Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care has received its flu vaccine and will be offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during regular immunization clinic hours. The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, November 12 from 1 to 4 p.m.; again  Wednesday, November 19 from 1 to 6 p.m.; and each Wednesday thereafter. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  

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.) Wednesday, November 19, beginning at 1 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 $35 and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

The next local LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, November 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Rossville Road in Waukon. Blood drives are held the first Thursday of every month in Waukon to allow for more donors to give. LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Reservations are being taken now for the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 23rd  Annual Christmas Fantasy to be held  Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 14-17 at the Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “Let It Be Christmas.”
Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday and Monday noon luncheons and the Saturday evening wine, cheese and dessert event.
The luncheons are sponsored by the Allamakee County Cattlemen’s Association, and will be held  Saturday, November 15 at noon, and again Monday, November 17 at noon. A full meal will be served and entertainment will be provided at both events. All guests will have ample time to view all of the displays. Reservations can be made by calling 563-568-6262.

Ebola can be scary and it is understandable that Allamakee County residents may be concerned a case of Ebola could occur here as it has in other states. However, there is a world of difference between the U.S. and the parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States, Iowa and Allamakee County have a strong health care system and public health professionals who handle very contagious illnesses every day, even diseases like Ebola, and are prepared to respond should it become necessary.
“Allamakee County residents can be confident in our hospital system, which has facilities and proper protective equipment and protocols in place for individuals who contract very contagious diseases,” said Lisa Moose, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, Allamakee County Public Health Director. “Our hospital and staff are well trained and ready for any public health threat, should the need arise.”

October is National Physical Therapy Month. The Rehabilitation staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital works with people of all ages, helping them to reduce pain and regain strength, independence and health. The Healthy Lifestyles Rehabilitation Center at Veterans Memorial Hospital is fully equipped for all rehabilitation patients with 17 weight machine stations, tread mills, exercise bikes, NuStep and eliptical machines. The five private treatment rooms allow one-on-one evaluation and treatment with the therapist.

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Below is a listing of various statistics concerning breast cancer from the American Cancer Society and Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Risk Factors
Women are at a higher risk for breast cancer when they:
• Are over age 50.
• Have a history of breast cancer in their close family.
• Have their first child after age 30.
• Have never had any children.
• Weigh 40% more than their ideal body weight.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in America. This year, more than 220,000 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.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers of Waukon hosted a successful Women’s Health Day Luncheon Tuesday, September 30, at the Waukon Banquet Center. Over 200 ladies attended the salad luncheon hosted by the Auxiliary members. Many free health and wellness tests were also available.
The theme for this year’s event was “Purse-oo” Good Health. Featured speakers included Dr. Ben Ross of the Mayo Health System Waukon Clinic, who spoke on exercise and arthritis, and Jill Fleming, Registered and Licensed Dietitian with Veterans Memorial Hospital and well known author and national speaker, who taught many cancer prevention strategies to the large crowd.
Marilyn Mathews of Waukon was the lucky winner of the ladies’ 14 karat white gold circle pendant containing a ¾ CT black diamond surrounded by 1/10 CT total weight of white diamonds on an 18” 14 karat white gold round cable chain (retail value $850), compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, October 2 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in  Waukon (614 Rossville Road).
Regular blood donors may donate blood as often as every 56 days. First-time donors will find that donating blood is a safe and easy way to save lives and make a difference in the community.  A single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.
 The donation process is simple:
1. Eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids within four hours of donating.
2. Bring proper identification, such as a donor card or a driver’s license.
3. Complete a health history questionnaire and screening interview.
4. Receive a brief health check by trained staff. This includes a check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and blood iron levels.