Kruse steps into expanded leadership role, ready to drive growth at Riverwood

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa Kruse to Director of Marketing, Public Relations, and Business Development. Formerly Riverwood’s PR/Marketing Manager, Kruse has led transformative initiatives including a full organizational rebrand and service line market expansion, positioning the organization for continued growth. In her new role, Kruse will provide strategic leadership […]

Riverwood welcomes respiratory therapist

Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Respiratory Therapist Erica Parmeter to its Respiratory Care team in Aitkin. Parmeter brings over 20 years of experience in the medical field, including more than 13 years as a respiratory therapist. Her clinical background spans a wide range of specialties, including critical care in cardiac surgical OR and ICU (with experience […]

Roxanne Molin-Rietveld receives DAISY Award for outstanding patient care

Riverwood Healthcare Center proudly recognizes Roxanne Molin-Rietveld, RN, as the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Molin-Rietveld has been with Riverwood for 13 years, providing compassionate care to countless patients throughout her nursing career. Riverwood participates in the DAISY Award program, which honors nurses who have been nominated by patients for their […]

In Good Hands: Ed Lamb’s Experience at Riverwood

For Ed Lamb, choosing Riverwood Healthcare Center hasn’t been a one-time decision—it’s been a relationship built on trust over the years. From routine checkups to complex health challenges, Ed says the care he’s received has always been exceptional. In February, he underwent hip replacement surgery with Dr. Erik Severson. “The surgery and recovery were much […]

The Healing Power of Physical Therapy at Riverwood

October is National Physical Therapy Month, a time to recognize the life-changing work of physical therapists and raise awareness about how physical therapy (PT) can help people of all ages move better, feel stronger, and live healthier lives. At Riverwood Healthcare Center, our physical therapy team is dedicated to helping patients regain mobility, reduce pain, […]

Riverwood Urologist Reaches 250 InterStim™ Procedures Milestone

Dr. Brandon Reynolds, urologist at Riverwood Healthcare Center, has reached a significant professional milestone—completing his 250th InterStim™ procedure, marking years of dedication to helping patients find lasting relief from bladder and bowel control issues. Dr. Reynolds was previously designated as a Medtronic InterStim™ Center of Excellence physician, a recognition awarded to urologists with advanced training, […]

Worth the Drive: Why John Chose Riverwood

“It’s a game changer when you find the right care” says John Seekon. After a failed knee replacement and months of being told to “just do more PT”, John knew something wasn’t right. Searching for real answers, he turned to Riverwood after hearing great things about the orthopaedic team. His instincts were right. The team […]

Riverwood Recognized for Excellence in Patient Safety

Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to announce it has received the Minnesota Hospital Association’s 2025 Quality and Safety Improvement Award, recognizing the organization’s outstanding commitment to patient safety and continuous quality improvement. This prestigious award celebrates hospitals that take extraordinary and innovative steps to make safety a top priority. Riverwood was selected for its deeply […]

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Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month: Caring for Women, Protecting Health

September marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cancers that affect the female reproductive system—including uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Every five minutes, someone is diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, yet many of these cancers have no early screening tests and symptoms that are often overlooked. At Riverwood, our […]

Cardiologist Joins Riverwood Heart Health Team

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Krishna Prabhu of the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI) has joined the cardiology provider team. He will begin seeing patients at Riverwood’s specialty clinic in Aitkin. Specializing in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Prabhu joins fellow MHI cardiologists, Dr. Tim Dirks and Dr. Sohaib Basharat, who have […]

Orthopaedic Solutions for an Active Life

Discover how orthopaedic care can help you move better, feel stronger, and live with greater confidence. Riverwood Healthcare Center, based in Aitkin, Minn., invites community members of all ages to a free lunch seminar on Wednesday, October 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at CoHaus in Grand Rapids. Whether you’re dealing with joint pain, […]

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Flu Season is Coming – Protect Yourself with a Vaccine

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others from serious illness. The flu vaccine helps reduce the risk of severe complications like pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death. The same goes for the COVID-19 vaccine. Riverwood Healthcare Center is offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines to the public by appointment at the following community clinic locations and times: Aitkin […]

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Riverwood Healthcare Celebrates 70 Years at The Legacy Gala

AITKIN, Minn. — Hosted by Riverwood Healthcare Foundation, The Legacy Gala was a night to remember, bringing together friends, neighbors, and supporters to celebrate 70 years of exceptional rural healthcare and to raise support for the future of care in the region. More than 135 guests enjoyed dinner, entertainment by dueling pianos, a live auction, […]

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Riverwood welcomes physician assistant for orthopaedics

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Physician Assistant Dayelise (Daya) Fleigle to the orthopaedic care team in Aitkin. Fleigle joins Physician Assistant Erin Mason and Nurse Practitioner Jeff Temple in seeing patients at Riverwood’s specialty clinic, Monday through Friday. The team collaborates closely with Dr. Erik Severson, Dr. Jeffrey Klassen, and Dr. Susan Moen—orthopaedic […]

Riverwood welcomes RPAP medical student

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Troy Scott, a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, who is participating in the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP). Through the RPAP program, a third-year medical student lives in a rural community for nine months and participates in rotations of hospital and clinic care […]

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Aitkin Artist Brings Color and Comfort to Patients with Heartfelt Donation

Local resident and artist Bill Hermans has turned a personal vision into a meaningful gift for patients at Riverwood Healthcare Center. With a passion for creativity and a heart for giving, Bill recently donated 225 adult coloring books—each paired with colored pencils—to the Infusion Department at Riverwood, offering patients a moment of peace and color […]

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Riverwood welcomes surgeon for orthopaedic fellowship

Craig Kampfer M.D., began his post graduate advanced orthopaedic surgical training at the Minnesota Center for Orthopaedics (MCO) at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin on Aug. 1. He comes here from his last duty station, Fort Cavazos in Texas, where he served in the Army as a general orthopedic surgeon at Carl R. Darnall Army […]

Nurse practitioner joins cardiology team at Riverwood

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Nurse Practitioner Matthew Jerulle to its cardiology provider team. Jerulle, a specialist in cardiovascular and preventive cardiology with Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI), will collaborate closely with Dr. Peter Stokman and Dr. Tim Dirks, MHI cardiologists who have provided expert care at Riverwood’s specialty clinic in Aitkin […]

Riverwood Foundation Charity Golf Event Success

Riverwood Foundation is thrilled to announce that its annual charity golf tournament was a tremendous success, raising $36,000 to support the Riverwood Cancer Care Fund. The event held at Minnesota National Golf Course on July 11th, welcomed 100 golfers to enjoy a beautiful day on the course with family, friends and colleagues.  Golfers competed in […]

Riverwood Surgery Expansion Named One of Minnesota’s Top Projects of 2024

Riverwood Healthcare Center’s Surgery Expansion has been named one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2024. CEO Ken Westman accepted the award at a ceremony held July 17 at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis. The project was completed in partnership with Kraus-Anderson, DSGW Architecture, and Northland Consulting Engineers. Each year, Finance & Commerce recognizes outstanding developments […]

Spine procedure eliminates back pain

After suffering with back pain on and off since his 20s, Jerel Nelson, age 67, feels like a new man after having a spine care procedure at Riverwood Healthcare Center. “Over the years I would get episodes of severe back pain whenever I did hard physical work, Nelson explains. “The pain would go away after […]

Teerza Misner receives DAISY Award

Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to announce Teerza Misner, RN, as the latest recipient of its prestigious DAISY Award for nursing excellence. The DAISY Award honors nurses who go above and beyond in delivering extraordinary care, as nominated by patients and their families. Riverwood participates in the national DAISY Foundation program, which celebrates the compassion, […]

Aitkin hospital receives CALS designation renewal

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 […]

From Dream to Career: Ava Horbacz’s Radiology Journey

At just 15 years old, Ava Horbacz knew she wanted to become a Radiologic Technologist. Today, six years later, she’s living that dream as a Radiology Tech at Riverwood Healthcare Center. Ava began her journey while attending McGregor High School, taking college-level classes in 10th grade to prepare for a future in radiology. “My first […]

Riverwood welcomes nurse anesthetist

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Kelsey Morinville to its Anesthesia team at the Aitkin hospital. Morinville brings nine years of experience in nurse anesthesia, having practiced at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, as well as the Twin Cities metro area. Her clinical expertise spans several specialty areas, […]

Understanding osteoarthritis: Riverwood’s orthopaedic experts offer relief for joint pain

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of Americans and often limiting their ability to stay active and enjoy daily life. At Riverwood Healthcare Center, our orthopaedic experts are here to help patients manage joint pain and get back to doing what they love. “Osteoarthritis is often referred to as ‘wear and […]

Aphasia support group members find their voice

Aphasia affects each person differently—but one point is clear: it’s a loss of language, not intelligence. “There are varying degrees of aphasia,” explains Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Bostrom at Riverwood Healthcare Center. “Some people struggle with finding the right words, while others may have more difficulty understanding speech, reading, writing, or spelling. It affects everyone in […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center Honored with Four Minnesota Hospital Association Awards

Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to celebrate its exceptional team, recognized with four awards at the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) Spring Innovation Forum Award Ceremony. These awards highlight Riverwood’s unwavering commitment to innovation, community engagement, and high-quality patient care. Angela Harmon, RN, ED Supervisor, was honored with the Nursing Excellence Award for her outstanding leadership, […]

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Riverwood welcomes Provider Recruitment Specialist

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Provider Recruitment Specialist Alaina Hagestuen. In her new role in Provider Recruitment, Hagestuen will oversee and coordinate the entire process of attracting, screening, interviewing, hiring and onboarding new medical staff members to Riverwood, focusing on finding the best providers who have a passion for providing care and making […]

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Riverwood welcomes human resources director

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Deb Gruber as its new director of Human Resources. In this key leadership role, Gruber will plan, lead, and coordinate the activities of Riverwood’s Human Resources department—ensuring legal compliance, fostering a positive work culture, and aligning HR strategy with the organization’s overall mission and goals. […]