Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) physicians and staff will be awaiting the arrival of the first baby born at the hospital in the New Year 2026. This fortunate child and his or her family will receive a large number of generous gifts compliments of area merchants.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, January 5, from 12 p.m. to 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 (VMH) with their blood and blood products.

Make a New Year’s resolution to give blood this year. 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.

Three anonymous donations have been received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation for the new Postville Medical Clinic, bringing the total raised now up to $165,000.

Three different donors from the area have each gifted a $5,000 donation for an additional $15,000 total dollars raised. These donations bring the Foundation closer to that overall goal of $200,000 and closer to the reality of a new Postville Medical Clinic.

“We have three more donors who have each contributed $5,000 towards this project, but have chosen to remain anonymous,” states Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). “These gifts represent a strong show of community support and play an important role in moving the clinic expansion closer to its fundraising goal, ensuring continued access to quality medical care for local families.”

Both the Waukon and the Postville Medical Clinics as well as Community and Home Care-Allamakee Public Health will be closed New Years Day. The Waukon Clinic will also close at 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve and will not hold the extended clinic hours that night.

Both clinics and Public Health will resume regular hours Friday, January 2.

All patients of all ages are welcome to be seen at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic in Waukon or Postville. The regular hours for both clinics include the following:
 
VMH Medical Clinic - Waukon hours
Monday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
VMH Medical Clinic - Postville hours
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Farm Credit Services has generously donated $5,000 to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation to help purchase a new LIFEPAK 35 monitor. The Foundation, a nonprofit supporting local healthcare needs, is raising funds to replace an older defibrillator that lacks technological advances incorporated into modern devices. This upgrade will ensure EMS crews have reliable, advanced equipment during cardiac emergencies.

This enhanced technology will allow responders to provide better on-scene care, improve resuscitation efforts, and strengthen emergency services for the entire community. With the support of Farm Credit Services and other community partners, the Foundation aims to ensure that every patient has timely access to lifesaving technology and that local EMS teams remain equipped to deliver the highest level of care.

by Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator, Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation

If you have seen your investments grow over the years, you may have a powerful way to make a meaningful impact in your community: donating appreciated securities. By donating stocks or mutual funds that have grown in value and have been held for more than one year, you can support Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and enjoy valuable tax benefits.

It works because when you donate appreciated securities, you transfer the full market value to the Foundation without paying any capital gains tax. You may also qualify for a tax deduction on the full value of your gift if you itemize your deductions.

It is very easy to give.  Simply contact your broker to transfer your appreciated securities directly to the Foundation and claim your deduction. The Foundation will coordinate with your brokerage account and their brokerage account to ensure a smooth process.

For anyone who ever wanted to make a huge difference in the community, becoming an Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) helps fill a huge void and makes a huge impact in all area communities.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will be offering an EMT Class in Waukon, beginning in January. This 138-hour course, which will conclude in May.  Registration for this class must be completed soon.

The number of EMTs in this area has dwindled over the years as licensed EMTs have retired. Allamakee and northern Clayton Counties are fortunate to have many emergency response services, but nearly all are in need of more EMTs on their service to share call time, ensuring local emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Need a last minute gift idea? Veterans Memorial Hospital offers gift certificates for a full wellness package blood test at a low, up-front cost, which can make a very fitting gift for the holidays.

Gift certificates are available for purchase at the main entrance to the hospital. The following blood tests are included in this gift certificate: Cholesterol, Blood Sugar/Diabetes, Thyroid, Kidney Function, Uric Acid, Hemoglobin, Calcium, Liver Function, Vitamin D, Prostate Health, Potassium and Sodium.

The hospital offers this wellness testing to help accommodate individuals that may forgo these important tests due to the cost of high health insurance premiums and deductibles. Anyone can call the Laboratory at 568-3411 to set up an appointment. A physician’s order is not required for these tests. Results are then mailed to the individual within five business days.

Both the Waukon and the Postville Medical Clinics will be closing at Noon on Christmas Eve and will be closed for Christmas Day and New Years Day. The Waukon Clinic will also close at 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve and will not hold the extended clinic hours that night. Both clinics will hold regular hours all other days during the holidays.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be closing early Wednesday, December 24. They will close at 1 p.m. that day and no immunization clinics will be held that afternoon.

The Life Serve 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, and especially over the holidays.

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Monday, January 5, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

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.