Health

June 11-17 was National CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Week. Certified nursing assistants began working under the Red Cross program during World War I where they were trained to care for wounded soldiers. The career has continued to evolve over the years, becoming a key part of the health care team at most all health care facilities.

Veterans Memorial Hospital utilizes CNAs in patient care on both the inpatient floor of the hospital and as Home Care Aides in the Community and Home Care Department. CNAs on the patient floor assist the patients with daily personal cares, eating, walking, and being an advocate during their hospitalization.

Carmen McCormick has been a CNA since she was 16 years old and has continued the career her entire life, working at area nursing homes, providing private in-home care and working as a CNA at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke. Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, July 6 at 2 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room at the hospital.

The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as one gets older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), together with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, will begin offering the ‘Baby and Me: The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, July 11 from 5-8 p.m. in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Helping Services’ Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, Barb Fjelstul and Rachel Weber, will teach the basics of how to correctly secure children in their car seat and getting the seat secured in the vehicle. Fjelstul, also a breast-feeding educator, will guide participants through the challenges and rewards of breast-feeding and provide techniques to ensure baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Rachel Stone, RN, is a labor and delivery nurse and will give expecting mothers education on breathing techniques and coping with pain during labor.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday,  June 30, a week earlier due to the holiday, from 12-5 p.m. The blood drive will be held at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Each and every blood drive matters. The results of the June 5 blood drive included 46 donors - three were first-time donor, with a total of 52 units collected saving 156 lives.

Regular blood donors may donate blood as often as every 56 days. First-time donors will find that donating blood is a safe and easy way to save lives and make a difference in the community. One single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Brian Garin  by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Mary Cunningham, Tom and Joan Fritz, Laurie Goltz, Don and DiAnne Haler, Nancy Hartley, Lollie Hirth, Barb and Mark Howe, Cindy Kelly and Al Garin, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Joanne Larson, Dave and Laurie Martin, Maury Mooney, Diane Regan, Clinton and McKayla Rethamel, Dean Schellhammer, Bill and Beth Shafer, Kay Snitker and Maureen Garin.

Memorials were also received in memory of William “Bill” Byrnes by Dave and Laurie Martin, Tom and Joan Fritz, Don and DiAnne Haler, Randy and Lori Hover, and Marlys Leiran. Additionally, memorials were also received in memory of Lynn Bjerke by Audrey Angel and Mary Ann Hager, in memory of Donna Hoins by Brad and Erin Berns, and in memory of Carlton Christianson by Patsy Kerndt and Betty Troendle.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) hosted its biannual Safety Day Camp Wednesday, June 7 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This day camp drew a record crowd of nearly 140 children ages seven to 14 from area communities for a day-long session on how to take responsibility for their own safety, respect parents’ safety rules and share safety tips with their family and friends.

submitted by Allamakee County Public Health

In northeast Iowa we are always glad to see the coming warm months of spring and summer. Unfortunately with that warmer weather we also see an increase in foodborne illnesses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness affects 48 million Americans, causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually. Anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is at risk. Fortunately, most foodborne illnesses are self-limiting; however, they cost our nation millions in lost productivity, medical, and legal expenses.

Free sport physicals will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical for participating in school sporting events. These will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic on the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 12: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 19: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
 
These clinics will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities.  Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time. If vaccinations are needed for students, be sure to call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, June 15, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at VMH in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital. Dr. Kristina Thompson, VMH Podiatrist (foot doctor) will be back to review healthy foot care and appropriate summer footwear as well as the importance of keeping  feet healthy for maintaining independence.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who has a friend or loved one who has diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), together with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, will begin offering the ‘Baby and Me: The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, July 11 from 5-8 p.m. in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Helping Services’ Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians Barb Fjelstul and Rachel Weber will teach the basics of how to correctly secure children in their car seat and getting the seat secured in the vehicle. Fjelstul, also a breast-feeding educator, will guide participants through the challenges and rewards of breast-feeding and provide techniques to ensure baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Rachel Stone, RN is a labor and delivery nurse and will give expecting mothers education on breathing techniques and coping with pain during labor.