Area hospice providers to attend VMH Auxiliary and Elliott Jewelers 18th Annual Women’s Health Day September 26

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Elliott Jewelers of Waukon are excited to announce they will be hosting the 18th Annual Women’s Health Day wellness event Tuesday, September 26 at the Waukon Banquet Center.  All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.  

The theme for this year’s event is “Embracing Life at all Stages.” Featured speakers for the Women’s Health Day program will include Alex Berns, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Waukon Clinic, who will speak on his experience as a Hospice Care Nurse. His presentation, entitled “Clearing the Air About Hospice Care,” will help explain how Hospice Care works, how to qualify and the different levels of Hospice care available.

The three Hospice agencies that provide services in the area, including St. Croix Hospice, Crossing Rivers Hospice and Winneshiek Medical Hospice, will all be hosting a display table of information on their Hospice services at the event to help answer questions on how Hospice care works locally.

Behavioral Health specialist Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the Waukon Clinic, will also be presenting again this year, focusing on what to say and not to say to anyone struggling with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.

Lastly, dietitian and nationally acclaimed speaker Jill Fleming will follow up with an inspirational, motivational presentation on how to “Connect with Kindness like a P.R.O.”

The doors will open for this event at 11 a.m., with the luncheon and program speakers beginning at Noon.  Those able to take a longer lunch break may enjoy the free health testing and education available from 11 a.m. to Noon and again following the luncheon program. To honor one-hour lunch breaks, participants are also invited to attend just the program and luncheon which will be held to one hour. A new menu this year will consist of a full salad buffet, sandwiches, beverages and dessert.

Free wellness testing will include blood pressure testing, blood sugar diabetes testing, mini-stress tests, oxygen saturation testing, and carbon monoxide testing plus information on breast cancer awareness, nutrition, smoking cessation, strength training, incontinence therapy, Hands-Only CPR training, Stop the Bleed training, and colonoscopies and surgery services. Flu shots will also be offered by VMH Community and Home Care for a fee, based on availability at that time.

Again this year, the Laboratory Department of Veterans Memorial Hospital will perform its community wellness testing right on site. Anyone interested in ordering any of these wellness screenings, including a lipid panel, fasting glucose, vitamin D, TSH, hemogram, hemoglobin or HgbA1c, are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to the event. The full wellness package is available, or other options will be available to choose from. An order form will be filled out, payment made and blood drawn, all at the event for anyone interested. The Lab staff will be on site for this testing and will then run the screens back at the hospital and mail the results out within five business days.

Purchasing a ticket for the Women’s Health Day event entitles those attending to receive a goodie bag filled with coupons, samples and general health information, in addition to the luncheon, health testing and program. Everyone purchasing a ticket will also be entered into a drawing for a Ladies’ 14kt yellow gold diamond and genuine green garnet pendant on an 18” yellow gold rope chain (retail value $1,000) compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon.

Tickets are on sale now at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers.  Proceeds will be used to purchase technimount crash safety arms for the cardiac monitors in all three ambulances at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.