CALS Executive Director Ann Gihl (second from right) presents Riverwood’s CALS Hospital certificate to Medical Director and Emergency Room Physician Dr. Jeffrey Ehnstrom. Also pictured (from left): Wendy Franke, Chief Quality Officer; Christy Hammer; Drew VanSanten; and Angela Kuppich
Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin has been recognized as a Comprehensive Advanced Life Support (CALS) Hospital, joining an elite group of facilities dedicated to excellence in rural emergency care. This designation reflects Riverwood’s commitment to high standards in staff training, use of state-of-the-art technology, and adherence to CALS principles.
“Riverwood first received this designation in 2008 and has long recognized the value of excellence in emergency medicine education,” said Dr. David Taylor, emergency physician and chief medical officer at Riverwood. “We are proud to have met the CALS criteria at the highest possible level, with 100% of our nurses and providers trained in CALS. In addition, we have secured the recommended equipment and demonstrated our full commitment to CALS principles.”
CALS is an educational program designed to prepare medical personnel in rural settings to anticipate, recognize, and manage life-threatening emergencies. Developed in Minnesota in 1996, CALS training emphasizes a systematic, team-based approach to emergency care and is now taught in multiple states across the country.
Riverwood has participated in CALS training since 2001. Over the past two decades, 278 team members have completed CALS certification by attending courses either on-site in Aitkin or at other regional locations. This milestone reflects Riverwood’s ongoing dedication to providing high-quality emergency care to residents of Aitkin and the surrounding communities.