Health

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  This program will be held Monday, February 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“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.

SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa. Local SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Nancy Schoh are trained by the State and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents.   Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is highlighting Teen Dating Violence Awareness during the month of February. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly a quarter of adult victims of rape, physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner first experience partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. In addition, nearly one in 11 female high school students and approximately one in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year.

Dating violence is not only physical abuse but may also include excessive texting, checking up on, or telling a person what to wear or who to hang out with as just a few tactics abusers may use to control their partner. Abusive relationships are all about power and control, and abusive patterns can start at any age.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 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. Masks will be required to be worn.

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, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Emma Jane Schoh by Ken and Rose Beardmore, Brad and Judy Herman, Gil and Sharon Hunstad, Patricia Kammeyer, Marlys Leiran, Lesa Moose, Scott and Karen Ness, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Carol Paus, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Ann Rademaker, Diane Rathbun, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Ruby Schoh, Linda Siegrist and Jane Dietrich.

Memorials were also received in memory of Romandus “Sam” Gisleson by Madonna Stumme and Joan Gisleson; in memory of Jeanette McCormick by Mary Fink and John and Lorna Kerndt; and in memory of Darlene Leas by Marlys Leiran and Sandy and Dennis Deal.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, which 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.
 

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  This program will be held Monday, February 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

“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.

SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa.  Local SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Nancy Schoh are trained by the State and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents.  Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will continue to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, each Friday afternoon, continuing through the entire month of February, from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.

Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Be sure to wear a mask and bring an insurance card and vaccination card if coming for a second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call ahead to schedule an appointment with them.

During the winter months, blood donations are especially needed to help prevent a critical blood shortage. Local hospital patients rely on life-saving blood donations from volunteer blood donors. Help is needed to guarantee an adequate blood supply is available at all times.

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

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

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, and be sure to wear a mask. All attendees will be able to physically distance during the meeting.  This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Harold Marti by Dave and Sandy Lyons, Ron and Nancy Adam, Dennis and Julie Herman, Carol Krumme and Linda Thompson.

Additional memorials were also received in memory of Jerry Siegrist by Tom and Sandy Bloxham, Dr. Linda Carstens and Randy Petersburg, Gary and Jean Gilbertson, Robert Lyford, Jim and Mary Winters, and Jane Dietrich.

Memorials were also received in memory of Larry White by Ron and Nancy Adam; in memory of Marilyn Tote by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson; in memory of Ben Kerndt by Patsy Kerndt; in memory of Rod Bloxham by Mel and Dodie Keatley and Lillian Larson; in memory of Robert “Bob” Thompson by Betty Troendle; in memory of Dennis Hesse by Larry and Nancy Straate; and in memory of Elsa Hager by Kate Wooden.

In addition, a donation to the Foundation was received in honor of Norb Palmer’s 90th birthday by Linda Siegrist.

Halie Ruff, Nurse Practitioner at the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Waukon, is now caring for maternity patients, joining Dr. Dave Schwartz. Both Dr. Schwartz and Halie Ruff see maternity patients in the new Waukon Clinic building, following moms all the way through their pregnancy and post-partum care with Dr. Schwartz assisting with the delivery.

“I love caring for patients of all ages… this is my passion,” states Ruff. “Veterans Memorial Hospital is excited to expand our maternity care and provide care to moms and babies alike with our OB team. Throughout the pregnancy, moms will have an OB team to rely on and ask questions of.”

Ruff partners with Dr. Schwartz to provide a well-rounded maternity experience, working closely with moms, supervising their progress from the beginning of the pregnancy, and continuing with postpartum care following the delivery.