Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital is offering a new one-year weight loss program for anyone wanting to lose weight. This newly structured program includes a 12-month accountability calendar and monthly support classes. All enrollees will also have access to the weekly weight loss video blog hosted by Veterans Memorial Hospital.

This new weight loss program is designed for those who have a hard time getting to weekly classes or feel that they may need more accountability to lose weight.

It will begin Wednesday, January 4. The same program will be offered at noon and again at 6 p.m. that same day so any interested individuals can choose which meeting time works best for their schedule.

The special price for this program is only $25. Call Registered Dietitian Jill Fleming at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411, ext. 567 to reserve a space for this weight loss class.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Don Lyon by Dave and Laurie Martin, Irene Allison, Jim and Sue Bieber and Carol Lyon, and in memory of LaVerne Peterson by Bob and Judy Iseli, Jim and Bev Needham, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, and family and friends of LaVerne Peterson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Pat Kerndt by Patsy Kerndt and Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, and in memory of Fran Busness by Fred and Geralyn Smith, Mae Jean Bakke, Jack and Sally Hagensick, Byron and Darlene Schultz, Lyle and Marilyn Larson, Dave and Laurie Martin, and Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

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 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) has announced that it is supporting a national campaign led by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), in collaboration with the AARP Foundation, to raise awareness of the growing problem of social isolation and loneliness in older Americans. It is estimated that one in five adults over age 50 are affected by isolation, a problem that has been associated with higher rates of chronic disease, depression, dementia and death.

This topic is the focus of the annual Eldercare Locator Home for the Holidays Campaign, developed to encourage discussion of important issues affecting older Americans at a time of the year when family and friends often gather together. The campaign features a consumer brochure, “Expand Your Circles: Prevent Isolation and Loneliness As You Age,” which offers information and resources to help older adults reduce their risk of becoming isolated or lonely.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Radiology Department has announced they have completed an upgrade to a new, fully digital radiography system which included a complete equipment upgrade and remodel of the radiology rooms.

One of the new machines that has recently been installed is a digital radiography room. Now when an X-ray exposure is taken, the image comes up instantly on the computer monitor, just like a digital camera at home. Previously, the image would be exposed onto a cassette, and run through a reader, which took about 90 seconds. The advantage of this new system is to be able to get patients done with their radiography exams quickly so they can get results faster. The new digital system not only allows for quicker exam time, but also reduces radiation dose to the patient.

MedLink AIR, Gundersen Health System’s emergency and critical care air transport service, will permanently add a second helicopter to provide the best emergency care for the local region.

The Gundersen Board of Trustees has approved the purchase of a second helicopter. Gundersen has been leasing a second helicopter since June on a trial basis.

Stephanie Hill, program director for MedLink AIR, says Gundersen will continue to lease until the new helicopter is purchased and ready for service and additional crew members are hired and trained.

When the new, second helicopter and crews are ready by the end of 2017, the two helicopters will be permanently based outside La Crosse, one at the Decorah Airport and one at the Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will not hold a regular meeting this month in December. The group will begin holding its regular monthly meetings again in January.

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

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will not be holding its monthly Euchre Marathons in December, due to the busy holiday season. The Euchre marathons are typically held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center and will resume in January.

For more information on the monthly Euchre marathons or the Auxiliary itself, call Auxiliary President Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105.
 

Gundersen Medical Foundation’s 11th annual Steppin’ Out in Pink proved pink is powerful. More than 6,100 walkers and 314 teams stepped out September 10 to help raise $395,000 for local breast cancer research.

Top Steppin’ Out in Pink fundraisers were recently announced. Leading the way was Gundersen Waukon Clinic’s “Wauk On Breast Cancer” team that brought in $2,431 and placed first in the Gundersen team competition. Last year, the team took second place in the same category.

“Our message this year was HOPE. We thank the Wauk On Breast Cancer team for embracing Steppin’ Out in Pink and giving hope to all those in the community that their gift will touch,” states Steppin’ Out in Pink chair Debbie Kroner, Gundersen Medical Foundation.

Many of the St. Patrick Church youth in Waukon came together for a community service project to benefit Veterans Memorial Hospital. Twenty-five students worked in small groups to make these fleece tie blankets. Some of these youth, pictured here, presented the blankets to hospital surgery staff members Tara Reisinger, RN and Julie Viet, RN, both pictured at far right. These blankets will be given to any children undergoing surgery in the near future at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Wednesday, December 14 at 2 p.m. in the Medication Room of the hospital, which is located on the main level.

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 Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.