Veterans Memorial Hospital moves forward with transition to a County facility


VMH Board of Trustees sworn in at December 8 meeting ... The new Board of Trustees for Veterans Memorial Hospital was sworn in at the board’s first meeting as a county-owned hospital Thursday, December 8. Pictured are many members of the new board being sworn in before signing their oath. The hospital retained four of the five original members of the board including Dennis Lyons, Patty Nordheim, Kevin Hanson and Jim Sewick, with three new members added from around Allamakee County, to make a total of seven board members. Those new members consist of Dave Weymiller of rural New Albin, Greg Lage of rural Postville and Dan Byrnes of rural Waukon. Submitted photo.

With the nearly 72% countywide vote November 8 in favor of converting Veterans Memorial Hospital from a City-owned to a County-owned hospital, hospital staff began the ownership transition process immediately. The Financial Services department began updating all contracts with the new ownership and hospital administration began working with the Allamakee Board of Supervisors to construct a new Board of Trustees.

The new Board of Trustees for Veterans Memorial Hospital retained four of the five original members, including Dennis Lyons, Kevin Hanson, Jim Sewick and Patty Nordheim. In addition, three new members were added from around Allamakee County, to make a total of seven board members. Those new members consist of Dave Weymiller of rural New Albin, Greg Lage of rural Postville and Dan Byrnes of rural Waukon.

Prior, when the hospital was city owned, all board members had to live within the Waukon city limits.  Now the board members can reside anywhere in Allamakee County.

“I am so pleased to have these seven, engaged and enthusiastic Board members leading us as we continue to grow our services,” states Michael Coyle, Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Memorial Hospital. “We have always served all of the people in Allamakee County and beyond so it is nice to have representatives from all over the county who can serve on our board.”

The first meeting for the Veterans Memorial Hospital, Allamakee County Board of Trustees was held Thursday, December 8.

“We will do our best to bring all of these new board members up to speed as we continue to sustain and grow in many areas, keeping health care local and accessible,” adds Coyle.  “We are busy discussing bringing Urgent Care back on the weekends beginning in January as well as our new Ophthalmologist, Dr. Cancel, who will begin in February and bring back cataract surgery to the area.  We are thankful for this overwhelming community support and look forward to our future as being County-owned.”