Health

by Steven Mazzafield, Speech Pathologist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

It’s summer time again, but unlike previous years, this summer is totally different. For students, the learning environment has changed from fluorescent lights, bulletin boards, noisy lunch rooms, and classrooms filled with friends and replaced with computer screens, kitchen tables, noisy siblings, and social distancing from friends. As a result, parents may have concerns about their children’s academic success or possibly falling behind.

We know children tend to do worse on academic tests after summer vacation, sometimes referred to as “brain drain.” Math and spelling also are more likely to get worse over summer break. And of course, if your child is already falling behind or a poor reader, summer vacation can have an even greater impact. On top of all of this, children are also missing out on important opportunities to socialize with friends.

Veterans Memorial Hospital visiting hours have been extended from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, but are still limited to just one visitor per patient per day. For patient safety, the hospital is still enforcing the following guidelines:
· Adult patients will be permitted one visitor over the age of 18 per 24-hour period. The one identified visitor per 24-hour period must be registered daily.
· The visitor can do this by entering through the main entrance of the hospital, where they will be screened prior to entering and escorted to the patient room by a staff member.
· OB will maintain the current restriction of one support person for the entire stay.
· Visitors are always required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering. This is without exception. Visitors who cannot tolerate a personal face covering will not be allowed to visit.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care has availabilities for immunizations which are now held on an appointment-only basis. During COVID-19, the walk-in immunization clinics will remain on hold, but for those who want to call ahead and make an appointment, they can do so by calling 563-568-5660. When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered. With school right around the corner, the Community and Home Care public health office advises families to make their appointments now to be sure all needed immunizations are received before school begins.

Immunizations are extremely important. They have eradicated Small Pox, eliminated polio from the Americas, and they have almost eliminated Tetanus, Diphtheria and Rubella.  Immunizations have also greatly reduced the occurrence of Measles, Pertussis and Meningitis. Millions of deaths and other tragedies have also been prevented by vaccines.

The need for blood does has not stopped during COVID-19 and is always in even higher demand over the summer months, so the local blood drives continue to be held. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19. The next blood drive will be held Thursday, July 9 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to reopen outpatient services such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory testing, massage therapy, immunization and now sleep studies are once again being offered. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related. Each staff member also screens their temperature before entering the hospital, all in an effort to continue to stop the spread of this respiratory illness. Individuals who are interested in inquiring about these procedures or services should call their provider.  The provider can then share the order for the procedure with Veterans Memorial Hospital. Then the appointment and instructions will be shared.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging is offering Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m. To join a call, dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Bob Thompson by Carrie Blake, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Skip and Heidi Loebig, Tim and Sarah Waters, Margaret “Pegs” Nims, Jenny Monroe, Gordy and Darlene Kaeser, Gordon and Louise Ellingson, Sandra Bresnahan, Betty Irons, Robert and Karen Fossum, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Mark and Marcia Kruse,  Don and Connie Nagel, John and Rita Erickson, John and Mary O’Neill, Sandy Bacon, Dave and Laurie Martin, Carl and Betty Christianson, Marv and Marge Strike, Steve and Sheryl Evanson, Donna Wood, Mary Ann Hager, Steve and Bobbie Cunningham, Alex and Teresa Schaefers, Iva Gaunitz, Deb Johnson, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, William Dillon, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Al and Fern Rissman, Neil and Darlene Barth, Maury Mooney, Brad and Erin Berns, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Carl and Joyce Thornton, Betty White, Ron and Nancy Adam, Bob and Jeanine Mathis, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Lillian Schmieden, Den

Veterans Memorial Hospital still encourages the continued use of face masks in the community even with the relaxing of some of the COVID-19 restrictions. Since the CDC does still recommend that face masks be worn, Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to require all staff, visitors and patients to wear masks at all times within the facility.

The hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing for the hospital to please continue to do so. In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

The Respiratory Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has returned to offering pulmonary function testing for patients needing to test their lung capacity. This simple test is conducted in the Respiratory Therapy Department located on the lower level of the hospital by one of the two respiratory therapists on staff, Stacie Radloff or Chanice Larson.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has reopened many of its outpatient services in the last few weeks such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac, rehabilitation, laboratory testing, massage therapy, and immunizations. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan with a temporal thermometer and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related.

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to reopen outpatient services such as elective colonoscopies, mammograms, physical, occupational, speech and cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory testing, massage therapy, and immunizations. Each and every patient and visitor who enters the hospital is screened with a temperature scan and is asked a short series of health questions that are COVID-19 related. Each staff member also screens their temperature before entering the hospital, all in an effort to continue to stop the spread of this respiratory illness.

Individuals who are interested in inquiring about these procedures or services should call their provider. The provider can then share the order for the procedure with Veterans Memorial Hospital. Then the appointment and instructions will be shared.