Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing for the hospital to continue to do so.  In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

The hospital staff remains concerned and committed to the community and encourages face mask use by everyone, especially the elderly and immune-compromised, to help them stay safe when they have to leave their homes.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital strives to provide the safest health care experience with compassion for all patients.  During COVID-19, the hospital has gone to even greater measures to ensure a safe environment for all patients, with the following requirements:

· Daily health screenings of employees, patients and visitors.
· Face masks required for all employees, patients and visitors.
· Physical distancing required in waiting rooms.
· Visitation limited to only essential visitors.
· Pre-procedure COVID –19 testing required prior to having a procedure at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
· More time scheduled between patients for proper, effective and thorough sanitizing.

Veterans Memorial Hospital is carefully beginning to loosen some hospital visitor and elective procedure restrictions.

Effective immediately, hospital visitor guidelines have been changed to the following:

The local blood drives continue to be held during COVID-19 since the need for blood is in more demand than ever. 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 blood drive will be held Monday, June 1, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to then be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Harriet Hanson by David and Cindy Peters, Esther Peters, Sue Peters-Wishard, Elsa Hager, John and Lorna Kerndt, Dave and Suzanne Hahn, Bill and Beth Shafer, Marian Smedsrud, Lois Evans and Dave and Laurie Martin.

Memorials were also received in memory of Florence Schlake by Elsa Hager, in memory of Alaine Meier by Jim and Jill Kiesau, JoAnn Peake and Dave and Laurie Martin; and in memory of Signe Buege by Jim and Jill Kiesau, J.C. and Natalie Kelly, Gayle Larkin, Patsy Kerndt, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Dave and Laurie Martin, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Alex and Teresa Schaefers and Frank and Patty Goltz.

Veterans Memorial Hospital is beginning to offer some outpatient services once again, but with restrictions.
· VMH is now beginning to offer a few elective surgical procedures, such as colonoscopies and mammograms. Individuals who are interested in inquiring about having one of these preventative procedures should call their provider. The provider will place the order for the procedure with Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Veterans Memorial

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing masks for the hospital to please continue to do so. In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

The hospital staff remains concerned and committed to the community and encourages face mask use by everyone, especially the elderly and immune-compromised, to help them stay safe when they have to leave their homes.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to then be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care has resumed immunizations on an appointment-only basis. During COVID-19, the walk-in immunization clinics will remain on hold, but for those that want to call ahead and make an appointment, they can do so by calling 563-568-5660. When the appointment is made, instructions will be given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Immunizations are extremely important. They have eradicated Small Pox, eliminated polio from the Americas, and they have almost eliminated Tetanus, Diphtheria and Rubella.  Immunizations have also greatly reduced the occurrence of Measles, Pertussis and  Meningitis. Millions of other deaths and other tragedies have also been prevented by vaccines.