Tickets remain for VMH Auxiliary and Elliott Jewelers 19th Annual Women’s Health Day September 24

Tickets are on sale now for the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Elliott Jewelers of Waukon 19th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event Tuesday, September 24, at the Waukon Event 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 luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.

Many area vendors will be attending the event and sharing information and materials. Those who have confirmed to attend thus far include Gundersen Waukon Clinic, Waukon Wellness Center, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A), Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Waukon Dental, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health. Hospital staff will provide free wellness testing including blood pressure testing, blood sugar diabetes testing, hemoglobin testing, fall prevention, infusions, oxygen saturation testing, and carbon monoxide testing plus information on breast cancer awareness, nutrition, smoking cessation, strength training, Hands-Only CPR training, Stop-the-Bleed training, and colonoscopies and surgery services. Flu shots will also be offered by VMH Community and Home Care based on availability at that time.

Again this year, the Laboratory Department of Veterans Memorial Hospital will perform 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 or other options will be available to choose from. An order form will be filled out, payment made and blood drawn all at the event for anyone interested. Results will be mailed within five business days.

The theme for this year’s event is “When I Grow Older.” Featured speakers for the Women’s Health Day program will include a panel of speakers who will help educate and advise all those attending on common questions and answers about Medicare including scenarios of real-life issues they have experienced in various plans and coverage. That panel will include Rebecca Johnson, Revenue Cycle Director; Denise Wullner, Business Office Manager; Michael Coyle, hospital CEO; and Jim Johnson, Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Volunteer.

Jill Fleming, Culture and Wellness Advisor, will then take the stage with her uplifting and entertaining talk on “The Gift of Aging: New Adventures, Laughter and Letting Go!”

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 education 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. The menu this year will again consist of a full salad buffet, sandwiches, beverages and dessert.

Ticket cost of the Women’s Health Day event will include 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’ 14k rose gold diamond and amethyst pendant necklace (retail value $825) compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon.

Tickets are on sale now at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers. Attendees need not be present to win. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase a new iSTAT chemistry and Blood Gas Analyzer used to run many critical tests in the Laboratory of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

For more information,  call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.