Health

With the new school year just around the corner, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are reminding all parents to ensure their children are up to date on all immunizations. It is important to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider or public health agency as soon as possible.

“Back to school is one of the busiest times of year for families, which is why we urge everyone with school-age children to schedule appointments now to get the necessary vaccines,” said Sheryl Darling-Mooney RN. “Due in large part to decreasing vaccination rates, the U.S. is experiencing outbreaks of diseases such as measles and whooping cough. Keeping kids up to date on vaccines, helps them stay safe from potentially life-threatening illnesses.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering free blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests and hemoglobin (iron) tests all with immediate results at the Waukon Corn Days celebration Friday, August 1.

Random testing such as this opportunity at Waukon Corn Days helps to find the individuals who have undiagnosed diabetes, high blood pressure or low iron and direct them to the professionals who can help them successfully manage the issue. Each test takes just a couple minutes to complete and does not require any fasting.

Visitors will also be invited to play MyChart Trivia, and even sign up for the new patient portal app being offered now for the first time at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics. Prizes will be awarded through the Prize Wheel which is open to all ages.

Consider a different way to give back to the heart of the community by donating blood.  The next local drive will be held in Waukon Monday, August 4, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

People who give blood have an 88% lower risk of having a heart attack, so giving blood is a win-win situation for both the donor and the recipient. Blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin are all checked at every blood donation so donors know if it’s high or low and can see patterns that may cause concern, helping keep them healthy and reducing heart attack risk.

Blood donations are needed everywhere, even right here in Iowa. First time donors will find that donating blood is a safe and easy way to save lives and make a difference in the community. One single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Don Buhl by Greg and Maura Jones, Ann Langford, Beth and Bill Shafer, Linda Siegrist, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and Brad and Erin Berns. 

In addition, memorials were also received in memory of Dave Duncklee by Nancy and Ronnie Adam, Marilyn Anderson, Karen Berland, Kay Carter, Jane Dietrich, Jolene Doyle, Charles and Marcie Fritz, Clarence and Lois Henry, Gordon and Darlene Kaeser, Mary Jo Nordheim, Joann Peake, Beth and Bill Shafer, Lisa Shelton, Linda Siegrist, Clarke and Sheila Simmons,  Kip Troendle, Lilah and Butch Troendle, Fred and Geralyn Smith, and an anonymous donation.

In addition, a donation was made by Linda Siegrist in honor of Dave and Terri Kleinow’s 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) fair booth this year will be invited to play MyChart Trivia to learn about the new MyChart Patient Portal offered to all hospital and clinic patients. All will be invited to sign up for this new portal if they have not already. Prizes will be awarded along with support information and other giveaways.

Also, the hospital will again be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at the fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.

by Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care
 
One of the tasks each year parents experience is getting their children’s immunizations up to date. Common questions include: What is my child’s immunization status? Are they caught up? What do they need?  What is that one for?

If you do not have a current immunization record for your child there are a few different ways you can get one. You can obtain a copy from the facility where your child received their immunizations, you can contact your local public health department, or contact your school if your child is school age.

Most states have a statewide immunization database that immunizations are entered into when they are given. Iowa has IRIS (Immunization Registry Information System) that is used by most healthcare providers, public health departments, pharmacies and schools.

from Allamakee County Public Health

In northeast Iowa we are always glad to see the coming warm months of spring and summer. Unfortunately, with that warmer weather we also see an increase in foodborne illnesses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness affects 48 million Americans, causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually. Anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is at risk. Fortunately, most foodborne illnesses are self-limiting; however, they cost our nation millions in lost productivity, medical, and legal expenses.

Free sports physicals will be offered one more time, Wednesday, July 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in the 2024-2025 school sporting events.  

This clinic will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities. Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time.  If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.

Students in area schools were emailed a Google doc (2025 Athletic Physicals) to sign up for a time slot for this free clinic. Parent emails will not work for sign-up so students will need to sign up for a time slot that works best for them or the family.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Daniel Schmitt by Steven and Sheryl Evanson and Ernie and Donnalee Osland, in memory of Robert and Shirley Heimer by Joel and Mary Anderson, and in memory of Bill Smith by friends and family of Bill Smith.

Memorials were also received in memory of Dr. Bill Withers by Carl and Betty Christianson, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer and Bill and Linda Withers.

In addition, memorials were also received in memory of Lisa Kerndt by Pat Pettingill and the Lisa Kerndt Estate.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH)fair booth this year will be invited to learn how to sign-up for the new MyChart patient portal, in addition to learning about the benefits it has for the patients, when they visit the hospital and clinics booth at the Allamakee County Fair. Prizes and giveaways will also be offered.

Again this year, the hospital will be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life.  This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago.  A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.