Health

Wed
06
Dec

Spots still available for local EMT Class to start in January

NICC to offer EMT Class locally ...
NICC to offer EMT Class locally ... NICC will be offering a face-to-face EMT Class in Waukon beginning in January. This class is not offered locally each year, so the fact it will be held in Waukon is a convenience for those wishing to take the course with little travel time. Postville EMT, Randy Plaht, pictured above at right, has been very dedicated to this volunteer role for over 30 years. His daughter, Katelyn Peterson, pictured above at left, followed in his footsteps. They are pictured above with the Postville ambulance. Submitted photo.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will be offering a face-to-face EMT Class in Waukon beginning in January. This class is not offered locally each year, so the fact it will be held in Waukon is a convenience for those wishing to take the course with little travel time. This 138-hour course will conclude in May. Registration for the class must be completed prior to the orientation night January 8.  

Postville EMT Randy Plaht has been very dedicated to this volunteer role for over 30 years, and his daughter, Katelyn Peterson, followed in his footsteps.

Wed
06
Dec

Stroke Support Group to meet

Veterans Memorial Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke.

Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital.  The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, December 7 at 2 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room. The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks, or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as we get older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Wed
06
Dec

National Influenza Vaccination Week; There’s still time to receive the flu vaccine

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week. There’s still time to receive the flu vaccine for this flu season.  A flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious outcomes. A flu shot can safely help prevent the flu and lessen flu symptoms if you do get sick. A flu shot also can help protect your baby from flu for several months after birth.

Every year flu puts thousands of children in the hospital. Getting your child a flu vaccine can lessen flu’s more serious symptoms - reducing the risk of serious illness and flu-related hospitalization if they do get sick.

The Flu and COVID vaccines continue to be offered each Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health.  Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine, and they will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

Wed
06
Dec

‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ Class to be offered at Veterans Memorial Hospital - Register now for class being held the evening of January 2

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), together with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, will be offering the ‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, January 2, from 4-8:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Helping Services’ Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians Barb Fjelstul and Rachel Weber will teach the basics about how to correctly secure children in their car seat and getting the seat secured in the vehicle. Barb Fjelstul, also a breast-feeding educator, will guide participants through the challenges and rewards of breast-feeding and provide techniques to ensure baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Wed
29
Nov

More EMTs greatly needed; Monona family very committed to providing emergency care


Monona family helps their community by serving as EMTs ... More EMTs are greatly needed in all communities. One particular family in Monona is very involved in providing these essential services in their community and explains why they are so committed in the article accompanying this photo. Pictured above, left to right: Doug Heilmann, Driver; Vicki Heilmann, EMT; Preston Landt EMT; and Trent Landt, EMT. An in-person EMT course will be offered in Waukon beginning January 8,, concluding in May. Registration for the class must be completed prior to orientation night January 8. Submitted photo.
QR code registration
QR code registration

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon beginning January 8, 2024. This 138-hour course, which will conclude in May, will be an in-person class held right here locally in Waukon, which is a huge advantage to students attending. Registration for the class must be completed prior to the orientation night January 8.

One particular family in Monona is very involved in providing these essential services in their community and explains why they are so committed to providing these life-saving services.

Wed
29
Nov

Home Care Month; VMH Community and Home Care travels Allamakee County and beyond


National Home Care Month ... Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care offers adults the assistance they need to remain living in their homes, as long as possible. Registered nurses and trained home care aides travel the Allamakee County and surrounding area offering nursing care and in-home assistance to people of all ages. They offer a variety of services including nursing visits, medication set-up and administration, dressing cares, IVs, catheter and colostomy cares, oversee rehabilitation in-home programs and personal cares. RN staff is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pictured above, left to right, are Home Care Aide Peggy Woodbeck, Mary Lou Garin, Home Care RN Heather Whalen, and Cheryl Garin. Submitted photo.

November is National Home Care Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care offers adults the assistance they need to remain living in their homes, as long as possible.

That is exactly what Community and Home Care has accomplished for the Garins from Lansing. Leo and Mary Lou’s daughter, Cheryl Garin, states, “Both of my parents lived longer thanks to these Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Services. They always looked forward to their home health nurse and aide visits. With Dad gone, Mom is still able to live at home thanks to these services. Her nurse and aide really listen to her and we can call or text them anytime with questions. Therapy is also so good. They have always gotten Mom stronger and more independent again after her hospital stays. Without all of them, she could never stay alone. It is just a fantastic service.”

Wed
29
Nov

November is Diabetes Month; CGM becoming more accessible for people living with diabetes


Continuous Glucose Monitoring ... November is Diabetes Month. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is on the rise and is now much more affordable. These small units, as pictured above, help understand glucose trends so you can better manage eating, exercise and medication, provide more comfort at night if you worry about low blood sugars while you sleep, even alarming you to wake up when sugars are too low or too high, and understand the importance of taking medication and the timing of medication. Submitted photo.

by Angie Mettille, RN/BSN, Certified Diabetes Educator
 
It is likely that you’ve heard the term CGM, but may not be sure what it means. Maybe you have noticed some people in the community with a white circular device on the back of their arm and have wondered what it was.

A continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) is a device that allows for constant monitoring of blood glucose (sugar) levels. CGM gives you, as a person with diabetes (or a person caring for someone with diabetes), an easy, at-a-glance way to access your blood sugar levels 24 hours a day, with minimal pokes and needles.

As many people living with diabetes know, checking their blood sugar is a critical piece of diabetes management. CGM systems have been shown to help people keep glucose levels stable, reducing episodes of both low and high blood sugars, and therefore decreasing the risk of complications from diabetes.

Wed
29
Nov

‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ Class to be offered at VMH January 2

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), together with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, will be offering the ‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, January 2, from 4-8:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Helping Services’ Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, Barb Fjelstul and Rachel Weber, will teach the basics about how to correctly secure children in their car seat and getting the seat secured in the vehicle. Barb Fjelstul, also a breast-feeding educator, will guide participants through the challenges and rewards of breast-feeding and provide techniques to ensure baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Wed
29
Nov

Blood Donor Day December 4

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, December 4, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Wed
29
Nov

Flu Shots and COVID available every Wednesday by appointment at VMH Community and Home Care-Allamakee Public Health

The Flu and COVID vaccines continue to be offered each Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, flu vaccines are proven to help prevent millions of illnesses and have been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40-60%. COVID-19 vaccines help protect by creating an antibody response without having to experience potentially severe illness or post-COVID conditions. Although it is still possible to get sick after being vaccinated, flu and COVID immunizations are proven to help prevent severe illness, which can be lifesaving.

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