June is Men’s Health Month, a time for men to look at how to maintain their own good health. Preventive health care and regular screenings are crucial for men to detect and manage potential health issues early. CANCER SCREENINGS Here’s a comprehensive guide on essential cancer screenings: Prostate cancer screening should begin starting at age […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Jessica Schmiesing as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and member of its senior management team. She is responsible for the overall human resources strategy, operations, and administration. Schmiesing grew up in Central Minnesota and graduated from Little Falls High School. She attended Hamline University, where she double majored […]
In mid-May, Vicki Johnson-Sherbrooke, who works in housekeeping for Riverwood Healthcare Center at its Garrison clinic, graduated with high honors earning a Deaf Studies Certificate at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. The program covered the basics about American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture. Johnson-Sherbrooke, who moved from the Twin Cities to Aitkin in 2006, […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Nurse Practitioner Kya Henningson, who has joined the medical staff for its Same Day Clinic in Aitkin. Previously, Henningson worked as a nurse practitioner at Essentia Health’s urgent care center in Moose Lake. She has also worked as a registered nurse for the orthopaedic spine center at Cuyuna […]
In mid-May, the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) awarded Riverwood Healthcare Center with the High Reliability Organization Award. This award was presented at a conference in Minneapolis where MHA presented awards to 40 hospital and health system teams and individuals across Minnesota. The High Reliability Organization Award recognizes efforts to improve quality and safety. With […]
May is American Stroke Month. Make sure your friends and family know the warning signs of a stroke. It could save the life of a loved one. Remember BEFAST to recognize stroke symptoms. Balance loss. Eyesight changes. Face drooping. Arm weakness. Speech difficulty. Time to call 9-1-1. With a stroke, calling 9-1-1 can save a […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While mental health issues are important to address year-round, this is a dedicated time to highlight that mental health matters. “We all have mental health,” comments Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Janet Larson at Riverwood Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Clinic. “Mental health is our ability to engage with our emotions, […]
Are you or someone you know suffering from heartburn or reflux disease? If so, there’s good news about the treatment options available locally. Learn more at a “Solutions for Reflux and Heartburn” program on Tues., May 7, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at CoHaus, 680 E. US Highway 2, in Grand Rapids. Dr. Andrew Loveitt, reflux […]
As the Land of 10,000 Lakes transitions into warmer months, Minnesotans eagerly embrace outdoor activities. However, along with the joys of nature comes the potential nuisance of woodticks. These tiny arachnids are prevalent in Minnesota’s wooded areas and can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. In this guide, we’ll explore essential tips for […]
Riverwood Healthcare is pleased to welcome Susan Zelenak as senior human resources generalist to its staff. In this role, Zelenak will support Riverwood’s team with a variety of HR projects and functions, including employee relations, recruitment of new talent, legal compliance, and leave management. In short, she will build relationships to implement best practices in […]
The month of April is dedicated to promoting Esophageal Cancer awareness and education around the risk posed by persistent heartburn or acid reflux disease (GERD). Esophageal cancer is deadly and is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer in the United States. Only one in five esophageal cancer patients will survive five years […]
Bonnie O’Neil wasn’t looking for a job when she was admitted to the Aitkin Community Hospital in Aitkin in 1973. She had suffered a broken leg in a snowmobile accident and was in traction in the hospital for 100 days. During her follow-up care at the clinic, which at that time was staffed by only […]
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 care […]
The Aitkin Community Hospital, Inc., dba Riverwood Healthcare Center, will host its 76th Annual Meeting on Wed., March 27, 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, the surgery expansion project, a new EPIC electronic health record implementation, […]
Terry Buisman, a seasoned physical therapist with Ortho Rehab Specialists in Minneapolis, presented a continuing education course on shoulder pathology and therapies at Riverwood Healthcare Center on March 1 and 2. The educational event, focused on shoulder pathology and therapies, was presented to seven therapy professionals, including two physical therapists from Riverwood. During the course, […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Nurse Practitioner Laura Biewer of the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI) has joined the cardiology provider team. Specializing in cardiovascular and preventative cardiology, Biewer will work closely on patient care with Dr. Peter Stokman and Dr. Tim Dirks, MHI cardiologists who have been offering care at […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center participates in the DAISY Award honoring exemplary nurses who have been recognized by a patient for their extraordinary act of compassion or a relationship that they have created with a patient that truly made a difference. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Katie Pudas as the new Radiology Department manager. Pudas, former radiology technologist who served in the role of supervisor of the department for the past four of five years at Riverwood, manages the daily operations of the diagnostic imaging department to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory […]
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus connecting to the vagina. It is a significant global health concern, but with advancements in medical science, early detection, and appropriate treatment, the prognosis has improved significantly. Learn about how cervical cancer is detected, the importance of […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Nurse Practitioner Tyler Zuk, who joined the primary care staff at its McGregor clinic in January. Growing up on a farm in Kettle River, Minn., Zuk earned his associate degree in nursing from Lake Superior College and went on to complete his master’s degree in nursing from Walden […]
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 […]
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome a new member to its orthopaedic team in Aitkin, Nurse Practitioner Jeff Temple. With a wide array of clinical and surgical experience, Temple has worked in the orthopaedics field for more than 35 years, beginning his career as a surgical technologist in 1987. He has advanced training and […]
The holiday season, often portrayed as a time of joy, can also bring about stress and anxiety for many. Almost two-thirds of people with mental illness feel the holidays worsen their conditions. However, it is important to remember we have more control than we think we do. Prioritize your mental well-being It’s easy to […]
Each year during Thanksgiving week, Riverwood Healthcare Center joins the national observance for promoting awareness of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to provide education and to connect those who are suffering from GERD to resources and care. Ten tips for curbing GERD symptoms during the Thanksgiving holiday include: Schedule an earlier meal. It’s best not to […]
Kelly Anderson, a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), has joined Riverwood Healthcare Center’s surgical services provider team. Anderson brings more than 20 years of anesthesia experience, including 14 years at Regions Hospital’s, a Level I Trauma Center in St. Paul, Minn., and eight years with South Valley Anesthesia at Regina Hospital in Hastings. During her CRNA […]
Since 1984, the Riverwood Auxiliary has annually honored and memorialized the loved ones of area residents with the Lights of Love program, including a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the lobby of the hospital. This year’s ceremony will take place on Sun., Nov. 19, at 1:00 p.m. in the hospital lobby. A short program will […]
On Nov. 2, Riverwood Healthcare Center honored 46 employees and retirees who have celebrated milestone anniversaries or retirement in the past year at a special dinner at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge. Their collective years of service total 880 years! Riverwood CEO Ken Westman opened the program with a warm welcome for the employees and retirees […]
The Minnesota Department of Health has recertified Riverwood Healthcare Center as a Health Care Home. This means that Riverwood primary care clinics in Aitkin, Garrison and McGregor have met a set of rigorous standards to provide patient and family-centered care and will continue working to improve the quality, experience, and value of care. Health Care […]
Heather Molenda, physical therapist, has joined Riverwood Healthcare Center’s therapy services team. Molenda’s prior experience includes working in physical therapy roles for 30 years in a variety of health care settings, including acute care, outpatient care, transitional care and homecare. She spent 16 years working with patients with complex conditions at MHealth Fairview University of […]
The Covid-19 vaccine is now available locally, and Riverwood Healthcare Center will offer two public clinics where individuals may get both the flu and Covid shots the last week in October. McGregor Clinic: Wed., Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Aitkin Clinic: Thurs., Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 12 […]
