Health

Pictured is Mrs. Kelly’s Kindergarten class from St. Patrick School in Waukon and Mrs. Welsh’s Kindergarten class from West Elementary in Waukon in the X-ray room at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Each year, Machelle Bulman, RN, Education Coordinator at VMH, gives every Kindergarten class in the area a tour of the hospital. During these tours, the students become familiar with many hospital services. The tours include the Emergency Rooms, viewing films in the X-ray rooms, viewing the newborn babies in the Maternity Services Nursery, visiting the Rehabilitation Department and taking a short ride in the ambulance. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be hosting the Safety Day Camp for children ages 6 to 14 Thursday, June 11 at the Allamakee Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The camp is open to all children in the area. This safety camp will offer instruction in many areas that effect a child’s life.
According to Jeff Mitchell, EMS Coordinator, and coordinator of this event, children often see the outdoors as an exciting playground providing endless hours of fun and adventure. But the great outdoors can set the stage for tragedy.

It is the right of the patient to choose the medical care they wish in any situation, even when the patient is too sick or hurt to tell their family members or their physician. The way to ensure the correct healthcare wishes are carried out is to complete an Advance Directive. Advance Directives include: Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and/or a Living Will.
1. In order to have an Advance Directive the patient will need to discuss their wishes with their family and physician. An Advance Directive can be made in writing or orally, but putting the plan in writing will help the family and physician understand patient’s wishes.

The 18th annual Family Wellness Fair will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Free health testing, exhibits and healthy snacks will provide a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event, sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital.

by Tami Gebel, OTR/L, Veterans Memorial Hospital Occupational Therapist
 
Lymphedema is the chronic or persistent swelling of a body part due to an obstruction of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system lies underneath the skin and works closely with the blood circulation system as it transports fluids throughout the body to lymph nodes. While in the lymph nodes, the fluid is “cleaned” of bacteria, viruses, and other unwanted materials. The “clean” fluid is then sent to the blood and re-circulated throughout the body. Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system is damaged and unable to move the fluid, therefore the fluid collects in the body part and swelling develops. Damage to the lymphatic systems occurs when there is surgery, mastectomy, lymph node removal, radiation, or injury to skin tissue (such as a burn).

The Rehabilitation Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital is providing Astym treatment technique for patients who have experienced a traumatic or overuse injury resulting in chronic pain, weakness, and limited motion. Astym is an evidence-based treatment technique  developed by physicians and therapists at Ball Memorial Hospital, Ball State University, Purdue University and Central Indiana Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist at Veterans Memorial Hospital, is certified to perform Astym treatments on individuals who have experienced an injury in the past and had minimal success at getting rid of the pain, had a lingering achiness, weakness, or limited ability to complete daily activities and sports.

“Welcome to Medicare,” a two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors, will be held Thursday, April 23 from 6-8 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Register by April 21 by calling 563-563-568-3411.
“We’re excited to offer this free seminar to the community,” said Russ Hagen, SHIIP volunteer. “Medicare is such an important program and understanding what it offers helps assure that anyone eligible gets the health benefits they deserve.”
“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will again be awarding prizes to all those in Allamakee and northern Clayton counties who participated in the Live Healthy Iowa 10 week wellness challenge in 2015.  Prizes will be awarded during the hospital’s annual Family Wellness Fair which will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the hospital.
Veterans Memorial Hospital supports and encourages the Live Healthy Iowa state-wide wellness program for all individuals in this area for wellness motivation and support. This web-based program offers all participants a personal tracking page that allows everyone to keep their own results right in front of them at all times. It also gives professional support including weekly motivational emails and unlimited access to recipes, workouts and other health information, all easily accessible on the Live Healthy Iowa website.

Over 50 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or on an intermittent basis.
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is an educational series designed to provide tools caregivers need to take care of themselves. Caregivers who take good care of themselves are better prepared to take good care of their loved ones. Participants will learn how to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate feelings, balance their lives, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.
Iowa State University Extension and Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging are sponsoring “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” in Waukon starting in April. This program has been tested and evaluated through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging.

The Occupational Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has had a  bladder and bowel incontinence treatment program for over three years. Staff member Melissa Clarke, Occupational Therapist, has been providing this treatment and has seen very positive results.
Many people are impacted by bladder and bowel dysfunction. 25-30% of adults 25-55 years old have experienced bowel or bladder problems. 35-40% of individuals over 65 who live in the community have bladder and bowel problems. 10-15% of children 8-16 years old have nighttime wetting. The good news is 61% of people using the Beyond Kegels program were dry in 3 ½ weeks.