Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Kay Mooney by Scott and Kim Bollman, Jamie Longmiller, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Pat Pettingill, Theresa Lyons, Marv and Marge Strike, Matt and Dawn Teslow, Dan and Mary Scholtes, Carl and Betty Christianson, Roger and Karen Melcher, Eugene and Betty May, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Barry and Sue Miller, Robert and Karen Fossum, Brent and Anne Berns, Herb and Anne Dehli, Dr. Dave and Joan Schwartz, Ryan and Sam Collins, Mary Ann Burke, Mary Jo Nordheim and Tom Waters, Mike and  Teresa Myers, Laura and Bryan Arensdorf, Erik and Janelle Helgerson, Linda Thompson, Bill and Pat Moody, Brian and Denise Wullner, Bob and Jeanine Mathis, Bev Platten, Mavis Berns, Randy and Debbie Burke, J.C.

Wearing masks has become a new norm and really does help to stop the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19. But the respiratory therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon remind everyone wearing masks to still exercise the lungs.

“Don’t forget to take frequent deep breaths while wearing a mask to exercise the lungs,” stated Stacie Radloff, Respiratory Therapy Supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital. “It is important to exercise our lungs to prevent infections from settling. The best way to do this is to take your mask off, get some fresh air and take up to five slow deep breaths at least once an hour.”

Getting outside for some fresh air is preferable, according to the Respiratory Therapy department, but removing the mask indoors when distanced from others and taking the deep breaths is very effective as well.

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to reopen outpatient services 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 as shown in this photo above, and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related. Pictured above is Paul Promnitz of Waukon inside the main entrance of the hospital with Morgan VanRuler, C.N.A., taking his temperature with a temporal thermometer. Each staff member at the hospital also screens their temperature before entering the hospital, all in an effort to continue to stop the spread of this respiratory illness. Submitted photo.
 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation annual Three-Person Best-Shot Golf Tournament that was scheduled for June 22 has been postponed until further notice. The hospital Foundation is reviewing other options for the tournament while following the COVID-19 safe distancing guidelines.

The Foundation will notify past tournament teams of any optional tournament event that may be held later this year. But at this time, the June 22 event will not be held as scheduled.

For more information about the golf tournament event, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, Veteran Memorial Hospital has had to limit surgeries and outpatient procedures, just like every hospital has had to, to one degree or another. However, the hospital is now beginning to offer a few elective surgical procedures, such as colonoscopies and mammograms.

Individuals who are interested in inquiring about having one of these preventative procedures 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 hospital will be taking the highest precautions with each and every patient, leaving appropriate time between procedures and using all personal protective equipment and protocols.

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 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.

Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging is reaching out to extend this program during COVID-19 to keep people safe at home, yet offer them the support they need as a caregiver. Contact Kelly Kuennen at 800-779-8707 with any questions.
 

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 Veterans Memorial Hospital Laboratory sees many repeat patients on a regular basis and is now giving them the choice to wait in the main lobby waiting room or in their personal vehicles until the laboratory drawing room is available.

Patients that choose to wait inside the hospital simply enter the hospital as usual. They will be screened by the staff member inside the door, then will wait in the lobby waiting area until a Lab staff member escorts them to the Lab.

Patients who choose to wait in their car are asked to call the Lab at 563-568-5594 when they arrive at the hospital. The Lab staff will then meet them at the door and escort them inside the building, first to the screening area and then directly to the Lab waiting area.

Veterans Memorial Hospital 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 continue to do so. In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

Veterans Memorial Hospital began offering Urgent Care last fall and it continues to be offered every Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency room (ER) visit. See the chart at right to help decide when Urgent Care is the best choice. Patients may enter through the main entrance of the hospital and ask for urgent care. A registered nurse will assess each patient and decide if urgent care or ER is the level of care they need.