Health

This is National Hospital Environmental Services Week. Environmental services (EVS) staff, often called housekeepers, have a much more important role that just janitorial. They are professionals who are on the very important front lines of cleaning and sanitizing to prevent the spread of infections for the safety of all patients, families, visitors and fellow staff members.

EVS staff clean and disinfect all areas of the hospital following the strict protocols for cleanliness and sanitation, removing hazardous waste, and even improve the patient experience by providing a clean environment and positive interactions with patients.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, September 19, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

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

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon are excited to announce they will soon be hosting their 19th Annual Women’s Health Day wellness event Tuesday, September 24, at the Waukon Event Center. All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.   This year the menu will consist of a full salad buffet, sandwiches, beverages and dessert.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Dialing 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7 for anyone contemplating suicide. This year, the 988 Crisis Lifeline shares the message that everyone can help prevent suicide and encourages everyone to ‘Be The 1 To’… Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Stay Connected, Follow Up and Learn More.
Ask - Those who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks about them in a caring way.  Acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation.
Be There - Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.
Keep Them Safe - When lethal means are made less available, suicide rates by that method decline.

by Brandy Strub, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Ever heard of “Aging Gracefully?” There are many things that influence how we age, not just genetics. According to the National Institute of Aging article “What Do We Know About Healthy Aging,” the following things can help you manage your health, live as independently as possible, and maintain your quality of life as you age:

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, September 10, at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Those interested should feel free to attend and also bring a friend to the meeting. This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive is scheduled to be held Thursday, September 5, due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held the first Monday of each month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) with its blood and blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months. During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations. While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood.

More driving can mean more automobile accidents. A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, September 19, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

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

This is Health Unit Coordinator Week. The role of the Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) is vital to the operations of the patient floor in any health care facility.  Veterans Memorial Hospital health unit coordinators help maintain the flow of patient care, providing support and communication to all staff and families on the patient floor.

A large piece of the role of the Health Unit Coordinator is registering emergency room (ER) patients, receiving incoming calls, and coordinating patient admissions, transfers, and discharges. The work is very different every shift keeping the job interesting.

Becki Estebo has been a Health Unit Coordinator at Veterans Memorial Hospital for five years. She feels the position is an important role for both the inpatient floor and ER departments. She states, “I’ve always wanted to work in the medical field and felt this would be a good fit as I love helping and caring for others.”

Summer is a time of high blood demand in all communities. Donating blood is easy and one single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, September 5 this month, due to the Labor Day Holiday Monday that week. The drive will be held from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The blood that is collected is tested carefully. In fact, all blood that is collected by any blood collection center is tested the same, according to the federal regulations. To help maintain Iowa’s blood supply, donate at the Waukon Community Blood Drive, Thursday, September 5, at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appointment, call the LifeServe Blood Center at 800-287-4903.