Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, January 8, continuing for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions.  Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care.  Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions, will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon through video conferencing being broadcast from Calmar. This 138-hour course will begin Thursday, January 4 at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

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.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans that an annual flu vaccination is the best way to protect them and their loved ones from the flu. As people gather together for holiday meals and parties, they’re more likely to spread illness around. Receiving the flu vaccine will help everyone stay healthy to enjoy all the festivities.

This is especially important during family gatherings that infants, those with chronic diseases, or elderly individuals might attend. Infants younger than six months of age are not old enough to receive the influenza vaccine, so they are at a higher risk of catching the flu from someone else and they have the highest chance of being hospitalized if they get ill. Anyone with flu-like symptoms during the holidays must stay home and away from others.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Curtis Kruger by Duane and Sue Vorseth and Mary Fink, in memory of Gene Wilder by Hannah and Brandon Teslow and in memory of Earl and Vivian Iverson by Dave and Laurie Martin, Robert and Kristi Campbell and Dan and Sharon Iverson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Gary Nolting by the Bernard Welsh Family, in memory of Loren Bulman by Jerry and Linda Siegrist, in memory of Tom Duggan by Mae Jean Bakke, and in memory of Verdon “Bud” Swenson by Larry and Jane Lamborn, Mary Ann Hager and Larry and Nancy Straate.

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 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, December 13 at 2 p.m.

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 group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will not be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon in December, due to the busy holiday season. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center and will resume in January.

For more information on the monthly Euchre marathons, call Auxiliary President Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will not be offering a CPR course in December. The next class available will be offered in January.

The cost of all CPR classes, for certification or recertification, at Veterans Memorial Hospital is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for a two-year period.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required to hold the class. For more information and to register for the CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Those who would try just about anything before taking prescription opioids to treat their physical pain are not alone. According to a new report, most Americans would rather use a drug-free approach.

Earlier this year, data was collected from nearly 63,000 American adults. Of note, 78% prefer to find another option to treat pain rather than taking medication prescribed by their doctors. The use of narcotics is now being viewed as a “crisis” or a very serious problem, and most people do not want to get caught up in it.

This study could mean that in the future, patients and health-care professionals alike will try drug-free treatment options before relying on opioids. Instead of using pain medications, those surveyed in this recent study chose physical therapy as the safest option in treating pain. 

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions, will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon through video conferencing being broadcast from Calmar. This 138-hour course will begin Thursday, January 4 at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

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.

The Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is reminding Iowans of the Medicare Open Enrollment period which is currently underway and ends December 7.

“It’s important for Iowans eligible for Medicare to carefully review their options each year,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said. “There is still time during this open enrollment to have trained members of our SHIIP team help Iowans sort through the many different options to make sure they are getting the right coverage for them and the best bang for their buck.”

Four things for Iowans to focus on during open enrollment are: