Health

The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital, continue to be held through conference calls during COVID-19.  Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Again this week, Allamakee County Public Health received 300 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the State of Iowa that was administered to those in Tier 1B within one week.  These doses continue to be divided between the collaborating vaccine partners including Hartig Drug,

The Prescription Shoppe, Gundersen Clinic and Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic who all administer them to individuals age 65 and older.

Allamakee County Public Health department continues to focus on vaccinating the additional tier groups in Phase 1B (such as teachers, school staff, fire departments, social workers, day care providers, etc.)

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s online sign up option for those wishing to get on a waiting list for the vaccine has been working well. When vaccine is available, those on the list will be called to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. Specific directions will be given as to the location of the vaccination clinic as well as appointment time.

LifeServe Blood Center hosts a blood drive in Waukon monthly. Each blood donation they collect is now routinely checked for antibodies to COVID-19, which shows if the donor actually had the COVID-19 virus.  Many donors are finding they do have antibodies to COVID-19 which could make them eligible for donating convalescent plasma.

Convalescent plasma (CCP) is the liquid portion of the blood that is rich in antibodies that are used to treat or prevent serious infection.  Anyone that was confirmed to have COVID-19 may be producing these specific COVID-19 antibodies.   Convalescent plasma is greatly needed to be administered to those suffering from serious COVID-19 complications.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

With people eating on the run and not planning ahead, eating has become a mindless act.  Distractions have shifted our attention away from the actual act of eating towards televisions, computers and smart-phones.  This can be problematic, since it takes your brain up to 20 minutes to realize you’re full.

When we are dividing our attention, we usually eat faster and often overeat.  If you eat too fast, the fullness signal may not arrive until you have already eaten too much.  This is one of the contributing factors to our obesity crisis today.

Mindful eating is a technique that helps you gain control over your environment and eating habits.  Mindful eating is about using mindfulness to reach a state of full attention to your experiences, cravings, and physical cues while eating.  Using mindful eating has been shows to promote weight loss, reduce binge eating and help you feel healthier.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Julie Christensen by Jim ad Karen McCormick, in memory of David Shindoll by Jan Ellingson, in memory of Louis Kemp by Tom and Judy Kemp, in memory of William “Bill” Ferring by Francis and Muggs Berns, in memory of Delores Schellhammer by Ardie Kuhse, in memory of Dorothy McCormick by Norb and Nola Palmer, in memory of Robert J. Anderson by Dennis and Emmarene Smock and Carol Krumme, and in memory of Tom Collins by Jeff Moe and Dennis and Carn Murphy.

Additional memorials were also given in memory of Jack Marsden by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jeff Moe, Karen Durnan, Shirley Rose and David Marsden.

Memorials were also received in memory of Bob Oden by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Carol Krumme, Dave and Laurie Martin and Pat Pettingill.

In addition, general donations were received by Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Judy Lonning and Mark Lovelace of A&J Petersburg Agency.

The staff of Veterans Memorial Hospital pledged over $14,000 this last year to the VMH Health Care Foundation’s annual appeal campaign. The total raised in personal staff contributions was used to purchase equipment and furnishings identified by the staff that is needed in the hospital. This fund drive is held each fall for all staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital and consistently raises over $12,000 each year.

This past year, many items were purchased through generous monetary donations from hospital staff including medication trays for all Community and Home Care patients, a Kubota loader for the tractor used on campus by the Maintenance Department, a microwave for use by patients’ family members which is located in the Chapel/Meditation Room, rechargeable flashlights for the ambulances and a CO2 gas monitor for the ambulance jump kits.

Chest pain is a common presenting complaint in any emergency room, including the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital. There is always the possibility of heart disease in every complaint of chest pain or upper abdominal pain, and it must be taken very seriously.

The common signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, commonly called a heart attack, are;

1. Chest pain (crushing, squeezing or heaviness).
2. Sudden onset of weakness, nausea, fainting and sweating without an obvious cause.
3. Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.

These symptoms occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become clogged from a buildup of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, March 4 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution.

The need for blood has not stopped during COVID-19 and is in even higher demand, so the local blood drives continue to be held. LifeServe 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.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Orin Grangaard by Barb and Mark Howe, Jim and Jennifer Withers, the Thursday Club, Carolyn Thomson and Gene Maurer, Jon and Cathy Buhl, and Norb and Nola Palmer.

Memorials were also received in memory of Dan Buege by George and Helen Beardmore, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Gordon and Darlene Kaeser, Randy and Patty Nordheim, Patsy Kerndt and Kerndt Brothers Bank.

Memorials were also given in memory of Dale Kiesau by Dave and Laurie Martin and Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of Ron Goeke by Patsy Kerndt and in memory of Russ Roe by Jan Ellingson.

In addition, a donation was received from Robin Sawyer in honor of Wayne and Nona Sawyer.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon is still continuing to require the use of masks, even following the recent updated Governor proclamation. Anyone who is coming to the hospital for any type of service will be asked to continue to wear a mask during their visit. Social distancing and excellent hand hygiene will be continued as well, all in an effort to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the hospital’s campus and in the area communities served by the hospital.

Veterans Memorial Hospital did recently make an adjustment to its visitor policy, increasing from one visitor per day per inpatient to three visitors per day; however, this adjustment is subject to change at any time. All visitors are asked to check in at the main entrance of the hospital prior to their visit.