Health

Wed
27
Mar

March is Athletic Training Month; Three Trainers at Veterans Memorial Hospital


Athletic training services at Veterans Memorial Hospital ... March is National Athletic Training Month. Pictured above are the three Athletic Trainers at Veterans Memorial Hospital including, from left to right, Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Shelly Valley, who is also a Physical Therapist Assistant; and Austin Troendle, who is also a Doctor of Physical Therapy. If a student has an injury that needs to be assessed, the student should contact their coach or school office for an assessment with these professionals at either the school or hospital. Submitted photo.

March is National Athletic Training Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital has three athletic trainers on staff including Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Austin Troendle, D-PT, ATC, who is also a Doctor of Physical Therapy; and Shelly Valley, PT-A, ATC, who is also a Physical Therapist Assistant. These trainers use their variety of skills to rehabilitate athletes, often communicating with the physicians to help coordinate the best recovery.

Athletic trainers help treat and prevent injuries for people of all ages, from athletes to laborers.  They specialize in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of physical injuries to the muscle, ligament and bone, as well as rehabilitation following surgery. Athletic trainers are also key in teaching injury prevention by explaining flexibility exercises, proper use of equipment and applying prevention devices such as tape, bandages and braces.

Wed
27
Mar

National Social Work Month recognized at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Tatum Iverson ... Submitted photo.
Tatum Iverson ... Submitted photo.

March is National Social Work Month. Tatum Iverson is the full-time social worker at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). Her role is very large, touching most every patient’s care who enters and leaves the hospital.   She works closely with hospital staff, patients, their families and their insurance companies to coordinate the proper levels of care needed and be sure these are approved.

If the patient is already at VMH under acute care, Tatum can help transfer that level of care to skilled care for things like physical/occupational/speech therapy or longer-term IV antibiotics, prior to being able to return home.  If a patient would benefit from staying in a hospital for skilled care following a hospitalization or surgical procedure, the patient can ask for a referral to be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Swing Bed program.  Tatum then handles these referrals to be sure the patient is accepted by their insurance carrier.

Wed
27
Mar

Upfront collection of co-pays begins next week at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics


Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic - Waukon ... Beginning Monday, April 1, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Clinics will begin to collect the co-pay from patients at the time of appointments. VMH recommends that patients review their health insurance plan to determine whether their plan has a co-pay or not. Submitted photo.

Beginning Monday, April 1, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Clinics will begin to collect the co-pay from patients at the time of their appointments. This will only apply to patients who have a health insurance plan that includes a co-pay option. Patients are encouraged to review their health insurance plans to know if their plan has a co-pay option or not.

“It’s so important that patients take the time to review their health insurance plan closely to see what their benefits truly are and if they have a co-pay for certain services. If they don’t have a co-pay on their plan, then they will be billed as normal and will not need to pay the day of service,” explains Denise Wullner, Business Office Supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. “We are finding that many patients are being confused by commercials and the word advantage in their health insurance plan.”

Wed
27
Mar

Stroke Support Group to meet Thursday, April 4

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield will offer the next Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke, Thursday, April 4 at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The meeting will be held in the ICN Conference Room.

The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks, or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as people get older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Wed
27
Mar

Blood Donor Day set for April 1 in Waukon; Blood in great demand

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, April 1, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) with blood and blood products.

Wed
27
Mar

Babysitting Seminar scheduled for Friday, March 29 at VMH

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminars Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Wed
27
Mar

Grandparenting Classes offered at VMH

QR code registration
QR code registration

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering Grandparenting classes again this spring. Corinne Cook, RN, Babysitting Class instructor, will teach the next Grandparenting Class Saturday, April 6 from 9:30 a.m. until Noon. The class will be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

In these classes, new or soon-to-be grandparents will learn all the new protocols to use when caring for their new grandchild.  Some topics covered will include basic baby care, car seat safety, Tylenol/ibuprofen dosing charts, home safety, poison control information, infant/child CPR, choking and other emergency medical information, as well as tips to support parents such as handling the baby blues and postpartum depression.  Free-will donations will be accepted to cover the costs of the class.

Wed
27
Mar

March is celebrated as National Nutrition Month

Each year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates the month of March as National Nutrition Month. The focus of this campaign is to help you make informed food choices and encourage healthy lifestyle habits.  Ideally, you will be reducing your risk of chronic disease and enjoying optimal health.

Since there are so many different diets being talked about in the media, knowing which one is the best can be confusing. Should you avoid all carbohydrates?  Do you need to count calories?  Should you eat six small meals daily or eat only once per day?

Wed
20
Mar

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Prevent colon cancer with colonoscopies; Now starting at age 45


Colonoscopies available at Veterans Memorial Hospital ... Preventing Colon Cancer with Colonoscopies-Now Starting at age 45. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer can be easily prevented, yet it remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Colonoscopies, a very thorough colon cancer test, are performed routinely in the Veterans Memorial Hospital surgical suite. Pictured above is the camera tower used during colonoscopy procedures along with some of the hospital surgery staff who help patients prepare and recover from this common, life-saving procedure. Submitted photo.

Colorectal cancer can be easily detected, yet it remains the third leading cause of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, one in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.  Unfortunately, only about one in three persons in the U.S. age 45 and over gets the recommended screening.

Colon cancer screening tests identify suspicious or pre-cancerous polyps, which can be removed before they develop into a serious health problem.  There are four main testing options for detecting colon cancer: Fecal Occult blood test, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Enema and Colonoscopy.

Colonoscopies, a very thorough colon cancer test, are performed routinely in the Veterans Memorial Hospital surgical suite with the equipment pictured at left, and typically take just three hours from start to finish.

Wed
20
Mar

Diabetes Alert Day is March 26: Be aware of the risk factors


Diabetes Alert Day is March 26 ... March 26 is Diabetes Alert Day, designated to make the public aware of the risk factors of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Unfortunately, there are millions of American with this disease that are undiagnosed. Preventing the disease, or slowing the progression of the disease, is the key to leading a long, high-quality life. Call Angie Mettille (pictured above), Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital for more information at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.

by Angie Mettille RN, BSN, Certified Diabetes Educator

The American Diabetes Association recognizes the fourth Tuesday in March as “Diabetes Alert Day”. The purpose of this designated day is to make the public aware of the risk factors of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans that are undiagnosed with this disease.

When one has elevated blood sugars for a long duration of time, the likelihood of irreversible complications is increased.

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