Health

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.