VMH Auxiliary and Elliott Jewelers to host 15th Annual Women’s Health Day September 24

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon, will be hosting their 15th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon Tuesday, September 24 at the Waukon Banquet Center.  All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a salad luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.

The theme for this year’s event is “Meditation and Mindfulness.” Featured speakers for the Women’s Health Day program will include Steven Mazzafield, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist from Veterans Memorial Hospital who will speak on the topic, “What Research tells us about Meditation and a Healthy Brain.”  Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD, Registered Dietitian at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will then address “How Living Mindfully Can Help Calm Anxiety and Stress.” Mike Myers, Veterans Memorial Hospital Administrator will then speak on “The Challenges Facing Rural Hospitals and What We Are Doing to Address Them.”

The doors will open for this event at 11 a.m., with the luncheon and program speakers beginning at Noon.  Those able to take a longer lunch break may enjoy the free health testing and vendors available from 11 a.m. to Noon and again following the luncheon program. To honor one-hour lunch breaks, participants are also invited to attend just the program and luncheon, which will be held to one hour.

Free wellness testing will include blood pressure testing, blood sugar diabetes testing, mini-stress tests, hemoglobin testing, oxygen saturation testing, and carbon monoxide testing. Free chair massages and reflexology (foot massages) will be offered, plus information on breast cancer awareness, nutrition, smoking cessation, strength training, incontinence therapy, Hands-Only CPR training, colonoscopies, surgery services and many other health issues will be available. Flu shots will also be offered by VMH Community and Home Care for a small fee, based on availability at that time.

Again this year, the Laboratory Department of Veterans Memorial Hospital will perform its new community wellness testing right on site. Anyone interested in ordering any of these  wellness screenings, including a lipid panel, fasting glucose, vitamin D, TSH, hemogram, hemoglobin or HgbA1c, are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to the event. The full wellness package is available for a fee with other options available to choose from. An order form will be filled out, payment made and blood drawn, all at the event for anyone interested. The Lab staff will be on site for this testing and will then run the screens back at the hospital and mail the results out within five business days.

For the cost of a ticket to the Women’s Health Day event, all those attending will receive a goodie bag filled with coupons, samples and general health information, in addition to the luncheon, health testing and program.  Everyone purchasing a ticket will be entered into a drawing for a Ladies’ 14kt two-tone gold diamond fashion ring (retail price $1300) compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon. In addition, many more door prizes will be given away at the event.

Tickets will go on sale September 9 at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers. The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase a new fetal heart monitor and bassinet for the Maternity Services Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 or Nona Sawyer, Auxiliary Event Coordinator at 563-568-3105.