Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will continue to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, each Friday afternoon, continuing through the entire month of March, from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.

Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   Be sure to wear a mask and bring your insurance card and vaccination card if you are coming for your second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call them ahead of time to schedule an appointment.

How many people know just how much blood is needed by certain patients? Here are some facts from the LifeServe Blood Center on the need for blood:

• Cancer patients can use up to eight units of blood a month.
• Bone Marrow Transplant patients can use up to two units a day.
• Cardiovascular Surgery patients can use between two and 25 units.
• Liver Transplant patients can use up to 100 units.
• Auto/Trauma Accident patients can use from five to 100 units.
• Premature infants can use up to one to four units.
• Burn victims can use up to 20 units of platelets.
• Heart surgery patients can use up to three to eight units of red cells and one to 10 units of platelets.
• Organ transplant patients can use 10-30 units of blood.

Numerous memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jerry Siegrist by Jim Klenske, Randy and Karen Loeb, Dave and Laurie Martin, JoAnn Peake, Jim and Linda Ryan, Angeline Schulte, Tom and Lynn Thomson, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ron and Nancy Adam, Marilyn Anderson, Audrey Angel, Keith and Carol Bakkum, Brad and Erin Berns, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Sandra Bresnahan, Gary and Karen Bristle, Wayne and Joan Burk, Jane Butler, Carl and Betty Christianson, Sheila Clair, Dave Davies, Betty Decker, Gayle and Carol Decker, Dave and Cheryl Duncklee, John and Shelly Elliott, Matt and Amy Garrett, Mike and Cindy Gibbs, Nan Grangaard, Lee and Gran Gruenhaupt, Jon and Amy Hagen, Dr.

Chest pain is a common complaint presented 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 it 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 build-up of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon recently hired a new massage therapist who is working full-time hours at the hospital, allowing for massage times to be expanded and more readily available.

Shannon Bernatz, Licensed Massage Therapist, has joined the rehabilitation team at the hospital, working with Vicki Klepper, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reflexologist. Now massage therapy and reflexology services are again available five days a week at the hospital, including evening hours.

“I am so happy and honored to join the team here because of our patient-centered culture and reputation for excellence,” states massage therapist Bernatz. “We have such a wide reaching and important impact on our community and I am excited to bring my massage therapy skills to the community we serve.”

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon beginning the end of March. This 138-hour course will conclude the end of July.

This will be an in-person class held right here locally in Waukon, which is a huge advantage to students attending. Another huge advantage is that NICC has received a grant to cover 70% of the tuition for this course so generous tuition assistance is available, keeping the class costs under $400.

Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

You can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Thursday, March 3 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The Waukon blood drives have been very successful the last couple of years with new first-time donors each time. The February blood drive saw 53 donors giving blood, saving 144 lives.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives. Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are several tips for ensuring a successful donation:

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Robert “Bob” Anderson by Bill and Sue Blagsvedt, Wendy Bucheit, Dennis and Julie Herman, Don and Linda Herman, John and Lorna Kerndt and George Pickett.

Memorials were also received in memory of Judy Landt by Betty Decker, in memory of Bob Dotseth by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Shirley Heimer by Bev Krambeer and Jim and Linda Ryan, in memory of Rose Snitker by Linda Flatland and Lillian Larson, and in memory of Ione Rema by Dennis and Julie Herman, Lillian Larson and Betty Troendle.

Veterans Memorial Hospital began its own Cardiac Rehabilitation unit over three decades ago to help fulfill a need in the community. Jane Butler of Waukon, who had originally retired from nursing at Veterans Memorial Hospital in 1988, was asked if she would return just a year later to help begin the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program along with fellow nurse, Traci Heidelbauer McGraw.

“It took us over a year to get the service off the ground with Medicare requirements and our training,” adds Jane.  “We took out a wall between two patient rooms on the third floor and made that our cardiac rehab department.  Our first patient was DuWayne Dietrich, Jane’s husband. Dr. Withers was our Chief of Staff. We had some stair steps and a tread mill, so it was pretty antique compared to what they do now, but it was a start.”

The unit was moved into the Rehabilitation Department during the hospital expansion on 2000 and continues to fill a huge need in the community.

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  This program will be held Monday, February 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa. Local SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Nancy Schoh are trained by the State and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents.   Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.