Health

by Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Manager, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Specialist at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, urges vaccination for everyone after losing her father to the COVID-19 virus. She explains in her own words, as an infection control specialist, why the need for vaccination against COVID-19 sooner rather than later is so important.

“The COVID-19 virus will continue to change and create variants to allow for its survival. We don’t have many options to treat patients with COVID and the few options we have are already becoming ineffective against the variants. For example, if you test positive for COVID-19 and have health issues that put you at risk for developing moderate to severe symptoms, we can administer an infusion of monoclonal antibodies to give your immune system a boost. Last year, we had the antibody infusion we referred to as ‘bam,’ or the bamlanivamab infusion.

The new Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic has received a donation of artwork compliments of local artist Val Miller and her husband, Josh, owners and operators of Steel Cow in Waukon. Eighteen pieces of Val’s artwork were donated and are on display throughout the clinic. Pictured above, at left, is Val Miller, along with Clinic Director Laura Baxter, RN and Michael Coyle, Veterans Memorial Hospital CEO.

Move over gazpacho, there’s another refreshing cold summer soup made with zucchini and avocado. Just as gazpacho makes delightful use of summer’s bounty of tomatoes, this soup showcases zucchini and avocado, also abundant during the summer.

Zucchini has soft skin and edible seeds. Usually dark or pale green, zucchini has a delicate, almost sweet earthy flavor, but overripe zucchini can have a more bitter taste. Newer varieties include golden which have a slightly milder flavor than the green type. Look for fairly small zucchini that are firm and heavy for their size. Do not wash them until ready to use. Peeling is not necessary.

Allamakee County Public Health does have a good supply of COVID-19 vaccine and is highly encouraging everyone age 12 and over to receive it. Vaccine clinics are readily available every Friday afternoon for both prime and boost doses for Moderna. Currently, Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is also available. These vaccine clinics are held at the main entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

The vaccine will also be available at the Allamakee County Fair each evening of the fair from 6-8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hospital booth located in the Fairgrounds Pavilion. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment for any of those evenings. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lorna Thune by Sigurd and Barb Ness, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Tom and Karen Regan, and Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

Memorials were also received in memory of Cherie Dandurand by Brian and Karen Burke and Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of John Irwin by Dean and Lynn Sorensen; and in memory of Rose Marie Winters by Don and Joyce Bakke, Vicky Phipps and Brad and Erin Berns.

In addition, the Foundation received memorial donations for Edward “Ed” Roed by Patsy Kerndt, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Maury Mooney, and Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

According to information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can enjoy the following freedoms:

The staff of Elliott Jewelers in Waukon chose to support the Waukon Clinic project by making a $400 contribution. Each employee has the option to wear jeans one Monday per month and pay $5 on that day, the sum of which is later donated to a community need. Money from the ring cleaning donations the business receives was also used to make this donation from the staff.

Pictured above, left to right, is the entire Elliott Jewelers full-time staff. Left to right - Front row: John Elliott, Maranda Elliott, Mara Dickens, Chelsea Rodas and Shelly Elliott; Back row: Pat Hart, Kari Gibbs and Ashley Scherf. Donations are still being accepted for the clinic by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible. To make an appointment at the new Waukon Medical Clinic, call 563-568-5530. Submitted photo.
 

“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, July 12 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. Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.

Every two seconds someone needs blood. The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, July 8 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once a month in Waukon to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months.  During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations. While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood.  More driving can mean more automobile accidents.  A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, July 15 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  in Waukon at 568-3411.