News & Events

In recognition of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics is committed to raising awareness of lung cancer and the benefits of early detection. The ACMH radiology department offers a lung cancer screening test, in which patients undergo a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.

Every two years, the Iowa Donor Network looks to formally recognize partners for outstanding collaboration and effort in the areas of organ and tissue donation. This year, Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics is the recipient of the 2020 LEGACI award for Clinical Excellence! This award demonstrates our nursing staff’s commitment to clinical excellence by making consistent and timely referrals, implementing and carrying out donor policies, procedures, and/or protocols, collaborating with Iowa Donor Network to optimize donation opportunities, and organizing and/or participating in donation events.

Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics is excited to welcome Jay Strittholt, MD, to Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics! Dr. Strittholt is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon that practices all aspects of general orthopedics including Full spectrum general orthopedics, Knee & shoulder arthroscopies, Fracture repairs, Joint replacements, and Rotator cuff repairs.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Now more than ever, we need to find ways to stay connected with our community. No one should feel alone or without the information, support, and help that they need.

During her address on April 24th, Governor Reynolds issued a new State Public Health Emergency Declaration, which replaces her March 26 order to ban all elective surgeries and nonessential medical procedures. Under the new order, which took effect at 5:00 am on April 27, hospitals and providers may resume elective surgeries and nonessential medical procedures as long as they meet specific criteria for:

Exira Medical Clinic is opening back up to its regular hours of 8-5 Monday through Friday.

It is very important for the safety of our staff that visit are open by appointment only. This includes appointments for Lab draws and BP checks, which are usually walk-ins.

National Healthcare Decisions Day educates and empowers the public and healthcare providers to take part in important advance care planning.

In an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19, the providers at Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics all have the ability to see patients via telehealth. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting us at 712-563-4611.

From Suzanne Cooner, CEO of Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics and the Medical Incident Commander of the Audubon County Emergency Operations Center.

Audubon County Memorial Hospital has received enough personal protective equipment over the last week to re-open our Exira Exira Medical Clinic on a limited basis. The clinic had been temporarily closed for the safety of the staff and to maximize the use of limited PPE. Our provider, Val Riesberg, and Christie Konkler and Julie Vais will staff the clinic starting this Friday, April 3rd. After this Friday, the clinic will be open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics is so grateful for all of the support we are receiving from the community as we continuously respond and prepare for COVID-19. As we continue to watch the evolving landscape of healthcare and the world as whole with the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize that accepting help from our community partners in different ways is invaluable.

Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics encourages community members in Audubon, Brayton, Exira, Gray, Hamlin, and Ross to contact us at (712) 563-5236 if you are someone who might need non-medical assistance and would like to participate in a community assistance program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Wednesday, March 25, Exira Medical Clinic will be closed, and patients will be routed to Audubon Family Medical Clinic. The Exira Medical Clinic staff will be working out of the Audubon Family Health Clinic office. We will continue to see clinic patients that need to be seen at this time. This decision was made in efforts to decrease the risk of exposure to our community, our staff and our patients.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics is temporarily suspending all elective surgeries effective Monday, March 23 until further notice.  Surgeries scheduled March 23 and forward will be postponed, with the exception of emergent or time-sensitive procedures deemed necessary by our medical staff.  Patients who have scheduled surgeries or procedures will be contacted by Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics’ staff.

Valerie Riesberg, ARNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics. Vivian sees patients in the Exira Medical Clinic.

To protect our patients, families, and health care workers during the global outbreak of COVID-19 the following temporary visitor restrictions are being implemented effective immediately (3/12/20). These visitor restrictions are temporary and subject to change as necessary.

Vivian Chance, ARNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics. Vivian sees patients in Audubon Family Health Clinic and Exira Medical Clinic.

There is an expanding global outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, three individuals in Iowa have presumptively tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). While most COVID-19 cases are associated with travel to or from China, person-to-person spread is now being reported in other places, including Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. For the general public, who are unlikely to be exposed to the virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is low.

Today is Employee Appreciation Day! We want to take this time to thank all of the dedicated employees at Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics! Their talents, efforts, and dedication ensure that we continue to achieve “excellence with quality and compassion to those we serve” each and every day! We celebrated by grilling out and enjoying desserts made by members of the employees club!

Dr. Vampola is a Family Practice Physician at Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics. Dr. Vampola sees patients in Audubon Family Health Clinic, Exira Medical Clinic, the hospital setting, and the Emergency Department.