Health

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jim Johnson by Joann Peake, James Klenske, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dave and Laurie Martin, and Marvin and Marjorie Strike.

Memorials were also received in memory of Vernis Haberichter by Audrey Angel, Brian and Denise Wullner, Dave and Laurie Martin, Marvin and Marjorie Strike and Betty White.

Fred and Geralyn Smith, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, and Chuck and  Lois Votsmier all made a memorial donation in memory Sharon Brown.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Richard Baumgartner by Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of Jean Lydon by Karen and Cletus Mathis; in memory of Ann Gallagher by Dave and Laurie Martin and in memory of Barbara Leppert by Patsy Kerndt.

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center has implemented a Domestic Abuse survivor chat line, which can be reached at HelpingServices.org/chat. There is also the option to call a 24/7 resource phone line at 800-383-2988, but during social distancing Helping Services advocates noticed a decline in calls.

The agency responded by implementing a secure chat option for anyone in need of reaching a local advocate. Whether chatting or calling, a trained Advocate will respond 24 hours a day.

Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Advocates work alongside survivors to achieve their best outcome. All services provided are at no cost to the survivor and are confidential. For more info about Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center call 800-383-2988 or chat with someone at HelpingServices.org/chat to reach an advocate.
 

Quitline Iowa is a free service with a team of coaches trained to safely guide those who want to quit tobacco down a path to success. Iowa residents can take advantage of the program by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or by visiting www.quitlineiowa.org.
 

The 29th annual Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation Christmas Fantasy Silent Auction event will remain open only through December 7. The “Big C” Silent Auction is located within many local businesses in Waukon, all in an effort to promote ‘shopping at home’ this holiday season. These auction items not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Allamakee County has dramatically risen with over 175 new cases in the past two weeks. This, in turn, has led to increasing hospitalization numbers in our county. The number of admissions for many hospitals in northeast Iowa are at or nearing capacity. There is a desperate need to flatten the curve, slow the spread and protect our community and its vulnerable populations. Healthcare facilities throughout the tri-state area are urging their communities to step up and assist in the mitigation effort. It is going to require more than just our medical professionals to fight this fight. It will take each and every one of us doing our part to decrease these skyrocketing statistics and help lessen the immense strain on our healthcare systems.

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 the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next local blood drive will be held Monday, December 7 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is now offering flu shots on an appointment-only basis. The Hi Dose flu vaccine is also still available. Appointments can be made by calling 563-568-5660. When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Those with an appointment to receive their flu shot should remain in their vehicle until the nurse comes to get them and should bring along their insurance or Medicare card.

Influenza, also called “the flu”, can cause fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to people of any age, and can lead to pneumonia and even death. Most deaths caused by influenza occur in the elderly, the very young or people who have a compromised immune system.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of William ‘Bill’ Ferring by Dr. B.R. Withers, Hacker Nelson & Co, Mike and Julie Snitker, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dave and Laurie Martin, Karen Soper, Nancy Kruse, Lawrence and Nancy Straate, Bev Larson-Needham, Gordon and Louise Ellingson, Lillian Larson, Mary Ann Burke, Brad and Erin Berns, Darryl and Lorraine Rud, Mary Fink, Leslie and Judith Thronson, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Don and Mary Meyer, Lyla Hanson, Brian and Denise Wullner, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Karen Ferring and friends and family of Bill Ferring.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Education Program offers continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) as an outpatient service. The Freestyle Libre Pro System offers the option of continuous glucose monitoring for three to 14 days. This system helps health care providers fine-tune their patients’ diabetes treatment plan, giving patients optimal control of their diabetes and their life.

Continuous glucose monitoring is used to determine what a patient’s blood glucose levels are every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, even while they sleep. When the data is downloaded, the information is able to be transferred onto graphs, which can show the healthcare providers how a patient’s blood sugar trends throughout each day the sensor is worn.

The 29th annual Christmas Fantasy, sponsored each year by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, is holding a Silent Auction event only this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  The “Big C” Silent Auction is open and ready for bidding within many local businesses in Waukon, all in an effort to promote “shopping locally” this holiday season. These auction items will not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, hopefully decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.