Health

The local blood drives continue to be held during COVID-19 since the need for blood is in more demand than ever. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation, and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next local blood drive will be held Monday, December 7 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is still offering flu shots on an appointment-only basis. The Hi Dose flu vaccine is also still available. Appointments can be made by calling 563-568-5660.   When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Those with an appointment to receive their flu shot should remain in their vehicle until the nurse comes to get them and should bring along their insurance or Medicare card.

Influenza, also called “the flu”, can cause fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to people of any age, and can lead to pneumonia and even death. Most deaths caused by influenza occur in the elderly, the very young or people who have a compromised immune system.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ann Klenske Ewing by Marv and Marge Strike, Bev Larson-Needham, Arlene Martin, Patsy Kerndt, Jane Dietrich, William and Sheila Clair, Robert and Joy Hansmeier, Tom and Karen Regan, Vivian Andregg, Carolyn Thomson and Gene Maurer, and Janice Kemp.

Memorials were also received in memory of Marcella “Marcie” Opfer by Donnalee and Ernie Osland, Mary Ann Hager, Marv and Marjorie Strike, Marcie Hansmeier, Curt Schoenthal, Dale and Virginia “Binne” Kurth, Linda Thompson, Ann and Dan Riesen, Mary Bublitz, Janet Snitker, and Laurie and Terry Welch.

Memorials were given in memory of Lorraine Adam by Joe and Mary Cunningham, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and an anonymous donor; in memory of Keith Roffman by Rudy and Marian Hesla, Beverly Bacon, Ardys Kuhse, Joan Moore and John and Joellen Roffman; and in memory of Monte Dundee by Betty White.

The 29th annual Christmas Fantasy, sponsored each year by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, will hold a Silent Auction event only this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  The “Big C” Silent Auction will offer nearly 70 items within local businesses in Waukon to promote ‘shopping locally’ this holiday season. These auction items will not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, hopefully decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Office has reported inquiries from many businesses who are concerned about having enough staff to keep their offices open to the public with the two weeks of mandated quarantine time for all exposures to COVID-19.

Lisa Moose, Director of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, is advising businesses and schools to follow the Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines and wear a mask to avoid being quarantined.

by Angie Mettille, RN/CDE, Diabetes Educator, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Coronavirus cases are surging at an alarming rate in our area. When we turn on the news, we see that people with “underlying health conditions” are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if contracting COVID-19.

In general, people of any age with types 1 or 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes, are at increased risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with diabetes whose blood sugars are uncontrolled, specifically running higher than target, are more likely to develop additional health problems, such as heart disease and kidney disease. These health concerns, in addition to diabetes, can negatively impact the outcome of a COVID-19 infection for some individuals.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lorraine Adam by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Sandra Bresnahan, Dave and Laurie Martin, Mary Ann Hager, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Larry and Mary Moore, Beth Ann Shafer, Nancy Schoh, Jane Dietrich, Maurice Mooney, Diane Regan, Jeff and Amy Sommer, Ambrose and Phyllis Welch and family and friends of Lorraine Adam.

Memorials were received in memory of Maggie DeWalle by Mary Ann Hager, Dave and Laurie Martin, Maurice Mooney, and Fred and Geralyn Smith.

In addition, memorials were received by Marvin and Marjorie Strike, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, and Kay Carter in memory of Dorothy Wandling, and by Lois Evans, Mary Jackson, Betty Decker, Richard and Annabelle Marti, Theresa and Ronald Snitker, Donnalee and Ernie Osland, Brian and Denise Wullner, and David and Mary Ann Pladsen in memory of Joana Pladsen.

Like most events held in 2020, the 29th annual Christmas Fantasy will also change considerably this year due to COVID-19.   The sponsor of this annual event, the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, reports this was not an easy decision since the annual Christmas Fantasy is always such a popular event, and they look forward to holding the extensive event again next year.

For 2020, the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation will still have a Christmas Fantasy presence through a “Big C” Silent Auction.  They will be promoting “shopping locally” by offering silent auction items within area Waukon businesses.  These auction items will not only offer a variety of Christmas gifts for sale locally, but encourage shoppers to do more local holiday shopping in safe settings, hopefully decreasing the amount of out-of-town shopping and creating more local store traffic, helping the local businesses.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has announced that Tuesday, November 3 the hospital Board of Trustees approved the plans to proceed with establishing a family medical clinic in Waukon. The former Mayo Clinic building, which is adjoined to and is now owned by Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be the site for this clinic.

“The Gundersen Waukon Clinic has done an amazing job trying to pick up as many patients as they possibly can following the closing of the Mayo Clinic last fall, but the truth is, there is just such a great demand for local primary care, they just can’t do it all,” states Michael Coyle, Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Memorial Hospital. “We see so many patients every day in our Urgent Care who just need to see a primary care provider for non-emergent care that could have been handled in a clinic setting. But because there is no other option, they come to urgent care, which does not make for good continuity of care.”

For those who are living with diabetes, taking insulin, and have Medicare, participating in the Medicare Open Enrollment Period is important every year. It is especially important this year as you prepare for 2021, as there have been some positive changes made within Medicare that could impact how much you pay for your insulin, without necessarily increasing the monthly premium you currently pay.

Open enrollment is the annual period when enrollees can make changes to their health insurance and medication part D plans. To make changes to your 2021 plan, you must do so during a specific timeframe. This is taking place now until December 7, 2020.

Medicare health and drug plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs.