Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be continuing its community flu clinics this month during regular immunization clinic hours on the following dates: November 7 from 1-6 p.m. and November 14 from 1-4 p.m.

The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.

Medicare does cover the costs with billing for vaccinations to be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their new Medicare number or private insurance card with them. Those who do not have insurance that covers these vaccines can also pay for them.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Wanda Anderson by Pat Pettingill, Carl and Betty Christianson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Don and DiAnne Haler, Kate Wooden, Meg Schaller, Jim and Patty Clarke, Brian and Karen Burke, Jane Dietrich, Nancy Schoh, Al and Jeanne Stein and Rick and Cathy Larson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Joe O’Neill by Pat Pettingill, Ardys Kuhse, Dr. Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Jeff Moe and Don and DiAnne Haler.

In addition, donations were received in memory of Virgil Herman by Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Carol Moe, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Randy and Lori Hesse, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer and Lillian Larson.

A donation in honor of the Rossville Presbyterian Church was also received by Nickolas and Lori Rissman, Olivia and Carter.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Tuesday, November 20, 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. The cost of the class, for certification or recertification is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask.

The online certificate received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years. Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call VMH at 563-568-3411.
 

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings will take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, November 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room, located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This new Caregiver Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, November 13 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting 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. This grief support group now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

From the American Cancer Society and Veterans Memorial Hospital

Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in America. This year, more than 250,000 women will learn for the first time that they have this disease and more than 40,000 women will lose their lives. However, when breast cancer is detected early and treated promptly, suffering and ultimately the loss of life can be significantly reduced.

Women are encouraged to ask their doctors and other health care providers about mammography screening. Mammography (an x-ray picture of the breast) is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. Early detection, followed by up-to-date treatment, provides women with better chances for long-term freedom from the disease. But mammography screening must be done routinely.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during its regular immunization clinics. The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, October 31 from 1-4 p.m. and again Wednesday, November 7 from 1-6 p.m. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Immunization clinics are held from 1-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and from 1-4 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, November 13 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting 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. This grief support group now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings will take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, November 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room, located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This new Caregiver Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The LifeServe Blood Center will not be holding a blood drive in Waukon in November. The next Waukon blood drive will be held Monday, December 10 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center seeks 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.

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age, be in general good health and weigh at least 120 pounds. Appointments are encouraged and walk-ins can only be accepted as the schedule permits. To schedule an appointment, call the LifeServe Blood Center at 800-287-4903.