National Hospital Week: Providing needed care every step of the way

May 7-13 is National Hospital Week. The numerous services provided locally by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) often walk patients from one area of their care to another, until the patient has fulfilled their goal of returning home.

So many services are offered locally, close to home, but often patients don’t realize that unless they ask. Many of the hospital’s skilled care, surgical, maternity, laboratory, rehab and x-ray patients among others share with staff they would have been sent elsewhere for their care, had they not specifically asked for local care at Veterans Memorial Hospital.   

The following is an example of many of those levels of care and local services working together as a team for the same goal; to help a patient return to their home to live independently.

“I came into Veterans Memorial Hospital through the Emergency Department. I had a problem with my fingers going numb and they found I had fluid on my lungs,” explains Kathy Byrnes of Waukon. “After my three-day hospital stay, I qualified for swing bed and I ended up staying in the hospital almost three weeks in order to get that off my lungs. They were also having trouble weening me off of the oxygen. I ended up having a stroke while in the hospital and the staff saved me. It was wonderful the kids could take turns staying at the hospital with me.  It was so nice to have them there.”

“On swing bed, I received Rehabilitation twice each day which was wonderful. They got me up each day and helped me get back on my feet and walk again.  The Massage Therapist even gave me a massage two different times, bless her heart, and then I rested better.  They do such a great job in the hospital. I hated to leave and they hated to see me go, too.”

“When I was finally able to go home, Melissa Clarke, Occupational Therapist, came to my home to assess it to see how I would be able to get around. I was able to receive in-home care from the hospital’s Community and Home Care Department.    The nurses were wonderful, organizing my medications and assessing my health.  The aides were totally awesome, helping me shower and with other personal cares. I always wished they could have stayed longer and spent more time.”

“Even physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy all visited me at home, helping me with my exercises,” adds Kathy. They were all so good to me.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages patients to ask their provider for the following local services:
• Skilled care, also called “Swing Bed,” following a three or more day acute stay at any medical facility.   Medications are given, pain is controlled and most importantly, the patient qualifies for more rehabilitation than if they are discharged directly to their home.
• Laboratory tests ordered by physician specialists out of town.
• Weekly INR testing
• Lab Wellness testing
• X-ray/Radiology Services such as CT scans, mammograms, dexa bone densitometry scans, and ultrasounds.
• Nuclear Medicine cardiac stress tests
• Respiratory Therapy pulmonary function testing
• Rehabilitation for Physical Therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech Therapy.
• Nutrition and Diabetes consultations.

Most all of these services are available same day or within just a few days with very little waiting. For more information on local healthcare, call Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.