Health

Wed
16
Jul

VMH to offer free health tests and trivia at Allamakee County Fair

MyChart Trivia at the County Fair ...
MyChart Trivia at the County Fair ... Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital fair booth this year will be invited to play MyChart Patient Portal Trivia to learn more about all the benefits this new service has to offer and to sign up for this new portal, if they wish. Prizes will be awarded as well as other information and giveaways available. Free health testing including blood pressure checks, blood sugar/diabetes tests and hemoglobin testing will all be offered in addition to “Be the Match’ stem cell sampling for all those ages 18-40. As always, Veterans Memorial Hospital will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies on the Fairgrounds. The hospital booth will be located inside the Fairgrounds Pavilion building on the stage area Thursday and Friday, July 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Submitted photo.

Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) fair booth this year will be invited to play MyChart Trivia to learn about the new MyChart Patient Portal offered to all hospital and clinic patients. All will be invited to sign up for this new portal if they have not already. Prizes will be awarded along with support information and other giveaways.

Also, the hospital will again be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at the fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.

Wed
16
Jul

Keeping your children’s immunizations up to date and ready for back-to-school

by Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care
 
One of the tasks each year parents experience is getting their children’s immunizations up to date. Common questions include: What is my child’s immunization status? Are they caught up? What do they need?  What is that one for?

If you do not have a current immunization record for your child there are a few different ways you can get one. You can obtain a copy from the facility where your child received their immunizations, you can contact your local public health department, or contact your school if your child is school age.

Most states have a statewide immunization database that immunizations are entered into when they are given. Iowa has IRIS (Immunization Registry Information System) that is used by most healthcare providers, public health departments, pharmacies and schools.

Wed
16
Jul

Be cautious of foodborne illnesses during warmer months

from Allamakee County Public Health

In northeast Iowa we are always glad to see the coming warm months of spring and summer. Unfortunately, with that warmer weather we also see an increase in foodborne illnesses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness affects 48 million Americans, causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually. Anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is at risk. Fortunately, most foodborne illnesses are self-limiting; however, they cost our nation millions in lost productivity, medical, and legal expenses.

Wed
16
Jul

One night remains for free sports physicals at VMH Waukon Clinic

Free sports physicals will be offered one more time, Wednesday, July 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in the 2024-2025 school sporting events.  

This clinic will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities. Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time.  If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Students in area schools were emailed a Google doc (2025 Athletic Physicals) to sign up for a time slot for this free clinic. Parent emails will not work for sign-up so students will need to sign up for a time slot that works best for them or the family.

Wed
16
Jul

Memorials received by Health Care Foundation

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Daniel Schmitt by Steven and Sheryl Evanson and Ernie and Donnalee Osland, in memory of Robert and Shirley Heimer by Joel and Mary Anderson, and in memory of Bill Smith by friends and family of Bill Smith.

Memorials were also received in memory of Dr. Bill Withers by Carl and Betty Christianson, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer and Bill and Linda Withers.

In addition, memorials were also received in memory of Lisa Kerndt by Pat Pettingill and the Lisa Kerndt Estate.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

Wed
09
Jul

VMH to offer free health tests and information about MyChart at Allamakee County Fair


VMH’s booth to provide information ... Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Fair booth this year will be invited to learn how to sign-up for the new MyChart patient portal available to hospital and clinic patients, in addition to learning about all of the benefits MyChart has to offer. Prizes and giveaways will be available. Free health testing including blood pressure checks, blood sugar/diabetes tests and hemoglobin testing will all be offered in addition to “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for all those ages 18-40. As always, Veterans Memorial Hospital will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies at the Fairgrounds. The hospital booth will be located inside the Fairgrounds Pavilion building on the stage area Thursday and Friday, July 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Submitted photo.

Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH)fair booth this year will be invited to learn how to sign-up for the new MyChart patient portal, in addition to learning about the benefits it has for the patients, when they visit the hospital and clinics booth at the Allamakee County Fair. Prizes and giveaways will also be offered.

Again this year, the hospital will be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life.  This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago.  A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.

Wed
09
Jul

Free sport physicals at VMH Waukon Clinic begin this week


VMH Waukon Clinic ... Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Clinic-Waukon, pictured above, Wednesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. both nights. Students in all area schools can sign up for this event through the 2025 Athletic Physicals Google doc they all received in their school emails. For more information, students should contact their high school or middle school secretaries. Submitted photo.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH)Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in school sporting events. These exams will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 9 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.

These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time. If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Wed
09
Jul

July is UV Protection Month: Protect your skin this season

Tips from the American Cancer Society

It’s summer and we’re in skin protection season. The vast majority of skin cancers are preventable by routinely shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, but Americans aren’t doing enough to protect themselves.

The American Cancer Society suggests we bring our sun-protection habits up to date. Dermatologists recommend doing a skin check monthly, so you’ll be more likely to notice small changes or even find a skin cancer when it’s still small.  The best time to examine the skin is after a shower or bath and with good lighting. Look for changes in size, texture, shape and color of birthmarks, moles and blemishes.

Wed
02
Jul

Free sports physicals at VMH Waukon Clinic begin next week

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Clinic-Waukon beginning next week for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in school sporting events. These will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 9 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.

These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time.  If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Wed
02
Jul

Smooth transition for new EPIC Electronic Heath Record offering the advantages of MyChart at VMH

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) transitioned to the new EPIC Electronic Health Record two weeks ago after an entire year of preparation by hospital staff, with the help of the University of Iowa Health Care team. Patients and visitors are already seeing the advantages of this new system, especially the MyChart patient portal.

Patients may now sign-up for a MyChart account at their next appointment to either of the clinics or the hospital. Staff are available to help with the set-up process, or patients are invited to sign-up on their own, after receiving the link that is sent by the hospital and clinics.

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