Jo Wagner
Care Coodinator
Cass County Memorial Hospital, Atlantic

For more than 33 years, Jo Wagner has proven herself in many ways and, ultimately, to be a hero at Cass County Memorial Hospital.  First as a home care nurse, then director and finally, for the past 20 years, as a Care Coordinator, she has selflessly committed herself to the care of others.

Her 24/7 availability to patients and families – meeting after hours and on weekends, providing her personal cell phone number – has made an enormous difference in countless lives.  She understands the myriad of medical, financial and personal services available, as well as how to access them. Her expertise varies from arranging nursing home or home care services to accessing financial assistance, to finding care for two children and a dog when grandma was in the hospital after an interstate car accident.

Jo understands the families she is working with are experiencing difficult transitions while trying to maneuver through the sometimes confusing world of medicine.  She has an amazing ability to interpret the medical world in a way families can understand and deal with.  She assists families in making the most difficult decisions when they must.  She does all this with incredible grace and compassion.  Families express their sincere appreciation with their personal thanks, written notes, invitations to family events and special requests to attend funerals.

Jo is also a hero to her co-workers.  For years, she has coordinated a free Christmas store for staff having financial difficulties to “shop” for Christmas gifts.  She has also opened the store to students in the hospital’s behavioral health classroom who need assistance.  How does she know who needs help?  By caring enough to pay attention to those around her, and being the type of person others readily confide in.

The word “hero” often brings to mind an image of a life-saving event.  Jo Wagner has saved countless lives over the years.  Some have been in a traditional clinic sense, helping to heal a body.  Many have been less traditional – saving the quality of life for so many people who just need a little help to get over some of life’s obstacles.