Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to reopen outpatient services such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory testing, massage therapy, immunization and now sleep studies are once again being offered. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related. Each staff member also screens their temperature before entering the hospital, all in an effort to continue to stop the spread of this respiratory illness. Individuals who are interested in inquiring about these procedures or services should call their provider.  The provider can then share the order for the procedure with Veterans Memorial Hospital. Then the appointment and instructions will be shared.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging is offering Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m. To join a call, dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Bob Thompson by Carrie Blake, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Skip and Heidi Loebig, Tim and Sarah Waters, Margaret “Pegs” Nims, Jenny Monroe, Gordy and Darlene Kaeser, Gordon and Louise Ellingson, Sandra Bresnahan, Betty Irons, Robert and Karen Fossum, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Mark and Marcia Kruse,  Don and Connie Nagel, John and Rita Erickson, John and Mary O’Neill, Sandy Bacon, Dave and Laurie Martin, Carl and Betty Christianson, Marv and Marge Strike, Steve and Sheryl Evanson, Donna Wood, Mary Ann Hager, Steve and Bobbie Cunningham, Alex and Teresa Schaefers, Iva Gaunitz, Deb Johnson, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, William Dillon, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Al and Fern Rissman, Neil and Darlene Barth, Maury Mooney, Brad and Erin Berns, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Carl and Joyce Thornton, Betty White, Ron and Nancy Adam, Bob and Jeanine Mathis, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Lillian Schmieden, Den

Veterans Memorial Hospital still encourages the continued use of face masks in the community even with the relaxing of some of the COVID-19 restrictions. Since the CDC does still recommend that face masks be worn, Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to require all staff, visitors and patients to wear masks at all times within the facility.

The hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing for the hospital to please continue to do so. In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

The Respiratory Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has returned to offering pulmonary function testing for patients needing to test their lung capacity. This simple test is conducted in the Respiratory Therapy Department located on the lower level of the hospital by one of the two respiratory therapists on staff, Stacie Radloff or Chanice Larson.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has reopened many of its outpatient services in the last few weeks such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac, rehabilitation, laboratory testing, massage therapy, and immunizations. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan with a temporal thermometer and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related.

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to reopen outpatient services such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory testing, massage therapy, and immunizations. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related. Each staff member also screens their temperature before entering the hospital, all in an effort to continue to stop the spread of this respiratory illness.

Individuals who are interested in inquiring about these procedures or services should call their provider. The provider can then share the order for the procedure with Veterans Memorial Hospital. Then the appointment and instructions will be shared.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will begin meeting once again at Veterans Memorial Hospital, with two optional meeting times in order to follow all of the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

Diabetes Educator Angie Mettille, RN, CDE will be facilitating the same Diabetes Support Group meeting at two different times Thursday, June 18, which is the normal date for the support group to be held. One session will meet at 10 a.m., the other at 1 p.m. to help keep the number attending limited to 10 or below. All those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Angie Mettille by June 16.

The LifeServe Blood Center reported that a very successful blood drive was held in Waukon Monday, June 1. A total of 45 units were collected, surpassing the goal by three units. Six  new donors joined the donor list. These 45 units of collected blood will save 135 lives.

“June was another successful blood drive - I am amazed at the number of donors we are seeing in Waukon - what a blessing!,” states Kathie Gayther, Territory Representative of the  Life Serve Blood Center.  “There were six new donors this drive. Keep them coming!”

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 who 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.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus.  However, this support group is now being held through conference calls.  Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging 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#. You will then be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.