Health

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.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 18 at 10 a.m.  The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital in Waukon.

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 Teresa Myers, RN, C.D.E., Diabetes Educator, or Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested  Thursday, August 18.  Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner if  chosen. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m.  Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so.  The cost is $3.00 per person with all proceeds going towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  Prizes will be awarded.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Marlys Jacobs by Marv and Marge Strike, in memory of Ruby Kloke by Dennis Kloke and in memory of Richard “Dick” Gaunitz by Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

Memorials were also received in memory of Diane Foels by Scott and Kim Bollman, Joe and Judy Sweeney and the family of Diane Foels; in memory of Earl Iverson by Dave and Laurie Martin, and in memory of Don Pothast by Marv and Marge Strike.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Jim Moose by Dave and Laurie Martin, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Kay Carter, Kristin Cote, Jane Dietrich, Anna Schroader, Ernie and Donnalee Osland and Brad and Erin Berns.

A donation was also received in honor of Gary and Carol Bahr’s 50th Wedding Anniversary by Ken and Gloria Krambeer.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be sponsoring its 23rd annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 20, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. The run/walk will be offered as a free event this year and welcomes walkers and runners of all ages. In addition, a number of free wellness tests and services will be offered to all those attending.

Free diabetes/blood sugar tests will be offered by the hospital’s Diabetes Education Department as well as free hemoglobin tests by the hospital’s Laboratory Department. Free chair massages will also be offered by the hospital’s massage therapists, Edna Wyninger and Shannen Mezera.

The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive.

Great colleagues, great patients and a great place to live bring Kristen Reierson, OD, to Gundersen Eye Clinic Waukon.

“I am thrilled to be moving back to Northeast Iowa, which is where I am from,” says the Elgin native. “I am also excited to increase the accessibility of eye care at the Waukon location.”

Dr. Reierson provides primary eye care such as glasses and contact prescriptions as well as ocular disease management to patients in the Waukon region.  She can manage glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes and other emergency eye care.

“I started working with Gundersen as a fourth-year optometry student and was so impressed with the organization I stayed to pursue an additional year of specialization in ocular disease management,” says Dr. Reierson.  “When a staff position was offered to me I was thrilled to continue to work for an organization which values quality patient care.”