Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital sponsored its 23rd annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 20 in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. Despite the rainy weather, over 70 runners and walkers participated.

Tyler O’Neill and Jeremy Peake, both of Waukon, were the first to cross the finish line, doing so simultaneously. Katie Brennan of Lansing was the first female to cross the line. All those participating in Saturday’s event received complimentary reflective wrist bands for safely walking and running early mornings and later evenings.  Free diabetes/blood sugar tests, hemoglobin tests and massages were also offered to all participants.

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Thursday, September 1, from 12:30-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held the first Thursday of every month in Waukon, falling on the odd months, to allow for more donors to give.  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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, October 10, and that class will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at the hospital.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more about. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions.  Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be holding its regular Weekend Clinics over the Labor Day holiday weekend. The Labor Day Weekend Clinics will be held Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 3, 4 and 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. each day for all non-emergencies.

Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital, all year round, from 1-5 p.m. each day for non-emergencies. Non-emergencies are considered ailments that could be seen by a physician in a clinic and do not require an emergency room visit, such as minor injuries, sore throats and/or earaches that cannot wait until regular clinic business hours. These Weekend Clinics save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.

Christmas Fantasy decorators are needed to decorate trees, miniature trees, doors, gift baskets, centerpieces and tables at the 2016 Christmas Fantasy in Waukon. This year’s theme is “25 Years of Caring and Sharing” in honor of the 25th anniversary of this community event, which will be held Friday-Monday, November 11-14 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon.

The event will be organized by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation members, including Kevin Hanson, President; Jackie Halverson, Vice President; Amy Cote’, Secretary; Nancy Schoh, Treasurer; Sue Blagsvedt, Dan Denk, Jane Dietrich, Ardie Kuhse, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Gail Prestemon, Ann Roed, Jeannette Ruegnitz, Nona Sawyer and Matt Teslow, with additional assistance from Pat Pettingill, Kim Sylvester, Julie Thompson and Karen Swenson.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Sheryl Kamm by Fred and Geralyn Smith.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Earl Iverson by Dave and Laurie Martin, Jane Dietrich, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Jeff and Pam Christianson, Rodney and Mary Fink, Joyce Kuhse and Vivian Iverson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Don Pothast by Marv and Marg Strike, Dave and Laurie Martin, Dale and Ann Rademaker, Jim and Carol Moe, Dennis and Linda DeBuhr, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Ruth Nolting, Ed and Karen Stamper, Fred and Geralyn Smith, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, and Bob and Linda Thompson.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations made to the Foundation are considered to be tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be mailed to the Foundation at 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The Allamakee County Board of Health and Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care (Allamakee Public Health) have announced they will be dissolving the loan closet, effective September 1. The loan closet is housed in the Community and Home Care Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital and is comprised of a variety of pieces of durable medical equipment such as shower chairs, raised toilet seats, wheel chairs, and other pieces of home medical equipment that were available on loan for just a small $10 fee.

All those involved in this decision were very reluctant to dissolve the loan closet, but all agreed the decision did need to be made for a variety of reasons.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering free Blood Pressure Checks by the hospital’s Community and Home Care Department at the Waukon Corn Day celebration Friday, August 19. 

The tests will be performed in the Veterans Memorial Hospital first aid tent located in the Waukon State Bank parking lot, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. during the Corn Days meal.

Hand Washing demonstrations will also be offered at the hospital booth and a first aid station will be available if needed.

The hospital will be holding a 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. the next morning, as well.  Registration begins at 7 a.m.  For more information on these activities, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Viola Moen by Marv and Marge Strike, Nyles and Ruby Herman, Gayle Larkin, Alice Schlacke, and family and friends of Viola Moen.

Memorials were also received in memory of Walter Wedo by Dale and Ann Rademaker, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Gary and Marlene Houg and Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

In addition, memorials were also received for Edgar Brainard by Dave and Laurie Martin, Ken and Jill Lampman, JoAnn Peake, Randy and Karen Loeb, Gayle Larkin, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Hazel Rissman, Byron and Darlene Schultz, Mary Ann Hager, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Kay Carter, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Jim and Marlene Klocke, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, Mae Jean Bakke, Becky Gesing, Marlene Habhab and Dave and Gail Prestemon.