Health

Wed
13
Mar

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week: Pulmonary rehab helps with better function day to day


Pulmonary rehabilitation at VMH ... Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week is March 10-16. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program offered locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital that teaches a person to live and breathe better with chronic lung disease. Pictured is pulmonary rehabilitation patient Zippy Zimmerman of Postville with Amy Rolfs, RN, during a pulmonary rehabilitation session at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program offered at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon that teaches a person to live and breathe better with chronic lung disease. Conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, restrictive lung disease and cystic fibrosis can make doing everyday activities difficult due to shortness of breath and low activity tolerance. Participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program can help increase strength, manage shortness of breath, decrease anxiety and depression, and implement a consistent at-home exercise program.

Wed
13
Mar

Buddenberg donates and utilizes his own rehab equipment at VMH


Parallel bars donated to VMH ... Pictured here, at center, is Randy Buddenberg of Ossian using the parallel bars that he donated to the Veterans Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Department, after remodeling his own home and no longer having a need for them. Whenever he needs to return to the hospital, they are here for him to use, as well as all other rehab patients. He is pictured above with Brad Krambeer, at left, and Dacia Johnson, at right, both of the Rehabilitation Department. Submitted photo.

Randy Buddenberg of Ossian recently donated a set of parallel bars to the Veterans Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Department after remodeling his own home and no longer having a need for them. The bars are being utilized regularly by physical therapy patients at the hospital, and whenever Buddenberg returns to the hospital as a patient, the bars are here for him to use.

“I always ask to come to Waukon whenever I need it because the nurses are all so great and I feel so comfortable with them and the rehab department. I have spent a lot of time there and they all do a good job,” states Buddenberg. “It’s hard for these little hospitals to compete with the bigger places, but I always choose to come back. They are so nice to work with. Therapy has really helped me. Just by doing the smallest things over and over again, pretty soon the problem disappears and its amazing. Plus they are very entertaining and put me in a good mood!”

Wed
13
Mar

Sleep Awareness Week; Should you have a sleep study?


Sleep Awareness Week at VMH ... This is Sleep Awareness Week. Connor Meyer, Respiratory Therapist at Veterans Memorial Hospital, encourages everyone to think about their quality of sleep and even consult with their significant other on whether they have the signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and feel they should have a sleep study. When healthy sleep is interrupted this way, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions may increase. Sleep Studies are performed regularly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to help diagnose any of the 84 known sleep disorders, helping to find a healthy solution to safer and better sleep. Submitted photo.

If you or someone you know snores regularly and has one or more of the following symptoms, it may be related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): excessive daytime sleepiness, gasping or choking during sleep, grogginess and morning headaches, frequent urination at night, depression or irritability, obesity or having a large neck crowding the upper airway.

OSA is a common, yet often undiagnosed sleep disorder afflicting 20 million adults, both men and women, in the United States.  People who have OSA stop breathing repeatedly during sleep because their airway collapses, which may be caused by a large tongue, extra tissue in the airway or decreased muscle tone.  As a result, air is prevented from getting into the lungs.

Wed
13
Mar

VMH Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health announces statistics for 2023


Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health ... Pictured above is the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care staff who together drove 59,792 miles around Allamakee County in 2023 providing numerous services to the area communities. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health handles everything from insurance authorizations, admissions, routine home health visits, case-management, disease investigations, vaccinations, state-mandated audits, home health and immunization billing, county and regional emergency preparedness and response, community outreach clinics, among other areas where the services of that department may be needed.

Last year, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care achieved the following statistics in regard to patient care:
Performed 2,994 Skilled Nursing visits
Performed 3,237 Home Care Aide Visits
Administered 2,197 Immunizations
Drove 59,792 miles around Allamakee County to care for clients in the area communities.

Wed
13
Mar

March 10-16 is Healthcare Human Resources Week; Consider a job shadow to experience the many careers in healthcare

The vision at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon is ‘to be a premier health facility and a leader in fostering a healthy community through innovation, excellence, stewardship, and commitment to the people we serve throughout their lifetime.’ Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages students to be part of this vision by job shadowing with the hospital.

As part of Veterans Memorial Hospital’s commitment to supporting education and promoting future talent, the hospital encourages and welcomes students who are eager to explore various career paths through job shadows.

Job shadowing allows students to observe professionals in action, gain first-hand knowledge of different roles and responsibilities, and make informed decisions about their future career paths. Veterans Memorial Hospital wants to invest in the next generation of professionals and provide them opportunities to learn and grow.

Wed
13
Mar

Diabetes Support Group Meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at VMH in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Wed
13
Mar

Grandparenting Classes will be offered at VMH Saturday, April 6

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering Grandparenting classes again this spring. Corinne Cook, RN, Babysitting Class instructor, will teach the next Grandparenting Class Saturday, April 6 from 9:30 a.m. until Noon. The class will be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

In these classes, new or soon-to-be grandparents will learn all the new protocols to use when caring for their new grandchild. Some topics covered will include basic baby care, car seat safety, Tylenol/Ibuprofen dosing charts, home safety, poison control information, infant/child CPR, choking and other emergency medical information as well as tips to support parents such as handling the baby blues and postpartum depression.  Free-will donations will be accepted to cover the costs of the class.

Wed
13
Mar

Babysitting Seminar scheduled for Friday, March 29 at VMH

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminars Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Wed
06
Mar

VMH Waukon Medical Clinic extended hours remain popular; Wait times may occur on busy nights


Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic continues to offer extended hours ... The Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic extended hours have been a popular option since they began in early January. Walk-ins are welcome any Monday through Thursday evening from 4:30-6:30 p.m., allowing families to seek medical attention at a convenient time. Since this is a walk-in clinic without any scheduled appointments and some nights are busier than others, the wait time to see the provider may be longer. Pictured above is many of the medical clinic staff members who all take turns ensuring these extended hours happen to more conveniently serve the area. Submitted photo.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic in Waukon extended evening hours, that began in January, have been a popular option after work and school, allowing families to seek medical attention at a convenient time.

Patients are welcome to walk-in to the clinic between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. any Monday through Thursday evening, without an appointment, for acute, non-emergent needs such as the following: broken bones (other than hips or femurs), cough/cold, diarrhea, ear aches, fever, flu, minor burns, minor cuts, muscle strain, pink eye, rash/hives, removal of foreign body, sinus infection, skin infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection and vomiting. Since this is a walk-in clinic without any scheduled appointments and some nights are busier than others, the wait time to see the provider may be longer.

Wed
06
Mar

Babysitting Seminar at Veterans Memorial Hospital


Babysitting Seminar scheduled for Friday, March 29 ... Veterans Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Babysitting Seminar Friday, March 29. Pictured above is Corinne Cook, RN, class instructor teaching ‘hands only’ CPR, just one of the many skills taught at this seminar. This morning session will be held from 9 a.m. to Noon. Pre-registration is required by March 27, as seats are limited. Online registration is available at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com or call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminar Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children inside or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are all welcome and encouraged to attend. Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

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