Health

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 7, 2016, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held the first Thursday of every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with their blood and blood products.
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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be offering special Christmas Weekend Clinics Friday, December 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. and again Friday, January 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday year-round at Veterans Memorial Hospital for non-emergencies and help save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.
Anyone needing to utilize these special weekend clinics over the holiday is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at (563) 568-3411

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions, will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon. This 138-hour course will begin Monday, January 11, 2016 at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.
Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Veterans Memorial Hospital

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, it’s important to take a moment and remember that some of the best gifts that have the most profound impact on the community don’t cost anything.

LifeServe Blood Center relies on volunteer blood donors to give a small amount of their time to ensure lifesaving blood products are on the shelf for hospital patients in need. In less than one hour, a blood donor can help save the lives of up to three different hospital patients. Additionally, after giving blood, donors can gift their reward points back to be used on teddy bears and other gifts for children in local hospitals.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD, Veterans Memorial Hospital Dietitian

Your holidays can easily be healthy when you follow a few simple strategies. Here are the 10 simple strategies to prevent holiday weight gain and help prevent excess stress. Follow as many of these steps as you are able to without feeling deprived.

Move in the morning. Take a morning walk to get your blood flowing. It is even better if you take a spouse, child or friend on that walk with you. You can even do it in your pajamas if you like. I always recommend taking a “turkey trot” around the block in the morning if you will be going to a holiday gathering, celebrating or dining out later that day.

The 2015 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy held last weekend, November 13-16 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion, was a huge success due to overwhelming community involvement.
“From the decorators, to the entertainers, to the treat makers, to the auction donors and buyers, I am once again overwhelmed by the community participation, and also the community support by the large numbers of people who attended the events,” said Mike Myers, Hospital administrator. “Our Foundation members should be proud of themselves for putting on such a spectacular community event.”
A near record number of auction items were donated to this year’s Fantasy by area businesses and individuals. The 99 auction items were displayed and auctioned on a silent auction bid to the highest bidder Monday night, November 16.

By Teresa Myers RN/CDE, with Jill Fleming MS/RD/LD

Grocery shopping is typically not at the top of most people’s list of fun activities. For people with diabetes it can seem overwhelming and challenging - making healthy choices, reading labels, knowing what carbohydrates, sugars and fats to watch out for, etc. With a little planning, grocery shopping can be an effective tool in meeting goals, such as managing blood sugar or losing weight.
Successful grocery shopping is about focusing on what’s healthy, nutritious and tasty, so that you actually enjoy eating. Diabetes Educators can help people with diabetes make informed choices. Here are some recommended tips.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during their regular immunization clinics. The next flu shot clinics will be held  Wednesday, November 18, from 1 to 6 p.m. and again  Wednesday, November 25, 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 and Tdap shots are also available.

by Teresa Myers RN/Certified Diabetes Educator Veterans Memorial Hospital