Health

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Mar

Nuclear cardiac stress testing popular at Veterans Memorial Hospital


Nuclear cardiac stress testing offered at VMH ... February was National Heart Month, and the number-one cause of death in the United States is heart disease. The Veterans Memorial Hospital Cardiac Rehab Unit has been offering nuclear cardiac stress tests to help detect heart disease for over a decade. Pictured above in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit is patient Charolette Christianson of Waukon as she prepares for her nuclear cardiac stress test, assisted by, left to right, Dr. Dave Schwartz; Amy Rolfs, RN, Cardiac Rehab Nurse; and Katie Hackman, Nuclear Medicine Technologist with Shared Medical Technology. Local nuclear cardiac stress testing and cardiac rehabilitation allows Veterans Memorial Hospital to provide cardiac care with state-of-the-art technology, right here at home. Submitted photo.

Two sets of images for nuclear cardiac stress testing ... An advantage to nuclear cardiac stress testing is that the test involves taking two sets of images of the heart - one at rest and one after the heart is stressed by exercise or medication. Pictured above is patient Charolette Christianson with Nuclear Medicine Technologist Katie Hackman taking a second image of the heart following exercise on the treadmill. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon began nuclear cardiac stress testing within its Cardiac Rehab unit over a decade ago, in 2008. The convenience of having these nuclear tests offered on a local level has been well received in the community since it began.

Nuclear cardiac stress testing offers two different methods, both highly effective in detecting heart disease. These two forms of nuclear stress testing are called the Exercise Nuclear Stress Test and Lexiscan Nuclear Imaging. Both methods can increase the likelihood of finding heart disease by 20% when compared to traditional treadmill stress tests.

The number-one cause of death in the United States continues to be heart disease. The term heart disease is used to describe several different conditions. The data collected from a nuclear stress test is very useful in detecting these conditions. This data includes:

Wed
04
Mar

When rumors fly, turn to trusted resources

When a new virus like coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) emerges on the public health scene, there are many questions. It is normal to be concerned about COVID-19, which has caused so much illness and death in China. Public health officials take every disease outbreak seriously and Allamakee County Public Health has been working closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn about COVID-19 and its risk to Iowans.

In a time of uncertainty, social media becomes a platform for rumors and misinformation. “We are aware of misinformation about COVD-19 both locally, across Iowa and nationally,” said Allamakee County Public Health Director Lisa Moose. “It’s important for Allamakee County residents to rely on trusted sources of information like the CDC, IDPH and our public health agency.”

Wed
04
Mar

Prepared Childbirth Education Class to be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, April 13, and the classes will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital are available with each session as well.

Wed
04
Mar

Caregiver Support Group to meet March 16

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, March  16,at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

When a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness, a lot of focus and attention is put on how to keep that person as independent and as healthy as possible. When a person loses some of their abilities to care for themselves the burden of care is often assumed by the spouse, a child (or children), or sometimes friends and neighbors. While everyone who becomes a caregiver handles the added responsibility with different skill sets, attitudes, and understanding levels, there is no question that there is a very real strain associated with care giving.

Recent studies have estimated that the stress caused just by becoming the caregiver of an adult with a chronic illness or disability will take seven years off of a persons’ life. With more and more Iowans aging, this is a real concern in the local community.

Wed
04
Mar

Grief Support Group to meet

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting, held the second Tuesday of each month, is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.
 

Wed
04
Mar

Health Care Provider CPR Class to be offered at VMH

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be offering the next recertification course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMS, etc.) Wednesday, March 18, beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

All registrants should bring along their own pocket mask, if they have one. Upon successful completion of the class, the participant will receive an electronic card certifying them as a BLS Healthcare Provider for a two-year period.

Pre-registration and a minimum of three participants is required for the class to be held. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

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04
Mar

Blood Donor Day set for March 5

One in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. With the new local interest in donating blood, Veterans Memorial Hospital invites the community to attend the next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive to be held Thursday, March 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month in Waukon.  The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.

The blood that is collected is tested carefully. In fact, all blood that is collected by any blood collection center is tested the same, according to the federal regulations.

Wed
04
Mar

Diabetes Support Group to meet

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 19 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Wed
04
Mar

VMH Auxiliary Euchre Marathon to be held

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, March 19. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if they are not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner.  Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. All proceeds go towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their own table of four players, however.

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04
Mar

Memorials received by Health Care Foundation

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Norma Barr by Betty White, Jean Huffey and Ruby Schoh.

Memorial donations were also made in memory of Tony Vick by Jim and Jill Kiesau, in memory of  Lillian Winters by Nyles ad Ruby Herman, in memory of Lee White by Jim and Jill Kiesau and in memory of Dennis and Dorothy Mitchell by LaVonne Lodor.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Paul Durhman by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Jim Byrnes and Loretta (Byrnes) Tressel.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization.  All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.  Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

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