Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to announce that Ryan Henry, LPN, a nurse in the Aitkin Primary Care Clinic, has been selected as the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Henry has been with Riverwood for nearly 16 years, dedicating his entire nursing career to serving patients in the Aitkin community. […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center was recognized as a winner of the 2025 Population Health Pioneer Awards, presented by Wellvana. Each year, health care organizations and provider partners are honored for their exemplary work and innovative approaches in value-based care to improve quality of care for their patients and community. As the Community of the Year recipient, […]
We would like to take a moment celebrate how OT helps people of all ages improve their independence, function, and overall quality of life. Occupational therapy is more than just recovering from an injury. It’s about helping people do the things that matter most to them. Whether that means returning to work after an accident, […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Occupational Therapist Jordyn Asplin to its Therapy Services team in Aitkin. Asplin has two years of experience practicing at a large Level II hospital in Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, both from The College of Saint Scholastica. She describes […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the promotion of Stephanie Jacobs to patient access manager. In this role, Jacobs will oversee a team of 40 employees, managing admitting, scheduling, and registration. With nearly 30 years of health care experience in northern Minnesota, Jacobs brings extensive expertise to her new leadership position. In 2013, she […]
The Aitkin Community Hospital, Inc., dba Riverwood Healthcare Center, will host its 77th Annual Meeting on Tues., April 1 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom with participants signing in remotely via phone or computer. Riverwood will present an overview of the finances for the organization, fiscal year 2024 accomplishments and Foundation and Auxiliary updates. These presentations […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeff Ehnstrom as the new medical director of its emergency department. With 23 years of medical experience, Dr. Ehnstrom brings extensive expertise to this important role. As medical director, Dr. Ehnstrom oversees staffing, trauma patient chart reviews, and departmental decision-making in collaboration with the […]
Screening for breast and cervical cancer is vital to detecting cancer early when treatment is easier. Access to these cancer screenings is made easier through a program called Sage. Sage helps low-income Minnesotans who do not have adequate insurance to access breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic services (if screening tests are abnormal) and referral […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center and the Beanery Café & Roastery in downtown Aitkin are partnering to present a program on women’s health and wellness. Hear from Dr. Joselito Burgos, internal medicine physician, on weight loss and health improvement strategies on March 20, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Beanery. With more than 20 years of experience, […]
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 […]
In the hustle of everyday life, it’s easy to overlook the little things we take for granted—warmth, comfort, and a personal touch. For Janet Larson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Riverwood Healthcare Center’s Behavioral Health clinic in Aitkin, these small gestures mean everything. For over a decade, Larson has been knitting hats for […]
In memory of the late Roger and Sandy Wilson, the Wilson family of Aitkin created the Roger and Sandy Wilson Scholarship to help individuals better themselves. The fund is administered by Riverwood Foundation at Riverwood Healthcare Center. These scholarship funds are intended to ease the burden of tuition costs so that aspiring students or health […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, MN today announced it has been named among the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®. “This recognition is […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center has recently added three pharmacists at its Aitkin hospital, including Andrea Agre, Ryan Friesen and Hannah Stephenson. Andrea Agre had served as an inpatient clinical pharmacist for Riverwood before moving to the newly expanded surgery wing to staff the satellite pharmacy. Agre brings 17 years of experience in retail and critical access […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center, with the help of the Aitkin Farmers Market Hub and Aitkin County Public Health, was awarded the Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) grant by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The LFPA program, launched in 2024, funds projects that buy local food, primarily from socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers, to distribute […]
“On March 12, 2024, my life changed forever,” says Riverwood Healthcare Center patient Joanna Jackson of Aitkin. Jackson, her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law were on their way from Aitkin to Texas when they made a quick stop for coffee in Plymouth just north of Minneapolis. As she reached into the back seat to buckle her […]
The latest recipient of Riverwood Healthcare Center’s prestigious DAISY Award for nursing excellence is Lacey Jurek, a registered nurse in the OB & Med/Surg departments. Jurek has been with Riverwood for 11 years, providing compassionate care to countless patients throughout her 13-year nursing career. Riverwood participates in the DAISY Award program, which honors nurses who […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is excited to welcome Dr. Robin Muller, family medicine physician, to its Aitkin clinic. Dr. Muller provides comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, including obstetric services. In addition to the full spectrum of family medicine, Dr. Muller’s special interests include women’s health and obstetrics, opioid use disorder and buprenorphine […]
Wanda Graham, a resident of Aitkin, expresses heartfelt gratitude for the outstanding orthopaedic care she received at Riverwood Healthcare Center. Over the past year, she underwent four surgical procedures performed by two highly skilled orthopaedic surgeons, all conveniently close to home. Her journey began with Dr. Jeffrey Klassen, an orthopaedic surgeon fellowship-trained in shoulder and […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Physician Assistant Erin Carey, who will see patients at its Aitkin clinic. In her role as physician assistant for primary care, Carey will see patients at all ages and life stages. Her special interests include gastrointestinal and dietary sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome /colitis, allergies relating to food, animals […]
Are you or someone you know dealing with hernia symptoms or acid reflux disease? If so, there’s great news about advanced treatment options available at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin. Join us for an informative community health seminar, “Hernia and Reflux Solutions,” on Thursday, February 20, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at CoHaus, located at […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Ryan Anderson has been promoted to Director of Information Systems and Patient Access. In this role, he will continue to manage the Patient Access department and will oversee the Information Technology (IT) Clinical Informatics team. He will eventually support all the managers within the IT department. Anderson […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is excited to welcome Lynn Stottler, MD, to its Emergency Department provider team. Dr. Stottler brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Riverwood, with a career spanning over 20 years in Family Medicine and more recently, full-time Emergency Medicine practice since 2018. Dr. Stottler earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Kristen Petron to its social services team. As a licensed social worker, Petron will collaborate with hospital patients, their families, and the medical staff to coordinate discharge planning and connect patients with essential community services. “Kristen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role,” said Carla Zupko, Chief Nursing […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Corrine Nelson has been promoted to Quality Manager and Compliance Officer. In her manager role, Nelson will oversee infection control, patient safety, and medical staff credentialing. As compliance officer she will ensure the hospital operates within all applicable laws and regulations and also protect patient rights and […]
Congratulations to Heather Hipp and Lowell Larson, Riverwood Healthcare Center Governing Board members! They are among 22 hospital and health system trustees from across Minnesota recognized for their successful completion of the Minnesota Hospital Association’s (MHA) rigorous and comprehensive trustee certification program. This certification underscores their unwavering commitment to the patients, care teams, and communities […]
Press Ganey, a global leader in healthcare experience solutions and services, has recognized Riverwood Healthcare Center as a 2024 Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award® winner along with other healthcare organizations nationwide. This award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of the top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in […]
At Riverwood Healthcare Center, the new year began with a joyful celebration. On Jan. 3, the team proudly welcomed Aitkin County’s first baby of 2025, Marshall Kearns. Born to Lilly and Mitch Kearns of Aitkin, Marshall made his grand debut weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and measuring 20 inches long. A heartfelt thank-you to Dr. […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Jeff Bredt as Controller on the finance team. In this role he is responsible for treasury management, assisting with production of timely financial statements for leadership to make informed decisions, and assisting the chief financial officer with special projects. Bredt grew up in Burnsville and attended Winona State […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is excited to welcome Melissa Handt, MSW, LICSW, as a behavioral health therapist to its Behavioral Health provider team. In her role, Handt will assess, diagnose, and provide psychotherapy to individuals aged 10 and older. Additionally, she can offer non-clinical licensing supervision and is working toward the qualifications to provide clinical licensing […]
