Health

by Dr. Kristina Thompson, Podiatrist

April is National Volunteer Month. The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is one of three volunteer branches of the hospital, along with the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and the hospital greeters, which all continually support the services offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). The Auxiliary recently made a sizable donation to the VMH Surgery Department for its new sterilizer. Pictured in the above photo, left to right, are Laura Wiltgen, RN; Jessica Jones, RN, Surgery Manager; Jackie Welch, RN; Lillian Larson and Mary Fink of the Auxiliary; and Brooke Weighner, RN, with the new surgery sterilizer equipment. The Auxiliary is a volunteer fundraising branch of Veterans Memorial Hospital that meets once a month. For more information on how to join the Auxiliary, call 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

Local residents can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next scheduled blood drive will take place Thursday, May 4 from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. at Waukon High School.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, May 9 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 group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Numerous students completed the recent Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting classes held Friday, April 7 at the hospital in Waukon. The classes were instructed by Corinne Cook, RN, and consisted of teaching the qualities of being a good babysitter, including basic child care, accident prevention, fire prevention and first aid. These new babysitters also learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlich Maneuver in the case of a choking child.

The students who completed the Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting classes included Izabella Kos, Finn Rounds, Thomas Wilkes, Connor Buhl, Ellsy Koenig, Mallory Howe, Madison Howe, Maxwell Moore, Sophia Welch, Arabella Jensen, Harper Horns, Lail Curtin, Teron Curtin, Emily Reinhardt, Emery Wadsworth, Addison Wagner, Genevieve McCormick, Hannah Weigle, Evangeline Kelley, Theodore Wilkes, Olivia Muse and Laney Hanson.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Roger Pladsen by Gordon and Darlene Kaeser, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Marlys Leiran, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McMillan, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Eric and Stephanie Palmer, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and Mary Fink.

Memorials were also received in memory of Bruce Jones by Marlys Leiran, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Bryan Schulte, Kent and Rhonda Stock and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Additionally, memorials were also received in memory of Gary Lane by Mary Ann Hager, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and Les and JoAnn Winters; in memory of Joyce Kuhse by Patsy Kerndt and Sigurd and Barb Ness; in memory of Sharron Kubitz by Mary Ann Hager; in memory of Janet Bechtel by Boyd and Constance Colby, Brian and Jean Krambeer and Mary Ann Hager; and in memory of the Everett Bollman family by Scott and Kim Bollman.

by Tami Gebel,
Occupational Therapist,
Veterans Memorial Hospital

“Living Life to its Fullest.” What an inspiring statement. This creed has been adopted by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in celebration of April being National Occupational Therapy month. Occupational therapists throughout the U.S. are celebrating the month dedicated to acknowledging the profession.

In May 1999, I moved to Waukon from Minneapolis in order to start my first full-time job as an occupational therapist. Over the past 24 years, there have been lots of changes within these hospital walls, from physical appearance to personnel; however, the one thing that has not changed is the dedication and hard work of the employees here at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The complex role of the Health Information Management department is one completed efficiently and effectively behind the scenes of every healthcare organization.

At Veterans Memorial Hospital, there are several certified professionals who each handle a large piece of the health record. Some of these pieces include obtaining pre-authorization from insurance companies prior to a procedure, credentialing each and every medical provider, transcribing provider notes and very specifically coding each and every care given and supply used for each patient in each department of the hospital and clinics.

The Health Information Management Department maintains medical records for each patient and coordinates the release of information. They follow strict patient confidentiality guidelines for proper release.

April is Defeat Diabetes Month.  The Good News and Bad News...

The “bad news” is there are more than 250,000 Iowans living with diabetes, and that number continues to rise. Although researchers worldwide continue to work towards eradicating diabetes, a cure has not been discovered. Type 1 Diabetes continues to require frequent insulin injections or a pump for survival, and Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by oral medication, injections, or insulin.

The “good news” is both types of diabetes can be improved immensely through lifestyle modifications, such as moving your body, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains within your meal plan, dealing with stress in healthy ways, and getting adequate, quality sleep.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community & Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services are joining forces to promote National Infant Immunization Week (April 24-30, 2023) and to remind parents of the importance of ensuring children - including those age two years and under - stay up to date on check-ups and routine vaccinations.

“Vaccinating on time according to the recommended childhood immunization schedule and attending regular well-child visits provide the best protection against serious illness such as measles, polio, pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza,” said Sheryl Darling-Mooney, Public Health Supervisor. “For families that may have fallen behind schedule, National Infant Immunization Week is a great reminder to get back on track.”