VMH hosting meetings in Allamakee County to discuss proposed City to County conversion

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) staff and board members continue to visit each Allamakee County community to present and discuss the need to convert from a city-owned hospital to a county-owned hospital.  These sessions last less than an hour and will answer any questions anyone may have about the proposed conversion of VMH from a city-owned to a county-owned hospital.  

The schedule for these county meetings, by date, is as follows:
• Harpers Ferry - Tuesday, October 18 at 6 p.m. at the Harpers Ferry Community Center
• Waukon - Tuesday, October 25 at 6 p.m. in the Freedom Bank Community Room
• Postville - Tuesday, November 1 at 6 p.m. in the NEIA Wellness Center Meeting Room.

Anyone is welcome to attend these presentations, and question and answer sessions will follow each one. Questions such as the following will be covered at these meetings:

QUESTION:  Is it common for hospitals to be owned by the County and supported by tax payers?
 ANSWER: It’s very common. In fact, county-owned hospitals in Iowa receive, on average, $1.75 million in tax support each year. It’s also important to know that the partnership between the County and VMH will continue to grow beyond the related services already in place. Examples include transferring of behavioral health patients and providing a county examiner and Allamakee County Public Health Services, which are already part of VMH.

QUESTION:  If VMH becomes county-owned, what impact will the conversion have on emergency medical services (EMS)?
ANSWER: None. The conversion will not affect the existing ambulance services in any way.

QUESTION: How can the hospital be held accountable for the funds raised?
ANSWER: VMH will continue to be your hospital. Just as in the past, every decision will be made in the best interests of patients and the communities we serve.

To ensure this: VMH will produce an annual Report to the Community, documenting the hospital’s activities and finances for the prior year.

Annual community forums will be held to provide an open exchange of information and to gain valuable input from Allamakee County residents.

A Community Ambassador group will be formed with members from throughout the county. This group will be the voice of the community, guiding VMH in its mission to provide an exceptional healthcare experience with compassion.

Detailed information and handout materials on the need for this city-to-county conversion will be shared at these community meetings.   Anyone is welcome to attend these presentations. All information is also available on the hospital’s website at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com/voteyes/.

A Facebook Live event is available for review by going to the VMH Facebook page. For any additional information about the need for the city-to-county conversion, feel free to call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.