Health

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers of Waukon hosted their 18th Annual Women’s Health Day Luncheon Tuesday, September 26 at the Waukon Banquet Center. Over 170 ladies attended the delicious sandwich and salad buffet luncheon hosted by the Auxiliary members, plus many free health and wellness tests were available. The theme for this year’s event was “Embracing Life at All Stages.” Speakers included Alex Berns, Nurse Practitioner at VMH Waukon Clinic; Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at both VMH Waukon and Postville Clinics, and Jill Fleming, PRN dietitian at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Lori Fink of Harpers Ferry, pictured above at right, was the winner of the Ladies’ 14kt yellow gold diamond and genuine green garnet pendant on an 18” yellow gold rope chain (retail value $1,000) compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon. Pictured above, at left, is Shelly Elliott of Elliott Jewelers presenting the prize.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation 2023 Christmas Fantasy will be themed, “Wishing You a Merry Grinchmas!”  Christmas Fantasy decorators are needed to decorate the numerous trees for display as well as donors needed for the silent auction items such as miniature trees, wall hangings, quilted items, gift baskets, centerpieces and more.

The 2023 event will be held Friday through Monday, November 10-13.  Plans will again include the usual Friday night happy hour event, Saturday and Monday luncheons, Saturday night wine, cheese and dessert event and general admission Sunday and Monday afternoons.

Christmas tree decorators are needed to decorate their artificial tree for display during the Fantasy. These tree decorators may set up prior to the event and will then take all of their decorations and displays home again following the event.

Flu shots have begun 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be offering flu shot clinics all Wednesdays in October.  Walk-in clinics will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. and appointments can be made for immunizations Wednesday afternoons by calling 563-568-5600.

Flu shot clinics will also be held around Allamakee County on the following days:
• Lansing, Friday, October 6 from 3-5 p.m. at the IC Church basement
• Waterville, Tuesday, October 10 from 2-5 p.m. at the Waterville Library
• New Albin, Friday, October 13 from 3-5 p.m. at the New Albin Townhouse
• Postville, Tuesday, October 17 from 4-6 p.m. at the Northeast Iowa Wellness Center.

Northeast Iowa Community College 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.

The EMT class prepares the students to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

You have until December 7, 2023 to enroll in or change Medicare drug plans for 2024. Don’t wait until the last minute. Remember, if you’re on Medicare and don’t have drug coverage, or the coverage you have is not as good as Medicare’s, you will face a penalty for each month you delay enrolling.  

If you have questions about Medicare drug coverage call your local SHIIP counselor at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. SHIIP volunteers are available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2024.

Appointments are required. Call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to schedule your appointment. You will need to bring your Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of your medications from your pharmacy. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation has announced the 2023 Christmas Fantasy will be held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. This will be the 32nd  annual Fantasy event the Foundation has hosted.

The theme will be “Wishing You a Merry Grinchmas.” Christmas Fantasy decorators are needed to decorate the trees for display. Donors are needed for the silent auction items such as miniature trees, wall hangings, quilted items, gift baskets, centerpieces, etc.

The 2023 event will be held Friday through Monday, November 10-13.  Plans will again include the usual Friday night happy hour event, Saturday and Monday luncheons, Saturday night wine, cheese and dessert event and general admission on Sunday and Monday afternoons.

September is Newborn Screening Awareness and Baby Safety Month. Being sure to schedule  newborn well-child visits following the baby’s birth is very important, according to Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Katy Maker at Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinics.

“Well-child exams create an environment where the parents can develop a relationship with a primary care provider who will be there for them and their child throughout their child’s growth and development,” states Maker. “It’s important to feel that you can trust the medical advice that you get from your child’s healthcare provider because these days we get bombarded with a lot of information through the Internet and it is hard to filter.”

Well-baby check-ups are encouraged at the following visits: 1-month, 2-month, 4-month, 6-month, 9-month, 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 2-year, 30-month and at three years.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Clinic is now offering breath alcohol testing. A breath alcohol test measures how much alcohol is in the air of the person being testing, which then estimates how much alcohol is in their blood system.

Breath alcohol tests are often required by corporations that employ over-the-road drivers, who have to meet Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. This test is now conveniently offered at the Postville Medical Clinic. Walk-ins are welcome for this service.

To find out more or to make an appointment, call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Postville Clinic at 563-864-7221.

Flu shots are beginning October 4 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 will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be offering flu shot clinics all Wednesdays in October, including October 4, 11, 18 and 25. Walk-in clinics will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. and appointments can be made for immunizations those afternoons by calling 563-568-5600.

Flu shot clinics will also be held around Allamakee County on the following days:
• Lansing, Friday, October 6 from 3-5 p.m. at the IC Church basement
• Waterville, Tuesday, October 10 from 2-5 p.m. at Waterville Library
• New Albin, Friday, October 13 from 3-5 p.m. at New Albin Townhouse
• Postville, Tuesday, October 17 from 4-6 p.m. at Northeast Iowa Wellness Center.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), together with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, will be offering the ‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, October 3, 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 of 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 the baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Rachel Stone, RN, is a labor and delivery nurse and will give expecting mothers education on breathing techniques and coping with pain during labor.