Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care continues to offer flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations every Friday afternoon.  The next clinic will be held Friday, October 29, 2-3:30 p.m., and then again Friday, November 5 at the same times.

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be administered at the same visit, on the same day. For example, COVID-19 vaccines can safely and effectively be administered the same time as the flu vaccines.

Medicare does cover the cost of the flu shot. Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number or private insurance card with them. Those who do not have insurance that covers these can also pay for this vaccine; however, the COVID vaccine is free.

Halloween is just around the corner. The CDC recommends that all adults and children aged 12 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine, but many trick-or-treaters aren’t eligible to get vaccinated yet. To help enjoy a sweet and safe Halloween, remember the following:  track local transmission rates, take precautions like wearing a mask and washing hands, and avoid activities that put you and the children around you at increased risk for COVID-19.

Take these SAFE precautions and have fun:
• Incorporate a cloth or surgical mask into your costume.
• Trick-or-treat in small groups outdoors or enjoy other outdoor activities.
• Wash hands before eating candy.
• Track local virus transmission rates and take extra precautions where rates are high.

The need for blood has not stopped during COVID-19 and is in even higher demand, so the local blood drives continue to be held each month. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood.

Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

The next local blood drive will be held Thursday, November 4 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.   

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health has not yet received approval to administer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 boosters.

CDC Advisory recommendations have been made regarding booster vaccines of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. However, Allamakee Public Health has not received the go-ahead approval from the Iowa Department of Public Health and, in fact, has been told not to proceed with any boosters until they do receive approval.

Allamakee Public Health asks the public to not call the agency about these booster doses as this further impedes their ability to manage their daily workload. They will keep the public updated with any changes and plans moving forward.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next recertification course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMS, etc.) Monday, November 1, beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

There is a fee to attend and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask, if they have one. Upon successful completion of the class, the participant will receive an electronic card certifying them as a BLS Healthcare Provider for a two year period.

Pre-registration, plus a minimum of three participants, is required for the class to be held. All participants will be required to physically distance during the class and wear a mask.  They will also be screened at the hospital main entrance when they enter the building.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. The Rehabilitation staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital works with people of all ages, helping them to reduce pain and regain strength, independence and health. The Healthy Lifestyles Rehabilitation Center at Veterans Memorial Hospital is fully equipped for all rehabilitation patients with 17 weight machine stations, tread mills, exercise bikes, NuStep and eliptical machines. The six treatment rooms allow one-on-one evaluation and treatment with a therapist.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in America. This year, more than 250,000 women will learn for the first time that they have this disease and more than 40,000 women will lose their lives. However, when breast cancer is detected early and treated promptly, suffering and ultimately the loss of life can be significantly reduced.

Women are encouraged to ask their doctors and other health care providers about mammography screening. Mammography (an x-ray picture of the breast) is the single-most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. Early detection, followed by up-to-date treatment, provides women with better chances for long-term freedom from the disease. But mammography screening must be done routinely.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its annual Pillow Perk this year Monday, October 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Kraft Pillow Service will be on site to make old pillows look like new.

Everyone is encouraged to bring in their feather pillows to the Pillow Perk to be cleaned, sanitized and given new ticking. Foam and Dacron pillows may also be renovated by this process. People are also encouraged to bring in their feather beds and have them made into new pillows.

Everyone is instructed to enter the hospital through the lower level loading dock entrance and to have their pillows in plastic bags marked with their name when they drop them off. Directional signage will be located on the street right outside that door.

The planning of the 2021 Christmas Fantasy is underway and decorators and silent auction donors are needed. The format of the event was changed again this year to keep the event COVID-19 safe with decorations and lighted displays being set up outside on the Allamakee County Fairgrounds. Only the silent auction items will be displayed inside the Pavilion.

This year the theme for Christmas Fantasy will be “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” which is fitting for an outdoor Fantasy. A drive-through of lighted displays will be out in front of the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion for anyone wanting to drive through or walk through evenings during the event, which will be held November 18-22.   Any type of outdoor lighted display is appropriate such as a tree, a wreath, a lawn ornament, an outlined item, a blow-up decoration, etc.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continues offering a series of community Flu Clinics over the next few weeks at the following locations in Allamakee County:

Wednesday, October 20: Walk-In Clinic at Harpers Ferry Community Center, 9-11 a.m.
Wednesday, October 20: By Appointment Only at Veterans Memorial Hospital, 1:30-6 p.m. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.
Friday, October 22: Walk-In Clinic at Lansing I.C. Church Parish Hall, Noon-3 p.m.
Wednesday, October 27: Walk-In Clinic at Veterans Memorial Hospital, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be administered at the same visit, on the same day. For example, COVID-19 vaccines can safely and effectively be administered the same time as the flu vaccines.