Health

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 19, 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.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, feel free to call Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Clinic-Postville for all junior high and high school students who need the physical for participating in school sporting events.  These will be held at the Postville Clinic on the following dates and times:
• Tuesday, March 10   5-6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 19  5-6:30 p.m.
 
Students are asked to please sign-up for these physicals at the Postville High School Secretary’s office and pick-up a physical form. These forms must be signed by parents prior to the event and brought along to the physical.

Physicals will be performed by Postville Medical Clinic providers. For more information, feel free to contact the Veterans Memorial Hospital Postville Medical Clinic at 563-864-7221.

Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Nutrition Month® (NNM®) campaign brings people together to celebrate how informed food choices and healthy habits can fuel better living. The 2026 theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” highlights the everyday impact nutrition has on helping individuals and communities thrive.

Week 1 Focus: Power Your Day with Good Nutrition!

What you eat fuels how you think, feel, and perform. This month, take time to discover how smart food choices can help power your day.
• Choose more whole foods and less highly processed foods
• Start with a balanced breakfast to jump-start energy
• Build meals with lean protein, whole grains, and a variety of colorful fruits and veggies
• Choose healthy fats
• Choose foods and beverages with less sugar and salt
• Eat more fiber and be sure to get plenty of water as well
Small choices add up to big benefits.

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Thursday, March 5, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ozzie Quandahl by Bruce and Lynn Anderson; Ian, Mariss and Tate Anderson; Les Askelson; Arden and Sharon Auna; Sandy Bacon; Beth, Betsy, Carrie and Kelly Baxter; Jim and Charlene Baxter; Roger Bergen; Edith Bloxham; Laurie Bulman, Spencer, Sydney, Austin and Sawyer; Pud Bulman and Family; John and Alice Burke; Todd and Kathy Cahoon; Robert and Kristi Campbell,  Michael and Catherine Cassarella; Janice Cooper and Don Dehning; Herb and Ann Dehli; Kevin and Jenny Dixon; Jerry and Michelle Donahue; Joe and Mary Egan; Mark and Lori Farley; Karen Ferring; Nancy and Dan Gardner; Beverly Gavle; Lee Gavle; Mike and Cindy Gibbs; Frank and Patty Goltz; Jim and Karen Gray; Glenda, Lawrence, Trevor and Kiera Green; Debbie and Larry Griffin; Bev Haas; Roger Hammel; Dave and Barb Henry; Lee and Dannette Hermeier; Lori and Randy Hover; Helen Johnson; Pat Joy; Lisa and Jeff Kelm; Karen and John Kerndt; Duan

With the recent recruitment of three more family practice medical providers, the hours of care at both the Postville and Waukon Clinics have been extended as of Monday, February 23.

Both family nurse practitioners Hannah (Gesing) Kelly, NP, and Mason (Hermeier) Kerian, NP, joined the staff, caring for patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinic locations.  Both of these providers spend two days each week at each of the Waukon and Postville Clinics. They join nurse practitioners Alex Berns, NP; Minji Ransom, NP; and Katy Maker, NP and Nurse Midwife, in seeing patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinic locations.

Dr. John Swords joined the Waukon Clinic staff in November, caring for patients at the Waukon Clinic each day of the week. Dr. Dave Schwartz and Sue McMillan, NP, also see patients solely in the Waukon Clinic.

by Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator

Have you ever wondered what the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation really does? Many people recognize the Foundation for sponsoring popular events like the annual golf tournament and Christmas Fantasy - but there’s much more happening behind the scenes.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation was incorporated July 26, 1982, with the mission of raising funds to support Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and local health care needs. Today, nearly 20 dedicated volunteers meet regularly to plan and promote fundraising events, while also identifying and helping meet medical needs throughout the communities served by Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics.

Chest pain is a common presenting complaint in any emergency room, including the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). There is always the possibility of heart disease in every complaint of chest pain or upper abdominal pain and must be taken very seriously.

The common signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, commonly called a heart attack, are:
1. Chest pain (crushing, squeezing or heaviness).
2. Sudden onset of weakness, nausea, fainting and sweating without an obvious cause.
3. Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.

These symptoms occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become clogged from a buildup of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, races, and body types - and they impact communities of every size, including rural communities like Waukon. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not a choice or a sign of weakness. They can affect physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and daily life. Because these illnesses don’t always have visible signs, many individuals struggle silently due to stigma or misconceptions.

Why awareness matters:
• Eating disorders are not always visible and can affect anyone
• Stigma and misconceptions often prevent people from seeking help
• Awareness encourages understanding, early support, and better outcomes

The demand for blood is very high. You can help.  The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, March 2, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products.