Health

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, February 12 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room.

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 meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Over 50 interested community members attended the two pain control presentations hosted by Dr. Dave Schwartz at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon January 23 and 24. Dr. Schwartz explained the two new options which are now available locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to help with chronic joint and muscular skeletal pain, explaining these new procedures are providing options for people who have reached a point where there are really no other options, except for joint replacement, if that even is an option for them. He also spent time carefully answering the numerous questions about these procedures asked by those attending.

These new P.R.P. and stem cell procedures both involve injections and have been very successful in delaying total joint replacement. Dr. Dave Schwartz is the physician on the Veterans Memorial Hospital staff who performs both of these procedures.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Wednesday, February 20, beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The online certificate received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Kirk Roggensack by George Pickett, John and Lorna Kerndt, Jim and Margo Sweeney and Jim and Ele Klenske. Memorials were also received in memory of Emmet Nolting by Jim and Jill Kiesau, Dave and Laurie Martin, Joan Bieber, Jean Lydon and Family, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Carol Moe. In addition, memorials were also received by Ernie and Donnalee Osland and Jerry and Linda Siegrist in memory of Ron Benzing. A donation in honor of Chuck and Lois Votsmier’s 40th wedding anniversary was also received from Brian and Denise Wullner.

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.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, February 12 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room.

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 meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, February 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 its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital.  The meetings take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, February 18 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room, located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This new Caregiver Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at VMH.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be offering a pain control presentation for the public January 23 and 24. Dr. Dave Schwartz will be hosting these informative pain control presentations which will both detail the two new pain control options he offers at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Both presentations will include the same information but are being offered on two different days at different times to try to suit more schedules.

The Wednesday, January 23 presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Thursday, January 24 presentation will begin at 10 a.m. and will also be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Monday, February 4 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation: