Health

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, November 20, 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 has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, feel free to call  Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at VMH at 563-568-3411.
 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2025 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 14, 15, 16, and 17, at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion. The fun-filled theme will be, “A Christmas Vacation!”

2025 Christmas Fantasy Schedule of Events:

“Tingle ‘N Mingle” Happy Hour
The Friday evening “Tingle ‘N Mingle” happy hour will be held November 14, from 5-8 p.m. This annual Friday night happy hour event is a special opportunity to meet socially with friends and co-workers after work. All-you-can-eat hot and hearty hors d’oeuvres will be served plus desserts, candies, and spirits.  Each ticket includes all of the delicious food plus two beverage tickets, as well as a green jello shot to go along with the Christmas Vacation theme.  The cost is $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Norplex-Micarta has awarded a $15,000 donation to the new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Clinic for the renovation of the new facility. This is the largest single donation made to this campaign to date. Pictured above, left to right, is Mike Gromacki, Chief Executive Officer and Dixie Doeppke, Human Resource Manager, both of Norplex-Micarta; Selena Perez, Medical Assistant; Sandy Lopez, Medical Assistant and Medical Interpreter; Hannah Kelly, Nurse Practitioner; Teresa Berg, Receptionist; Laura Baxter, Clinics Director; Alisha Henderson, Clinic RN; Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator, all of VMH and Clinics; and Dennis Ford, President and Scott Hagen, Director of Operations of Norplex-Micarta. The new clinic will have an additional three exam rooms for a total of five, plus a new procedure room and lab area.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Nursing Department was recently presented a donation on behalf of the  non-profit organization, Buckets of Hope, Inc., to be used for patient needs as determined by the Nursing and Social Services Departments. Pictured above is Mandy Pettit, RN, presenting the donation to Jayne McCormick, Director of Nursing, at left, and Tatum Iverson, Social Services, at right, both of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Pettit shares the purpose of the foundation as the following, “Buckets of Hope Inc. was created in memory of our dear friend, Sue Mara, who lived her life with a heart full of kindness and a passion for helping others. Inspired by her legacy, we are committed to sharing hope with those who need it most - friends, neighbors, and even strangers walking through the challenges of healthcare struggles or life-changing hardships.

The Flu and COVID vaccines continue to be offered each Wednesday afternoon by appointment at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health.  Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

A flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious outcomes. A flu shot can safely help prevent the flu and lessen flu symptoms if you do get sick. A flu shot also can help protect your baby from flu for several months after birth.

Every year flu puts thousands of children in the hospital. Getting your child a flu vaccine can lessen flu’s more serious symptoms - reducing the risk of serious illness and flu-related hospitalization if they do get sick.

Local farmers can support Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and save on taxes by donating grain or other commodities directly to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.

When a self-employed farmer donates grain instead of selling it and giving cash, the value of that grain is not counted as income - meaning no income or self-employment tax is owed. The Foundation sells the grain, and the proceeds go toward local health care needs.

To qualify, the grain must be delivered and ownership transferred to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation before it’s sold.  To better illustrate this, a farmer donating 1,000 bushels of corn valued at $4,000 could save more than $1,700 in taxes compared to selling the grain and donating the cash. The farmer can still deduct all production expenses. 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2025 will  be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 14, 15, 16 and 17, at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion. The fun-filled theme this year will be “A Christmas Vacation!” 

A new live auction has been added to the line-up of events this year. This Live Auction will take place Friday night, November 14, at 7 p.m. during the “Tingle ‘N Mingle” happy hour event. A limited number of items will be offered. All auction items will be shared through the hospital’s social media Facebook page prior to that event.

by Renee Stokman, Mammographer, Veterans Memorial Hospital

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.