Health

Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH)fair booth this year will be invited to learn how to sign-up for the new MyChart patient portal, in addition to learning about the benefits it has for the patients, when they visit the hospital and clinics booth at the Allamakee County Fair. Prizes and giveaways will also be offered.

Again this year, the hospital will be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life.  This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago.  A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH)Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in school sporting events. These exams will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 9 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.

These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time. If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Tips from the American Cancer Society

It’s summer and we’re in skin protection season. The vast majority of skin cancers are preventable by routinely shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, but Americans aren’t doing enough to protect themselves.

The American Cancer Society suggests we bring our sun-protection habits up to date. Dermatologists recommend doing a skin check monthly, so you’ll be more likely to notice small changes or even find a skin cancer when it’s still small.  The best time to examine the skin is after a shower or bath and with good lighting. Look for changes in size, texture, shape and color of birthmarks, moles and blemishes.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Clinic-Waukon beginning next week for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in school sporting events. These will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 9 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.

These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time.  If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) transitioned to the new EPIC Electronic Health Record two weeks ago after an entire year of preparation by hospital staff, with the help of the University of Iowa Health Care team. Patients and visitors are already seeing the advantages of this new system, especially the MyChart patient portal.

Patients may now sign-up for a MyChart account at their next appointment to either of the clinics or the hospital. Staff are available to help with the set-up process, or patients are invited to sign-up on their own, after receiving the link that is sent by the hospital and clinics.

Summer is a time of high blood demand in all communities. Donating blood is easy and one single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, July 7.  The drive will be held from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

by Sheryl Darling Mooney, RN, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care
Public Health Supervisor

It’s great to get out and enjoy the outdoors here in Allamakee and Clayton counties, but remember to be vigilant about checking yourself and others with you for ticks. Examine your skin as best you can and use a hand held mirror if available. Fine-toothed combs can also be used in helping to check your scalp. “I’d Like to Check You for Ticks”, isn’t just the catchy title to a country song, but a good idea to have someone else check the areas you can’t easily see.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jean Gander by Don and Bonnie Cunningham, Frank and Patty Goltz and James and Jill Kiesau. Memorials were also received in memory of Pat Dougherty by Dave and Brenda Dougherty and Janie Dougherty.

Memorials were also received in memory of Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg by Ken and Rose Ann Mark; in memory of Lois Aldrich by Donald Aldrich; in memory of Ted Benda by Holly Benda; and in memory of Ralph Dougherty by Janice Dougherty.

In addition, a donation was made to the Foundation in honor of Joan Leiran’s 90th birthday by Linda Siegrist.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

The 32nd annual Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation Golf Tournament was held Monday, June 16, at the Waukon Golf and Country Club. A full tournament of 33 teams of three participated, each enjoying 18 holes of golf plus lunch and dinner prepared by Rich Schulte, Kris Cote’, and the Foundation Directors.

The Foundation gives credit for the success of this tournament to the many local businesses that provide great prizes so everyone participating wins. Plus, many businesses serving this area contribute as hole sponsors to the tournament making it an enjoyable, community-wide event.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Clinic-Waukon in July for all junior high and high school students who need the physical for participating in school sporting events. These exams will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 9 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.

These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time. If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.