Health

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 17 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital (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 in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, August 8 at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

New this year at the Allamakee County Fair, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40.  The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robyn 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) welcomes Gundersen Ophthalmologist Dr. Efrain M. Cancel, MD, as a new Ophthalmologist performing cataract surgeries at the hospital. Dr. Cancel consults with patients at the Gundersen Eye Clinic-Waukon and if they are a candidate for cataract surgery, the procedure is performed close to home at VMH.

Currently, Dr. Cancel visits Waukon once per month for consultations and cataract surgeries. Dr. Cancel began his career in Marshfield, WI in the early 1990s. There, he raised two daughters and enjoyed the kindness and hospitality of Midwesterners, which led him to want to remain in the tri-state area when considering new professional challenges.

Staff from the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Medical Clinic are visiting the Postville Farmers Market each and every Thursday evening to offer free blood pressure and free blood sugar tests to all visitors of any age. Additional clinic and medical information is also available as well as a different activity offered each week at each of the markets.

Some of these educational activities will include Stop the Bleed training, Behavioral Health services, Hands-Only CPR training, Be the Match stem cell sampling, the Operation Game, proper hand washing technique, nutrition and eating a rainbow of colors, a photo booth, foot health and podiatry, Maternity Services, and a bean bag toss plus prizes and giveaways will always be available.

As many prepare for summer and other upcoming holiday travel, Allamakee County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services remind Iowans to make sure they are up to date on routine vaccinations, as well as any other recommended or required vaccines for specific international travel destinations.

“While going on vacation is exciting, taking the right steps to protect your health before you take off should be a priority,” said Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor. “This includes making an appointment to visit with your healthcare provider prior to leaving, especially when plans call for travel outside of the United States, which increases your chances of getting and spreading diseases that do not routinely occur in the U.S.”

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will not hold a regular meeting in July, but will resume its monthly meetings in August.

For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

With the new school year just around the corner, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are reminding all parents to ensure their children are up to date on all immunizations. It is important to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider or public health agency as soon as possible.

“Back to school is one of the busiest times of year for families, which is why we urge everyone with school-age children to schedule appointments now to get the necessary vaccines,” said Sheryl Darling-Mooney RN. “Diseases such as measles and whooping cough still exist. Keeping kids up to date on vaccines, helps them stay safe from potentially life-threatening illnesses.”

The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive which is going on now.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon each fall, the Pillow-Perk in October, a garage sale in the spring and their annual membership drive each July. All the money the Auxiliary receives goes back to the hospital for equipment.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon will be offering free blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests each day at the Allamakee County Fair this year, as well as “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40.

The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robyn 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be offering a photo booth and the Operation Game throughout the duration of the Allamakee County Fair to encourage youth to enter the medical field. Prizes will also be awarded.