Waukon Iowa News

Proper Disposal of Diabetic Syringes a Concern Locally

Posted 14 February, 2012
Recently, a garbage bag was found along an Allamakee County highway which was full of used insulin syringes which is an improper, dangerous method of disposal for used needles.  A simple, inexpensive disposal program for used needles was developed locally over 15 years ago and remains very useful and accessible yet today.

Veterans Memorial Hospital together with Hartig Drug began this safe syringe disposal program to help with the proper disposal of these sharps for the safety of the community.  This Sharps Container program is still available to all members of the area communities and needs to be utilized by everyone.

Sharps Containers are protective plastic boxes that safely hold any infectious waste material. Sharps Containers are available to anyone in the public for purchase for just $5 at Hartig Drug; an inexpensive means of proper disposal of syringes and lancets. Once a syringe or lancet has been placed into a Sharps Container, the protective sliding lid keeps any waste out of reach. The container will last a diabetic anywhere from 6 months to one year, depending on the frequency of the injections.

Once full, these Sharps Containers then need to be properly disposed of. Veterans Memorial Hospital welcomes all full Sharps Containers to be returned to their facility for proper disposal through their contracted infectious waste disposal company. The containers and their contents are then incinerated and taken to a special landfill where they are no longer a hazard to the environment or to the general public. Veterans Memorial Hospital pays for this service; however, there is no cost to anyone in the community who drops off their Sharps Containers at the hospital for proper disposal.

Veterans Memorial Hospital requests that only Sharps Containers be dropped off. Any other types of containers, such as milk jugs, allow the needles to poke through, increasing the risk of a needle stick to all of the persons handling these containers.

Infectious waste is defined as any liquid or semi-liquid blood, contaminated items that may release blood if compressed, items caked with dry blood, or other potentially infectious material. Such other potentially infectious material includes, but is not limited to, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva in dental procedures, and other internal body fluids that may have been in contact with blood.

With the growing number of diabetics all over the country, there is a concern that the needles and lancets used for control of diabetes are not properly disposed of.  Certainly not all diabetic syringes, lancets or other blood soiled material is infectious, but the potential remains. Veterans Memorial Hospital is extremely cautious and responsible to properly dispose of all potentially infectious waste material.

For more information, please contact Machelle Bulman, RN, Infection Control and Education Coordinator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at (563) 568-3411.

Creedence Clearwater Revisited VIP Concert for 2012 Delaware County Fair
Posted 6 February 2012
A classic band with dozens of hits to their name is headed for Manchester to headline the VIP concert for the 2012 Delaware County Fair. Jeannie Domeyer, Manager of the Fair made the announcement of the VIP concert last Friday night at Manchester’s winter edition of the First Friday @ Five. Headlining the traditional Friday night VIP concert with their legendary American rock is Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

CCR, headlined by Stu Cook and Doug Clifford “Cosmo”, original CCR band members, bring back the meaning of the music as they originally played it. Having toured North America, South America, Central America, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia, knocking out audiences with astounding concerts jam packed with songs that are still a staple of radio and movie soundtracks, Creedence Clearwater Revisited has come a long way.  “In the beginning Cosmo and I decided that if we could find the musicians that could capture the sound and recreate what the music was about, we’d do it,” recalls Stu.

Creedence Clearwater Revival had over 10 hits on Billboard’s top ten list including 5 #2 hits. No other bands have had more than that except for Elvis Presley and Madonna. Stu and Cosmo and their band Creedence Clearwater Revisited add a new chapter to their legacy with vibrant and exhilarating energy and pure American spirit. As the Hollywood Reporter’s music critic John Lappen wrote about a Creedence Clearwater Revisited concert in Los Angeles, “Their set was an amazing list of hit after hit that was done serious justice by the players involved.”

Seating for the VIP concert will include track seating at $60 which all you care to eat and drink with a full meal, beverages, wait staff and an area for dancing. Domeyer says, “This is our eleventh VIP concert, even the rain last year couldn’t stop the fun that happens during the concert atmosphere of VIP night at the Delaware County Fair!”

Tickets go on sale for this show on March 10th at 9:00 a.m. Tickets will be available at the Fair office, by calling 563.927-6449 or here.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Wins National Top Performer Award
Posted 5 December 2011
Veterans Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that Press Ganey Associates, Inc. has again named it a Summit Award Winner for the 2nd consecutive year. The Summit Award congratulates Veterans Memorial Hospital on achieving and sustaining exceptional emergency room patient satisfaction results.  VMH was in the top 5% of hospitals nation-wide for each consecutive quarter, now for the last four years.

Press Ganey currently partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities—including 50% of U.S. hospitals—to measure and improve the quality of their care. The company’s databases are the largest in the industry, and allow facilities nationwide to benchmark their results against peer organizations. The Summit Award recognizes top performing facilities that sustain the highest level of customer satisfaction for three or more consecutive years. Veterans Memorial Hospital is one of 20 facilities nationally to receive this honor for their Emergency patient care in 2010 and one of only 7 hospitals in the state of Iowa.

Robert Draughon, Press Ganey’s CEO noted, “We are proud to partner with Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Veterans Memorial Hospital’s innovative approach to patient satisfaction helps to advance the quality of health care in the Allamakee and northern Clayton County communities."

In 2007, VMH began measuring the ER patient experience using Press Ganey.  When initial results showed VMH in the 96th percentile overall, the challenge of sustaining excellent scores was realized.  Consistent, effective and caring communication with patients and their families has been one of the main objectives followed by the hospital staff over the last three years, with a focus on building loyalty among patients.

“Veterans Memorial Hospital is very honored to receive this Summit Award for the 2nd year in a row,” states Mike Myers, Veterans Memorial Hospital Administrator.  “It is a validation from the people we serve that we are continuing to achieve our goal of friendly, personalized care right here at home.  The people who are a part of this excellent team do not do this for the recognition, but they all do an outstanding job of making each visit to our facility a “Wow” experience.”

VMH not only measures patient satisfaction in the emergency room area, but all inpatients staying at the hospital, all maternity services patients and home health patients are surveyed through Press Ganey as well.  VMH keeps the results and goals of all patient survey results at the forefront of VMH culture.  Press Ganey results and comments are compiled monthly and shared with physicians and all staff through a “no secrets” approach.

“What makes this facility so deserving of this recognition is not the equipment or technology available, but the caring and compassion that everyone demonstrates to those who walk through our doors,” adds Myers.  “We challenge ourselves to learn from each encounter, and do even better the next time.  As it has been said here so many times, you can go anywhere to get treated, but you come to VMH to get cared for.”

Photo Caption:  Veterans Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that Press Ganey Associates, Inc. has again named it a Summit Award Winner for the 2nd consecutive year. The Summit Award congratulates Veterans Memorial Hospital on achieving and sustaining exceptional emergency room patient satisfaction results.  VMH was in the top 5% of hospitals nation-wide for each consecutive quarter, now for the last four years.  Pictured are most members of the hospital staff with the award.

Delaware County Fair Announces Montgomery Gentry As Country Concert for 2012 Fair
Posted 2 December 2011
One of country music’s all time great duos is headed to Manchester to headline the Thursday Night, Country show at the 2012 Delaware County Fair.  Jeannie Domeyer, Manager of the Fair, made the announcement that headlining the concert with their down to earth stylings and working man’s music is Montgomery Gentry.

Two boys from Kentucky, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry served notice to the music world as they busted on to the national scene in 1999 with their first hit single, “Hillbilly Shoes”.  They followed this song with the release of 13 additional top 10 songs with five songs climbing the charts all the way to number 1.  Their blue collar approach to their music hits a chord with many Americans and their mission is to create songs that people will be able to touch and say, “Yeah man, that song is a little bit about me.”  The duo just recently released their newest collection, aptly titled Rebels On The Run.  The first single to be release from this album, “Where I Come From” is climbing the charts.  Domeyer said, “Their new album is the traditional Montgomery Gentry sound.  It’s filled with songs that allow you to relate with the artist.  Songs people can associate with.”

Montgomery Gentry has won a host of CMA awards including Vocal Duo of the year and most recently the humanitarian award in 2010 for their service to many charitable organizations. 

Seating for the Montgomery Gentry concert will include track seating at $35 or the new all inclusive courtyard seating.  A fresh idea for the 2012 Fair, this seating option includes a general admission bleacher seat for the show, snacks, beverages, wait staff and an area for dancing. Domeyer says, “The new seating option is aimed at giving people an 'all inclusive' option for attending the concert.  Our fair prides itself on our "pay one price and participate in everything inside the fair" philosophy, courtyard seating takes this to the next level allowing the fairgoer to buy  tickets, come to the fair, go into the courtyard and have a relaxing time without have to run to get a drink, fight the crowd for a snack or really leave the area for anything.  We have a strong desire to give our fairgoer a fuss-free experience that is relaxing and enjoyable.  We think this seating option does just that!”

Tickets for Montgomery Gentry will go on sale at 9:00 AM December 17, in time for Christmas.  Tickets will be available at the Fair office, by calling 563.927.6449 or at www.delawarecofair.com.

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