Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital has many patients that utilize the skilled care or swing bed option of care following a surgery, illness or accident.  This level of care, following a three day or more acute stay in the hospital, allows the patient to have medications given, pain controlled, and most importantly, the patient qualifies for more rehabilitation than if they are discharged directly to their home.

Patients who have surgery or hospitalization at Veterans Memorial Hospital or any other health care facility may qualify to return to VMH for the advantages of skilled care. But in many cases, patients need to learn to ask their provider to be considered for skilled care.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ruth Hanson by Lesa Moose, in memory of Gene Shogren by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Lorna Kolsrud by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Marty Melcher by Roger, Karen and Lisa Melcher families and in memory of Steve Wild by Randy and Karen Loeb, Patsy Kerndt and Dan and Traci Byrnes.

Memorials were also received in memory of Carol Miene by Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Darlena Herman, Ernie and Donnalee Osland,  Rick and Cathy Larson, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Mavis Berns, Bill and Beth Shafer, Alice Schlacke, Joan Bieber, and Brad and Erin Berns.

In addition, memorials were received by Jim and Linda Ryan, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Patsy Kerndt and Jim and Jill Kiesau in memory of Matt Regan.

The next Waukon Community Blood Drive will take place Thursday, September 5 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

- Get a good night’s sleep before blood donation.
- Eat a good meal before donating blood. Do not donate on an empty stomach.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Bring a photo ID or Blood Donor ID Card to the appointment.
- Those who are 16 or 17 years old and have never donated blood with LifeServe Blood Center should get a signed Parental/Guardian Permission Form. For more information or to schedule to donate call 800-287-4903.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering free Blood Sugar Testing and Blood Pressure checks with immediate results at the Waukon Corn Day celebration Friday, August 16.  The tests will be performed by Veterans Memorial Hospital staff, in the Veterans Memorial Hospital first aid tent located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Both of these checks take just a few seconds to perform and are free of charge.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be offering hands on “Stop the Bleed Training” that will be offered the entire evening.  Adults and children will learn how to quickly stop a life-threatening bleed by packing a puncture wound or laceration, then applying pressure, and even learn how to safely apply a tourniquet for heavy bleeds.  A booklet will also be handed out giving step by step instructions to all those who pass by. Participation prizes will be awarded for the training.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring their annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 17, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. Again this year, the event welcomes a shorter 1.5 mile walking route with an optional 5K (3.1 route) to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate.

The event will begin and end at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 7 a.m. This is a free wellness event for all ages. New this year, costumes are encouraged to be worn at this event by adults and youth with the top costume in both categories earning a prize!

by Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor, VMH Community and Home Care

One of the tasks each year parents experience is getting their children’s immunizations up to date. Common questions include: What is my child’s immunization status? Are they caught up? What do they need?  What is that one for?

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, August 15. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if they are not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen.  Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner.  Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. All proceeds go towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their own table of four players, however.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 15 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, August 19 at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  When a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness, a lot of focus and attention is put on how to keep that person as independent and as healthy as possible. When a person loses some of their abilities to care for themselves the burden of care is often assumed by the spouse, a child (or children), or sometimes friends and neighbors. While everyone who becomes a caregiver handles the added responsibility with different skill sets, attitudes and understanding levels, there is no question that there is a very real strain associated with care giving.

Recent studies have estimated that the stress caused just by becoming the caregiver of an adult with a chronic illness or disability will take seven years off of a person’s life. With more and more Iowans aging, this is a real concern in the local community.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering free blood sugar testing and blood pressure checks with immediate results at the Waukon Corn Days celebration Friday, August 16. The tests will be performed by Veterans Memorial Hospital staff in the Veterans Memorial Hospital first aid tent located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds from 4:30-8 p.m. Both of these checks take just a few seconds to perform and are free of charge.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be offering hands-on “Stop the Bleed Training” that will take place the entire evening. Adults and children will learn how to quickly stop a life-threatening bleed by packing a puncture wound or laceration, then applying pressure, and even learn how to safely apply a tourniquet for heavy bleeds. A booklet will also be handed out giving step-by-step instructions to all those who pass by. Participation prizes will be awarded for the training.