Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital Women’s Health Day September 27

Posted: September 15, 2022 at 6:01 am

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon are excited to announce they will be hosting their 17th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event which will now be back to a full ‘normal’ event. It will be held on Tuesday, September 27, at the Waukon Banquet Center. All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a luncheon and program held from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The theme for this year’s event is “Embrace Allamakee County.” A special “Embrace Allamakee County” introduction will first be given by Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development. Featured speakers for the Women’s Health Day program will include Michelle Crary, Family Nurse Practitioner and the new full-time provider at the VMH Postville Clinic who will cover a variety of popular women’s health issues. Tara Fink, who is the new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner beginning at Veterans Memorial Hospital in October, will speak on how much needed mental health services will now be readily available in Allamakee County. Michael Coyle, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital, will then explain the need for the conversion of the hospital from city to county owned.

The doors will open for this event at 11:00 a.m., with the luncheon and program speakers beginning at Noon. Those able to take a longer lunch break may enjoy the free health testing and education available from 11:00 to Noon and again following the luncheon program. To honor one-hour lunch breaks, participants are also invited to attend just the program and luncheon which will be held to one hour. A new lunch menu this year will include sandwiches, fresh garden salad, dessert and beverage.

Free wellness testing will include blood pressure testing, blood sugar diabetes testing, mini-stress tests, oxygen saturation testing, and carbon monoxide testing plus information on breast cancer awareness, nutrition, smoking cessation, strength training, incontinence therapy, Hands-Only CPR training, Stop the Bleed training, and colonoscopies and surgery services. Flu shots will also be offered by VMH Community and Home Care for $35, based on availability at that time.

Again this year, the Laboratory Department of Veterans Memorial Hospital will perform their community wellness testing right on site. Anyone interested in ordering any of these wellness screenings, including a lipid panel, fasting glucose, vitamin D, TSH, hemogram, hemoglobin or HgbA1c, are asked to FAST for 12 hours prior to the event. The full wellness package is available for just $50 or other options will be available to choose from. An order form will be filled out, payment made and blood drawn all at the event for anyone interested. The Lab staff will be on site for this testing and will then run the screens back at the hospital and mail the results out within five business days.

The ticket cost of the Women’s Health Day event is $15 per person. For that fee, all those attending will receive a goodie bag filled with coupons, samples, and general health information, in addition to the luncheon, health testing and program. Everyone purchasing a ticket will be entered into a drawing for a Ladies’ 14kt white gold chocolate and white diamond fashion pendant (retail price $849) compliments of Elliott Jewelers of Waukon.

Tickets will go on sale September 12 at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers. The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase new carbon monoxide monitors for the hospital Emergency Rooms and a new portable O2 monitor for the Maternity Services Department at the hospital.

For more information, please call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 568-3411.