Health

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Thursday, March 5, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ozzie Quandahl by Bruce and Lynn Anderson; Ian, Mariss and Tate Anderson; Les Askelson; Arden and Sharon Auna; Sandy Bacon; Beth, Betsy, Carrie and Kelly Baxter; Jim and Charlene Baxter; Roger Bergen; Edith Bloxham; Laurie Bulman, Spencer, Sydney, Austin and Sawyer; Pud Bulman and Family; John and Alice Burke; Todd and Kathy Cahoon; Robert and Kristi Campbell,  Michael and Catherine Cassarella; Janice Cooper and Don Dehning; Herb and Ann Dehli; Kevin and Jenny Dixon; Jerry and Michelle Donahue; Joe and Mary Egan; Mark and Lori Farley; Karen Ferring; Nancy and Dan Gardner; Beverly Gavle; Lee Gavle; Mike and Cindy Gibbs; Frank and Patty Goltz; Jim and Karen Gray; Glenda, Lawrence, Trevor and Kiera Green; Debbie and Larry Griffin; Bev Haas; Roger Hammel; Dave and Barb Henry; Lee and Dannette Hermeier; Lori and Randy Hover; Helen Johnson; Pat Joy; Lisa and Jeff Kelm; Karen and John Kerndt; Duan

With the recent recruitment of three more family practice medical providers, the hours of care at both the Postville and Waukon Clinics have been extended as of Monday, February 23.

Both family nurse practitioners Hannah (Gesing) Kelly, NP, and Mason (Hermeier) Kerian, NP, joined the staff, caring for patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinic locations.  Both of these providers spend two days each week at each of the Waukon and Postville Clinics. They join nurse practitioners Alex Berns, NP; Minji Ransom, NP; and Katy Maker, NP and Nurse Midwife, in seeing patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinic locations.

Dr. John Swords joined the Waukon Clinic staff in November, caring for patients at the Waukon Clinic each day of the week. Dr. Dave Schwartz and Sue McMillan, NP, also see patients solely in the Waukon Clinic.

by Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator

Have you ever wondered what the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation really does? Many people recognize the Foundation for sponsoring popular events like the annual golf tournament and Christmas Fantasy - but there’s much more happening behind the scenes.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation was incorporated July 26, 1982, with the mission of raising funds to support Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and local health care needs. Today, nearly 20 dedicated volunteers meet regularly to plan and promote fundraising events, while also identifying and helping meet medical needs throughout the communities served by Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics.

Chest pain is a common presenting complaint in any emergency room, including the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). There is always the possibility of heart disease in every complaint of chest pain or upper abdominal pain and must be taken very seriously.

The common signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, commonly called a heart attack, are:
1. Chest pain (crushing, squeezing or heaviness).
2. Sudden onset of weakness, nausea, fainting and sweating without an obvious cause.
3. Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.

These symptoms occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become clogged from a buildup of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, races, and body types - and they impact communities of every size, including rural communities like Waukon. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not a choice or a sign of weakness. They can affect physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and daily life. Because these illnesses don’t always have visible signs, many individuals struggle silently due to stigma or misconceptions.

Why awareness matters:
• Eating disorders are not always visible and can affect anyone
• Stigma and misconceptions often prevent people from seeking help
• Awareness encourages understanding, early support, and better outcomes

The demand for blood is very high. You can help.  The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, March 2, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products.  

Plenty of studies have shown that screen time is harmful to a child’s brain development, in some cases creating behavioral issues, depression and anxiety. But a new study recently released found that significant time on devices can also negatively affect the heart.

For young children, it’s difficult to regulate their use of devices by themselves, which is where parents need to step in, says Erin Davis, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Emplify Health by Gundersen. But as they grow older, teens need to take charge of their health, which includes making healthy decisions. But when it comes to screens, in today’s world, that can be difficult.

It’s a time in life every woman goes through - menopause. With it comes the well-known changes, such as increases in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as changes in body composition. Internal organs are also modified, and that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, so the importance of cardiovascular risk prevention can’t be overstated, says Heidi Werner, MD, a family doctor from Emplify Health by Gundersen and a Menopause Society certified provider. And those preventative steps are even more important as women reach menopause, which happens around the age of 51.

“Menopause is a single day in a woman’s life,” Werner says. “It is the one single day when you are one year after your final menstrual period. For some women, it’s hard to know when that day is because they’re on different things like birth control or have had a hysterectomy.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has partnered with Senior Life Solutions to help older adults who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental challenges often associated with aging. The new Senior Health Solutions program is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. 

Senior Life Solutions provides outpatient services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals (typically 65 and older) who could benefit from coping and communication skills to improve their mental health. The program offers group and individual therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. The Senior Life Solutions team includes a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed therapists, a registered nurse, and other professionals dedicated to the emotional well-being of the older adults in our community.