Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Monday, May 14, beginning at 5:30 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 card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus a 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.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, May 8 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 group now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

A new, local Caregiver Support Group has begun meeting monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings are taking place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m.

The next meeting of the support group will be held Monday, May 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Large 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 will continue to meet the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Vernon Shogren by Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Randy and Lori Hesse, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, John and Lorna Kerndt, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Jane Dietrich, Dorothy Sandry and Russ and Mary Jo Meyer.

Memorials were also received in memory of Maloy Johanningmeier by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Don Breitsprecher by Jackie Westby, in memory of Blaine Schultz by Mary Ann Hager, and in memory of Ralph and Joann Welch by the family of Ralph and Joann Welch.

Memorials were also received in memory of Pastor Lynn Groe by JoAnn Peake, Meg Schaller and Brad and Erin Berns.

April is National Laboratory Month. Recently, the Veterans Memorial Hospital Laboratory, with the help of the Health Care Foundation, added a new piece of equipment to allow for more testing to be performed in-house. 

The need for fast, sensitive and specific results for causes of diarrheal illness are extremely important. The new GI Panel Analyzer is very beneficial to that aspect. A GI Panel tests for 22 of the most significant causes of infectious diarrheal illnesses, including bacteria, parasites and viruses. This analyzer tests for these organisms’ DNA, making it extremely sensitive and specific. Plus, with this new machine now in-house, the test only takes a little over an hour.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 9 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Free health testing, exhibits and healthy snacks will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages.

This is the 21st annual event sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital and will include some special added attractions this year, including a radon testing display in honor of balloon artist Paul Kammarmeyer, better known as “Greenie” who attended this wellness fair sharing his balloon art talents with this community for the last decade.

He lost his battle to lung cancer caused by radon in his home at the end of 2017. He trained Mike Chapman as his apprentice, who will carry on his talent and tradition at this wellness fair. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event.

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Thursday, May 3 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center 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.

Over half of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet less than four percent donate on a regular basis. A single donation of blood can be used to save up to three lives and help in treatment of cancer patients, accident victims, hemophiliacs and surgery patients. The LifeServe Blood Center is committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Betty Ryder by Pat Pettingill, in memory of David Olson and Ruby Olson by Veronica Olson, and in memory of David Olson by family and friends of David Olson.

Memorials were also received by Bill and Sue Blagsvedt in memory of the following:  Mitch Einck, Betty DeBuhr, Ralph and Joann Welch and Butch Winke.

Memorials 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 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health-related fields, such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Monday, May 14, beginning at 5:30 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 card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus a 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.
 

by Tami Gebel, VMH
Occupational Therapist

Have you been experiencing pain in your hip or knee? Are you having difficulty completing daily tasks, such as dressing, bathing, and making a meal? Is it becoming more difficult to walk around your house, through the grocery store, or attend special events where there are stairs?

These are some important questions to consider before talking with your doctor about having a hip or knee replacement surgery. The surgery, and the expected pain and inconvenience, can seem overwhelming; however, the after effects can be life changing. The therapy department at Veterans Memorial Hospital is here to help you through the transition from painful limiting joints to returning to a fulfilling productive life.