Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during regular immunization clinics.  The next flu shot clinics will be held on Wednesday, October 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. and again Wednesday, October 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  
Immunization clinics are held from 1 to 6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month and from 1 to 4 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.
The cost for a flu shot is $25. Medicare does cover the costs. Billing for Medicare will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number with them.  Pneumonia shots are also available for $75 and Tdap shots for $48.
 

October is the month to start your Medicare Part D check-up for 2016. Watch your mailbox for news about Medicare drug plans and changes coming next year.  Look for:
• 2016 Medicare & You Handbook - this booklet includes a list of drug plans, premiums and basic plan information for next year.
• Annual Notice of Change - if you’re in a Medicare drug plan now your plan will send you a notice outlining changes for 2016 including premium, benefits and formulary (drug list) changes.  If you get your drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan watch for that plan’s notice of changes for 2016.
• Creditable Coverage Notice from Employer Plan - if you have drug coverage from your employer/retiree plan you must receive a notice by October 15 telling you if their coverage for 2016 is as good as Medicare’s. Keep this notice with your important papers.

from the American Institute of Cancer Research and
Veterans Memorial Hospital
 
Early detection can prove to be lifesaving when it comes to detecting and fighting breast cancer. There are four important ways to play a crucial part in finding breast cancer early on, which could significantly increase one’s chances of recovery should one be diagnosed with the disease.
1. Perform a monthly breast self-exam (BSE.) Because 65 to 70 percent of all breast cancers are found by women themselves, there’s no substitute for doing a BSE. Examine the breasts the week following a menstrual period for anyone age 20 and over. For women who are no longer menstruating, they should perform a BSE the first day of every month.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s state-certified, digital mammography machine was the first in the area when it was installed in 2009. This system allows the hospital to offer the latest, state-of-the-art technology to everyone needing a mammogram.  The advantages of digital mammography include the following:
• Digital mammography produces images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds with no waiting for film to develop.
• With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using special high-resolution monitors and can manipulate the images for more clarity to detect signs of cancer even earlier.
• Digital mammography images can be easily stored in the computer for comparison with your next mammogram, and if needed, easily transmitted to another medical facility without any loss of information, eliminating the dependence on only one set of original x-ray films.

by Jeff Mitchell, PM
Paramedic/EMS Supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital

At Veterans Memorial Hospital we are prepared for any type of trauma that may walk or be brought into our Emergency Department. Whether it is small or large, minor or severe, there are always highly trained personnel ready to provide treatment and stabilization to that person or persons requiring help.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, formerly Allamakee County Public Health, would like to invite anyone in the Allamakee County community to take a survey for Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Health Improvement Plan (HIP) assessment.  This plan is a report documenting a community-wide effort to assess Allamakee County’s health needs and decide how to meet them.

Christmas Fantasy decorators are needed to decorate trees, miniature trees, doors, gift baskets, centerpieces and tables at the 2015 Christmas Fantasy in Waukon. This year’s theme is “Ring In The Holidays” and will be held  Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 13, 14, 15 and 16 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; Wayne Burk, Vice President; Amy Coté-Hill, Secretary; Nancy Schoh, Treasurer; Sue Blagsvedt, Jane Dietrich, Gloria Krambeer, Jackie Halverson, Ardie Kuhse, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Ann Roed, Nona Sawyer, Randy Hesse and Bill Shafer, with additional assistance from Pat Pettingill, Kim Sylvester, Julie Thompson and Karen Swenson.

The Radiology Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital now has extended hours into the evening to allow for more mammogram appointments to be scheduled after work, making the option of mammography more accessible.
Mammography (an x-ray picture of the breast) is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. Early detection, followed by up-to-date treatment, provides women with better chances for long-term freedom from the disease. But mammography screening must be done routinely.

The 2015 Christmas Fantasy theme is “Ring In the Holidays” and will be held  Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 13, 14, 15 and 16 at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilionin Waukon. Decorators are asked to begin thinking about this year’s event. Many decorators are needed to decorate trees, miniature trees, doors and tables, centerpieces and gift baskets, as well as donate quilted items, for the 2015 Christmas Fantasy.
Christmas tree decorators decorate an artificial tree for display during the Fantasy and are able to take their items back home with them after the event. Many other decorated, crafted or quilted items are offered for sale by silent auction and may also include gift baskets.
This event is planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation. Anyone interested in being a part of the 2015 Christmas Fantasy may call Gloria Krambeer at 563-568-3182.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon will be hosting the 11th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon  Tuesday, September 29 at the Waukon Banquet Center. All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information and a salad luncheon and program held from noon to 1 p.m.