Health

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 17, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, feel free to call  Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

The next LifeServe Blood Center community blood drive will be held Monday, April 7, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

by Tami Gebel, OTR/L
 
Have you been experiencing pain in your hip or knee? Are you having difficulty completing daily tasks, such as dressing, bathing, and making a meal? Is it becoming more difficult to walk around your house, through the grocery store, or attend special events where there are stairs?

These are some important questions to consider before talking with your doctor about having a hip or knee replacement surgery.  The surgery, and the expected pain and inconvenience, can seem overwhelming, however the after effects can be life changing. The therapy department at Veterans Memorial Hospital is here to help you through the transition from a painful, limiting joint to returning to a fulfilling productive life.

Colon cancer can be easily prevented, yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Colon cancer screening tests identify suspicious or pre-cancerous polyps, which can be removed before they develop into a serious health problem.

There are four main testing options for detecting colon cancer: Fecal Occult blood test, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Enema and Colonoscopy. Colonoscopies, a very thorough colon cancer test, are performed routinely in the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) surgical suite and typically take just three hours from start to finish.

Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer. Personal risk varies, so local medical practitioners can help make informed decisions about when to begin testing and the most appropriate testing method for each individual.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminar Friday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Pre-registration is required by April 14. Online registration is available by using the QR code or may be taken by phone by calling the hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Dianne Wolfe by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Brad and Erin Berns, Frank and Patty Goltz,  Marlys Leiran,  Ann Rademaker, Diane Regan, Bill and Beth Shafer, Linda Siegrist, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller, Brian and Denise Wullner, Marilyn Clark and Mary Ann Hager.

Memorials were also received in memory of Ken West by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Mary Axmear, Barb Hanson, Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Sheila Clair, Charles and Marcie Fritz, Mary Ann Hager, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Pat Pettingill, Sandy Pladsen, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Marvin and Marjorie Strike, and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Tuesday, April 8, at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital.

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 meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

by Steven Mazzafield, Speech Language Pathologist at Veterans Memorial Hospital

In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, I would like to talk about traumatic brain injury and the vital role of speech therapy in the recovery process.

Brain injuries fall within one of two different categories: acquired or traumatic. Acquired brain injury occurs when someone has a stroke, seizure, infection, tumor, or lack of oxygen that affects the brain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), on the other hand, occurs after a sudden blow to the head - examples include from a car accident, sports injury, or fall.

A hospital social worker helps patients and their families navigate the healthcare system, access resources, and improve their well-being. Responsibilities can include patient education, crisis intervention, advocacy for patients and their rights, case management, knowledge of community resources and social welfare systems, discharge planning and helping patients navigate the financial implications of hospitalization.   They also work closely with the medical team to develop care plans to ensure patients receive the best possible care.

Tatum Iverson is the full-time social worker at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. Her role is very large, touching most every patient’s care who enters and leaves the hospital, working closely with hospital staff, patients, their families and their insurance companies to coordinate the proper levels of care needed and being sure these are approved.

March is National Athletic Training Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has three athletic trainers on staff including Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Austin Troendle, DPT, ATC, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy; and Shelly Valley, PTA, ATC, who is also a Physical Therapist Assistant. These trainers use their variety of skills to rehabilitate athletes, often communicating with the physicians to help coordinate the best recovery.

Athletic trainers help treat and prevent injuries for people of all ages from athletes to laborers. They specialize in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of physical injuries to the muscle, ligament and bone, as well as rehabilitation following surgery. Athletic trainers are also key in teaching injury prevention by explaining flexibility exercises, proper use of equipment and applying prevention devices such as tape, bandages and braces.