Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Arlene Martin by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Marilyn Anderson, Charles and Marlene Bloxham, Sheila Claire, Jane Dietrich, Cheryl Duncklee, Lois Evans, Linda Flatland, David and Suzanne Hahn, Don and DiAnne Haler, Helen Johnson, Jens and Jane Kallevang, Lillian Larson, Barb and Craig Lensing, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Ann Rademaker, Diane Regan, Mary Beth Regan, Linda Riek, Meg Schaller, Bill and Beth Shafer, Linda Siegrist, Frank and Carol Sivesind, Nancy and Larry Straate, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller, Donna Wood and an anonymous donation.

The number of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in this area has dwindled over the years as licensed EMTs have retired.   Allamakee and northern Clayton Counties are fortunate to have many emergency response services, but nearly all of them are in need of more EMTs on their service to share the call time ensuring local emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will be offering a face-to-face EMT Class in Waukon beginning in January. This class is not offered locally each year, so the fact it will be held in Waukon is a convenience for those wishing to take the course with little travel time. This 138-hour course will conclude in May. Registration for this class must be completed soon.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation has committed to a donation of $50,000 to the renovation for the new medical clinic in Postville. This donation brings the total raised to date to just over $140,000, moving the project closer to its $200,000 goal. Donations are being accepted and construction is expected to begin as soon as the fundraising goal is reached. Pictured above are many of the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation board members including, from left to right, Kim Sylvester, Chris Engstrom-Fosaaen, Kris Cote’, Sue Blagsvedt, Craig Lensing, Sue Kratz, Vicki Bloxham, Patty Goltz, Judy Herman, Rose Beardmore and Barb Shull. Recent fundraisers sponsored by the Foundation will fund this donation to the new Postville Clinic. The new clinic will have an additional three exam rooms for a total of five, plus a new procedure room and lab area.

The number of providers now serving the Postville Medical Clinic, following the retirement of Dr. Thomas McMullan, has grown with offering a greater variety of choices and availability for patients. 

Hannah (Gesing) Kelly, Nurse Practitioner, recently was added to the providers serving the Postville Clinic. She joins Nurse Practitioners Alex Berns, Minji Ranson, and Katy Maker, who is also a nurse midwife, in serving the growing number of patients utilizing this Clinic. 

National Handwashing Month is observed in December. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends washing hands to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The recommendations for effective handwashing and use of hand sanitizer were developed based on data from a number of studies.

The flu vaccine is plentiful, widely available, and is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care-Allamakee Public Health offers flu shots every Wednesday afternoon. Appointments can be made by calling them at 563-568-5660. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is now located at 12 East Main Street in downtown Waukon.  

As people gather together for holiday meals and parties, they’re more likely to spread illness around. Receiving the flu vaccine will help everyone stay healthy to enjoy all the festivities. This is especially important during family gatherings that infants, those with chronic diseases, or elderly individuals might attend. 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jean Hagen by Ron and Nancy Adam, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Cheryl Bollman, Allen and Ella Mae Goeke, Gil and Sharon Hunstad, Helen Johnson, James and Jane Johnson, Lyle and Cindy Leikvold, Marlys Leiran, Dave and Laurie Martin, Janet May, Diane Nolting, Linda Nolting, JoAnn Peake, Pat Pettingill, Ann Rademaker, Danny and Sue Schlitter, Linda Siegrist, Lynn and Dean Sorenson, Bud and Marge Strike, Thursday Club, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller and Bonnie and Bruce Williams.

As people gather together for holiday meals and parties, they’re more likely to spread illness around. Receiving the flu vaccine will help everyone stay healthy to enjoy all the festivities.  This is especially important during family gatherings that infants, those with chronic diseases, or elderly individuals might attend. 

The flu vaccine is plentiful, widely available, and is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care-Allamakee Public Health offers flu shots every Wednesday afternoon.   Appointments can be made by calling them at 563-568-5660. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is now located at 12 E. Main Street, Waukon. This move allows them to continue providing high-quality, compassionate care in a space that better meets the needs of the numerous clients and staff.  

The First Presbyterian Church ladies quilting group again donated a large number of quilts, pictured above, for patients at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). These ladies work on quilting and other service projects at their homes, then come together monthly to complete their work and plan for the deliveries of these service projects. Veterans Memorial Hospital was once again chosen as a recipient of this quality work. Sue Schlitter, one of the program coordinators, is pictured in the middle of the above photo, surrounded by many of the hospital’s patient care staff who will distribute the quilts as needed. Patients of all ages at Veterans Memorial Hospital will enjoy the blankets as well as all other facilities fortunate to receive these generous donations by the First Presbyterian Church quilting group. Submitted photo.
 

The year 2025 will soon be coming to a close. At this time of year, many are looking for tax savings through donations. The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation accepts many types of gifts that offer the donor considerable tax savings. This is the first of a three-part series explaining some additional ways of giving that also offer additional taxation benefits. 

While cash gifts are the most common and always appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, there are three different types of donations that may offer added tax benefits. These options include: Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD), also known as IRA Charitable rollovers; Donor Advised Funds (DAF); and gifts of stock, mutual funds, or other securities. This article will outline the QCD option with the other two options following in the next two consecutive weeks.