Health

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, August 10 at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Chapel Room, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Masks will be required. 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, and be sure to wear a mask. All attendees will be able to physically distance during the meeting.  This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 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 in Waukon. Masks will be required to be worn.

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, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Test Iowa, the state’s free COVID-19 testing program has transitioned from offering  COVID-19 testing at drive through locations throughout the state to self-administered kits.  Now, Iowans may choose to pick up a test kit from a local site or have a kit sent to their home at no cost.   Each test kit includes step-by-step instructions including how to activate the test kit, collect the test sample, return the sample the State Hygienic Lab and when to expect the results.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon is a pick-up site for these at-home test kits.  Kits are available at the main entrance of the hospital, from the receptionist desk, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends and holidays.

Infusion Treatments, also called IV Therapy, are conveniently offered locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital, saving patients numerous, tiring trips out of town for the same service. Infusion therapy is performed when medications or fluids cannot be taken by mouth or a stronger version of this medication is needed. These fluids or medications are delivered directly into the body through a vein with an IV. Infusions and treatments can be given as often as twice per day or as seldom as a one-time dose.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Infusion and Treatment Center offers a wide variety of outpatient infusion services, close to home.  Dressing changes, blood transfusions, medications and much more is offered locally by skilled  registered nurses. Their goal is to offer these well organized and comfortable treatment plans to save patients and their family members time and energy.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering free blood sugar tests and blood pressure checks each day at the 2021 Allamakee County Fair. The testing schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, July 21, 6-8 p.m.
• Thursday, July 22, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, July 23, 6-8 p.m.
• Saturday, July 24, 6-8 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be offering information on the COVID-19 vaccine and have a sign-up sheet for the next vaccine clinic to be held at the hospital. In addition, much information on the hospital’s new Medical Clinic will also be highlighted at the booth and will be handed out.

As always, Veterans Memorial Hospital will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies on the Fairgrounds. The hospital booth will be located inside the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion north door this year, across from the stage area.
 

Did you know one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood?

Attend the next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive, to be held Monday, August 2 from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe 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.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation for the new Medical Clinic in memory of Richard Bloxham by Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Richard and Ruth Bloxham, Jane Grotegut, Earl and Bev Haas,  Marlene Habhab, Gary and Marlene Houg, Patricia Kammeyer, Craig and Barb Lensing, Randy and Karen Loeb, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Julie Snitker, Fred and Lisa Mathews, Richard Bloxham, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Scott and Karen Ness, Deb Rixen, Shirley Rose, Brian and Denise Wullner, Ross and Kim Bosworth, Randall and Tamara Canoy, Mike and Tina Cooper, Doug Haas, Richard and Bernadette Halvorson, Alvin and Wendy Herold, Liang Chee Wee, Wendy Knight,  David Dahms, Connie Kuennen, Kathleen Nacos-Burds, Julia Sollien, Lindy Howes, Mary Jenkins, Dave and Laurie Martin, Gary and Patricia Mitchell, Rhonda Seibert, Ray and Kerry Wacker, John and Jean Walleser, Kate Wooden, Lisa Boyes, and Dave and Karen Mathis.

by Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Manager, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Specialist at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, urges vaccination for everyone after losing her father to the COVID-19 virus. She explains in her own words, as an infection control specialist, why the need for vaccination against COVID-19 sooner rather than later is so important.

“The COVID-19 virus will continue to change and create variants to allow for its survival. We don’t have many options to treat patients with COVID and the few options we have are already becoming ineffective against the variants. For example, if you test positive for COVID-19 and have health issues that put you at risk for developing moderate to severe symptoms, we can administer an infusion of monoclonal antibodies to give your immune system a boost. Last year, we had the antibody infusion we referred to as ‘bam,’ or the bamlanivamab infusion.

The new Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic has received a donation of artwork compliments of local artist Val Miller and her husband, Josh, owners and operators of Steel Cow in Waukon. Eighteen pieces of Val’s artwork were donated and are on display throughout the clinic. Pictured above, at left, is Val Miller, along with Clinic Director Laura Baxter, RN and Michael Coyle, Veterans Memorial Hospital CEO.

Move over gazpacho, there’s another refreshing cold summer soup made with zucchini and avocado. Just as gazpacho makes delightful use of summer’s bounty of tomatoes, this soup showcases zucchini and avocado, also abundant during the summer.

Zucchini has soft skin and edible seeds. Usually dark or pale green, zucchini has a delicate, almost sweet earthy flavor, but overripe zucchini can have a more bitter taste. Newer varieties include golden which have a slightly milder flavor than the green type. Look for fairly small zucchini that are firm and heavy for their size. Do not wash them until ready to use. Peeling is not necessary.