Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to offer most all services during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is evaluating surgeries daily based on the governor’s most recent proclamation.

“Surgeries are being evaluated based on our daily inpatient census and according to the current guidelines set by the governor,” states Michael Coyle, Veterans Memorial Hospital CEO.  “We need to be sure we have enough beds for our COVID patients that need to be hospitalized, so if we are busier, we may need to postpone some surgeries that would require the patient to remain hospitalized as an inpatient for a few days following.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital officials monitor its available COVID beds daily, reporting to the State of Iowa. This continuous communication allows all area hospitals to know where beds are open in the case they need to admit a patient at a different hospital.

Tuesday, November 17, the Veterans Memorial Hospital COVID testing location was moved from the east entrance of the medical clinic building to the west entrance facing Main Street. Anyone who has qualified for a COVID test and has a scheduled appointment time, should now turn right as they enter the clinic parking lot and park in that section along Main Street. Remain in your vehicle until it is your turn for your test.

The local blood drives continue to be held during COVID-19 since the need for blood is in more demand than ever. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation, and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next local blood drive will be held Monday, December 7 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is still offering flu shots on an appointment-only basis. The Hi Dose flu vaccine is also still available. Appointments can be made by calling 563-568-5660.   When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Those with an appointment to receive their flu shot should remain in their vehicle until the nurse comes to get them and should bring along their insurance or Medicare card.

Influenza, also called “the flu”, can cause fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to people of any age, and can lead to pneumonia and even death. Most deaths caused by influenza occur in the elderly, the very young or people who have a compromised immune system.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ann Klenske Ewing by Marv and Marge Strike, Bev Larson-Needham, Arlene Martin, Patsy Kerndt, Jane Dietrich, William and Sheila Clair, Robert and Joy Hansmeier, Tom and Karen Regan, Vivian Andregg, Carolyn Thomson and Gene Maurer, and Janice Kemp.

Memorials were also received in memory of Marcella “Marcie” Opfer by Donnalee and Ernie Osland, Mary Ann Hager, Marv and Marjorie Strike, Marcie Hansmeier, Curt Schoenthal, Dale and Virginia “Binne” Kurth, Linda Thompson, Ann and Dan Riesen, Mary Bublitz, Janet Snitker, and Laurie and Terry Welch.

Memorials were given in memory of Lorraine Adam by Joe and Mary Cunningham, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and an anonymous donor; in memory of Keith Roffman by Rudy and Marian Hesla, Beverly Bacon, Ardys Kuhse, Joan Moore and John and Joellen Roffman; and in memory of Monte Dundee by Betty White.

The 29th annual Christmas Fantasy, sponsored each year by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, will hold a Silent Auction event only this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  The “Big C” Silent Auction will offer nearly 70 items within local businesses in Waukon to promote ‘shopping locally’ this holiday season. These auction items will not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, hopefully decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Office has reported inquiries from many businesses who are concerned about having enough staff to keep their offices open to the public with the two weeks of mandated quarantine time for all exposures to COVID-19.

Lisa Moose, Director of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, is advising businesses and schools to follow the Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines and wear a mask to avoid being quarantined.

by Angie Mettille, RN/CDE, Diabetes Educator, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Coronavirus cases are surging at an alarming rate in our area. When we turn on the news, we see that people with “underlying health conditions” are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if contracting COVID-19.

In general, people of any age with types 1 or 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes, are at increased risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with diabetes whose blood sugars are uncontrolled, specifically running higher than target, are more likely to develop additional health problems, such as heart disease and kidney disease. These health concerns, in addition to diabetes, can negatively impact the outcome of a COVID-19 infection for some individuals.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lorraine Adam by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Sandra Bresnahan, Dave and Laurie Martin, Mary Ann Hager, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Larry and Mary Moore, Beth Ann Shafer, Nancy Schoh, Jane Dietrich, Maurice Mooney, Diane Regan, Jeff and Amy Sommer, Ambrose and Phyllis Welch and family and friends of Lorraine Adam.

Memorials were received in memory of Maggie DeWalle by Mary Ann Hager, Dave and Laurie Martin, Maurice Mooney, and Fred and Geralyn Smith.

In addition, memorials were received by Marvin and Marjorie Strike, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, and Kay Carter in memory of Dorothy Wandling, and by Lois Evans, Mary Jackson, Betty Decker, Richard and Annabelle Marti, Theresa and Ronald Snitker, Donnalee and Ernie Osland, Brian and Denise Wullner, and David and Mary Ann Pladsen in memory of Joana Pladsen.

Like most events held in 2020, the 29th annual Christmas Fantasy will also change considerably this year due to COVID-19.   The sponsor of this annual event, the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, reports this was not an easy decision since the annual Christmas Fantasy is always such a popular event, and they look forward to holding the extensive event again next year.

For 2020, the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation will still have a Christmas Fantasy presence through a “Big C” Silent Auction.  They will be promoting “shopping locally” by offering silent auction items within area Waukon businesses.  These auction items will not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, hopefully decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.