Your future is worth a colonoscopy

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on a disease that often hides in silence. The good news? Colon cancer is highly preventable and treatable when caught early. By raising awareness, encouraging screenings, and making healthier choices, we have the power to protect ourselves and the people we love. Regular screenings […]

Riverwood Externship Program Launches Two Local Graduates into Healthcare Careers

Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to highlight the success of its Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Externship Program as two local students, Anika and Morgan Just, have completed their CMA training in eight months.    Riverwood’s CMA program removes barriers to entering healthcare by fully funding the one-year CMA training for selected candidates in exchange for a two-year […]

Colon cancer prevention starts with screening

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of early detection and preventative care. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, but it is also highly treatable when caught in its early stages. Regular screenings and healthy lifestyle choices play a critical role in reducing […]

Colon cancer screening saves lives

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops in the colon or rectum and typically begins as small, noncancerous clumps of cells called polyps. Over time, these polyps can turn into cancer, making regular screenings and awareness campaigns critical for early detection. During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March public health campaigns seek to […]

Hernia patient from Rome, Italy comes to Riverwood for care

Margaret Curry Michelangeli, who lives in Rome, Italy, is the patient who likely traveled the longest distance in 2023 to have hernia surgery at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minnesota. Given her plans to visit her family in northern Minnesota, Margaret asked her sister, Kim, if she would check into the possibilities for hernia surgery […]

General surgeon brings advanced training in endoscopic surgery

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the addition of Evan Kelly, MD, to its general surgery team. Dr. Kelly was the fifteenth surgeon to complete a one-year Fellowship training program for advanced surgical training at the Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIMIS) at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center […]

Get screened for colon cancer beginning at age 45

Riverwood Healthcare Center joins the American Cancer Society in recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. Screening is key to preventing colon cancer or detecting it early. You may lower your risk by also managing your diet and adding physical activity into your daily routines. Prompted by a recent alarming rise in cases of […]

Riverwood shares surgery expansion update

  Riverwood Healthcare Center reports that significant progress has been made on its surgery expansion construction project at its hospital in Aitkin. Designed by DSGW Architects with Kraus-Anderson as the general contractor and construction manager, the surgery expansion project will feature a 72,000-square-foot surgery addition. Construction has been underway since August 2022. The outline of […]

Robotic hernia repair supports rapid recovery

Dave Lahr did online research to find the best robotic-assisted hernia surgery option. Residing in St. Augusta near St. Cloud, he searched close to home first, but ended up choosing the Hernia Specialists of Minnesota at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn., a 2-hour drive away. “I wanted to find a surgeon who would do […]

Construction on hospital surgery expansion to begin

During the week of July 25-29, construction work will begin on Riverwood Healthcare Center’s hospital and clinic expansion for surgical services in Aitkin. Riverwood will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Tues, July 26, at 4 p.m. This event will be held on the northeast side of the parking lot in the Healing Garden. The program […]

Hernia surgery care exceeds patient’s expectations

After Dave Sadlowsky began experiencing symptoms for an inguinal hernia, he started to have a difficult time standing at work and at football games for any length of time. “Given that I am not a very experienced or comfortable patient, I was somewhat apprehensive about having a surgical procedure. However, as the person who does […]

Colon cancer is preventable

On average, your risk of getting colon cancer is 1 in 20, varying a bit according to individual risk factors. That is why Riverwood Healthcare Center has joined the American Cancer Society in recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. Testing is key to preventing colon cancer or finding it early. Why? Answer true […]