) in Cass County, and concerned about individuals needing to file unemployment claims or check for jobs, who are without computer access.  Another site IWD said was available in Cass County, is the Atlantic Public Library. At last night’s Atlantic City Council meeting, Councilman Dana Halder mentioned at a recent Library Board meeting, the topic of the IWD access point was brought up. He said it isn’t available because the software is incompatible with the library’s computers. Kanning said the same thing during the Supervisor’s meeting earlier in the day. Kanning said someone with IWD remarked those persons needing to file claims or look for jobs could use the computers in her office, but she said that’s NOT an option, because her computers have personal information on clients, that is subject to HIPPA rules and regulations.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet with Iowa Workforce Development officials next week, to discuss Kanning’s concerns and related matters.