Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Clinics is excited to welcome Dr. John Swords as a family practice physician to the hospital and Waukon Clinic team. Dr. Swords will begin seeing patients in the Waukon Clinic in mid-November. He joins Dr. Dave Schwartz; Sue McMillan, NP; Alex Berns, NP; Katy Maker, NP/Nurse Midwife; Minji Na, NP; and Hannah Kelly, NP, in providing family medicine for patients of all ages and with any medical concerns. Dr. Swords will work full-time in the Waukon Clinic.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Swords join the VMH family. He brings experience, compassion and a dedication to the patient experience to every patient interaction,” states Michael Coyle, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics. “Dr. Swords joins a growing and robust team of excellent Providers that have a passion for providing outstanding care.”

The final walk-in clinic day for flu and COVID shots at the Veterans Memorial Hospital main entrance will be held Wednesday, October 29. This clinic will be held from 9-11:30 a.m., but appointments can still be made for any Wednesday afternoon by calling 563-568-5660.

Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their Medicare number or private insurance card with them. If insurance does not cover these immunizations, they can be purchased instead.

The CDC now recommends that everyone age 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu every year. For those who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, flu vaccination is especially important. 

from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Allamakee Public Health

More bats test positive for rabies yearly in Iowa than any other animal species. Bats are also the most active in our state during the fall as they search for places to hibernate for the winter. This is when most Iowans come into direct contact with bats, potentially getting exposed to rabies.

Not all bats have rabies, but it’s important to recognize possible signs of rabies in bats. Unusual behaviors that could indicate that a bat has rabies include:
• A bat that is active during the day.
• A bat that is found in unusual places (inside a home or on the ground).
• A bat that is unable to fly or is easily approached.

A little over two months ago, the need for a new Postville Medical Clinic was shared at a Postville City Council Meeting with that announcement being met with a round of applause from everyone there. At that meeting, Michael Coyle, hospital CEO, stated the there are many reasons for this new clinic, with the main point being the lack of space for the growing number of patients at the clinic each day plus room for new providers that are beginning to see patients.

Enjoy a fun-filled Christmas Fantasy this year Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 14, 15, 16, and 17, at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion. The theme is “A Christmas Vacation!” Reservations are being taken now for the many popular events held during this four-day event, marking the 34th annual Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation Christmas Fantasy.

Fidelity Bank is the second sponsor to come forward with a large donation to the fundraising campaign for the new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Medical Clinic. Their generous donation of $10,000 was recently gifted to this project, helping to push the thermometer higher towards that goal of $200,000. The need for a new clinic stems largely from limited space to accommodate the growing number of patients seen at the clinic each day, especially now with new providers starting to care for the patients of the Postville area.  Pictured above, from left to right, outside of the new clinic location, are Jared  Funk, Vice President; John Heying, Regional President, and Ashley Kisling, Retail Loan Officer all of Fidelity Bank, along with Teresa Berg, Clinic Receptionist; Alisha Henderson, Clinic RN; Sandy Lopez, Clinic Medical Assistant;  Katie Grangaard, NP; and Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator.

by Connor Meyer, Respiratory Therapist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

National Respiratory Care Week is a good time to remind the public to exercise those lungs. Not only is exercise good for the heart, but it also helps keep the lungs in great shape!
Connor Meyer, Certified Respiratory Therapist, recommends the following to keep lungs healthy:
• Exercise at least 30 minutes five days a week, while focusing on good quality, consistent breaths.
• Take a break every hour to take in five deep breaths and slowly exhale. This not only helps with your lung capacity, but it also helps prevent infections from settling in your lungs.  Plus it is a great exercise to reduce stress!
• Drink plenty of water to be sure to stay hydrated.
• Get outside into the fresh air every day!

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health staff have traveled to each community in Allamakee County during October offering flu shots.  Walk-in clinics at the main entrance to Veterans Memorial Hospital will continue both emaining Wednesdays this month including October 22 and 29. Walk-in clinics are held from 9-11:30 a.m. plus appointments can be made any Wednesday afternoon by calling 563-568-5660. Flu and COVID shots are both being offered.

Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their Medicare number or private insurance card with them. If insurance does not cover these immunizations, they can be purchased instead.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Only lung cancer kills more women each year. The chance that any woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 43 (about 2.3%).  Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989, for an overall decline of 44% through 2022. The decrease in death rates is believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Monday, November 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) with their blood and blood products.

The 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, and especially important over the holidays.

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.