Health

The flu vaccine is plentiful, widely available, and is recommended for everyone six 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 located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

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.

Both the Waukon and the Postville Medical Clinics will be closing at Noon Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, and will be closed for both Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, and New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1. The Waukon Clinic will also close at 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, and will not hold the extended clinic hours that night. Both clinics will hold regular hours all other days during the upcoming holiday season.

All patients of all ages are welcome to be seen at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Waukon or Postville. The regular hours for both clinics include the following:

VMH Medical Clinic
Waukon hours
Monday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

VMH Medical Clinic
Postville hours
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will not hold a regular meeting in December, but will resume its monthly meetings in January with the next scheduled meeting Thursday, January 16.

For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Monday, January 6, from 12-5 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 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 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.

by Brandy Strub, MS, RD/LD, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

The influenza season is in full swing throughout the country. It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Vaccination now can still provide protection for the remainder of the flu season, which can last as late as May, and is available at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care. In addition, simple steps like frequent hand washing and not coughing or sneezing on people can help prevent the spread of influenza. Most importantly, if you or your child is ill, stay home from work or school.

Each year, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon compiles a Baby Coupon Book made up of over 60 coupons from various businesses within and beyond Allamakee County. The coupons are given to each and every family that delivers a baby at the hospital throughout that year. The hospital coordinates this coupon book in an effort to assure all babies, - and not just the first baby - born at the hospital are treated extra special.

The book contains a variety of businesses who offer a discount, gift certificate, free item or free meal to the mom or baby. Veterans Memorial Hospital then designs and prints the book and shares one validated copy with each family that delivers their baby at the hospital in that given year. There is no cost to the business to participate, other than what they have included in their coupon, once and only if it is redeemed.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will not hold a regular meeting in December, but will resume its monthly meetings in January with the next scheduled meeting Thursday, January 16.

For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans that an annual flu vaccination is the best way to protect them and their loved ones from the flu. 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. Infants younger than six months of age are not old enough to receive the influenza vaccine, so they are at a higher risk of catching the flu from someone else and they have the highest chance of being hospitalized if they get ill. Anyone with flu-like symptoms during the holidays must stay home and away from others.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Ambulance Service was awarded $18,000 by the Allamakee County Community Foundation last spring for the purchase of a new radio system, referred to as Ambulance Communication Interoperability Enhancement. The hospital matched the nearly $5000 remaining dollars to purchase this new system which has now been installed.