Health

Pictured above are a few members of the Veterans Memorial Hospital patient care staff, who ask that any patient coming into the hospital be sure to bring all medications from home along with them. Having the actual bottles in hand with the correct name and dose of each medication helps the medical staff to more quickly assess the needs of the patient. “We want to give the best care to all of our patients quickly, so we can get them back on their feet as soon as possible,” states Ruth Hageman, RN, Nursing Supervisor. “It can be hard to remember the exact medications and doses you are taking when you are not feeling well. Having the actual medications in hand helps us walk through the admission process much more smoothly and precisely. This also helps at discharge making for accurate new prescriptions and refills before patients go home.” Submitted photo.
 

The world of health supplements can be daunting.  This is especially true of omega-3 supplements and fish oil.  We’ve all heard that we need an omega-3 supplement for our health, but determining which to choose can be overwhelming with too many options.

Why take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement?
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for reducing inflammation throughout the body. This is why they are believed to help prevent heart attack, stroke and joint pain. Omega 3s prevent blood from clotting excessively; maintain cell membranes; lower the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream; reduce the risk of obesity and improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels.

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 COVID-19.

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

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care has availabilities for immunizations which are now held on an appointment-only basis. During COVID-19, the walk-in immunization clinics will remain on hold, but for those that want to call ahead and make an appointment, they can do so by calling 563-568-5660. When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Immunizations are extremely important. They have eradicated Small Pox, eliminated Polio from the Americas, and they have almost eliminated Tetanus, Diphtheria and Rubella.  Immunizations have also greatly reduced the occurrence of Measles, Pertussis and Meningitis. Millions of deaths and other tragedies have also been prevented by vaccines.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Wes Goeke by Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Arden Shindoll, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Delores Fish and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials were also received in memory of Jane Schneider by Randy and Karen Loeb, Beverly Shafer, Mary Ann Hager, Dave and Laurie Martin, Federated Mutual Insurance Co., Mark and Tammy Knudtson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Patsy Kerndt, Kay Carter, Gayle Larkin and Les and Ada Marie Kerndt.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Lora McCormick Frana by Dave and Sandy Lyons and in memory of Paul Tewes by Alex and Teresa Schaefers, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Roger and Denise Uhlenhake and Alan and Ruth Hageman.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has reopened most all outpatient services, including mammography, since the onset of COVID-19.   Routine screening is so important when it comes to mammography and early detection of breast cancer. Mammograms are very important because they look for breast cancer in women who do not have any symptoms and can detect breast cancer long before it can be felt.

Darci Engelhardt of Luana has regular mammograms at Veterans Memorial Hospital to screen for breast cancer. She recently visited the hospital for her annual screen - her first one since the onset of COVID-19.

The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital continue to be held through conference calls during COVID-19. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

The local COVID-19 numbers are again on the rise. Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care declares that “masks are a must” when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn by everyone whenever outside the home.

Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Department states, “We can still enjoy those outdoor, fall activities, but we must follow the safety guidelines outlined by the CDC. Masks really do work to stop the spread of COVID-19 so please wear them in public places, especially the grocery and convenience stores.”

Mooney adds, “Always physically distance from one another, even when you are wearing a mask and wash your hands frequently. No one wants to be quarantined for two weeks, so please always take these precautions to keep yourself and others safe.”

Below are the recommendations on how to stop the spread of COVID-19  from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon each fall, the Pillow-Perk in early November, the Masquerade sales and their annual membership drive each July. (Note:  The Women’s Health Day will not be held this year due to COVID-19.) All the money the Auxiliary receives goes back to the hospital for equipment.

The LifeServe Blood Center reported yet another very successful blood drive held in Waukon Thursday, September 3. Each and every blood drive held in Waukon since the start of COVID-19 has successfully recruited many first-time donors who are all encouraged to continue giving blood regularly. The LifeServe Blood Center continues to be amazed with this turnout. A total of 33 units were collected and five new donors joined the donor list.  These 33 units of collected blood will save 99 lives.