Celebrating our staff milestone anniversaries

On Nov. 9, Riverwood Healthcare Center honored 45 employees and retirees who have celebrated milestone anniversaries or retirement in the past year at a special dinner at Ruttger’s. Their collective years of service, ranging from 4 to 40, totals 776!   See list of employees with years of service for each.

Pictured left to right are (front row) Heidi Price, Katie Nelson, Agnes Weimer, Otto Harmon and Jody Ennis; (back row) Lynn Wenzel, Cindy Jackson, Jeff Ehnstrom, Cheryl Collins-Parris, Jen Ehnstrom, Amber Crowther, Melonie Laine, Andrelis Kowitz, Rae Reinhardt, Angie Kuppich, Kathy Galliger, Don Hughes, Julie Giese, Gloria Christensen, Janet Lindgren and Pam Johnson.

Not pictured: Tim Arnold, Liz Burns, Cally Christenson, Becky Clasen, Gary Erickson, Barbara Frederickson, Jim Harris, Linda Hunt, Tim Komoto, Janet Larson,Tom Lawson, John Mateyka, Marcy Mateyka, Kevin Miller, Becky Monse, Jackie Parry, Pam Pratt, Jeff Rapp, Sharon Reese, Cindy Sherman, Laura Lee Smith, Dorine Bentley-Sorben, Kate Swanson, Kim Waffensmith

Congratulations Jennifer & Carrie!

Jennifer Schneider, Laura Eisenbraun, Carrie Stueven

Congratulations to Jennifer Schneider and Carrie Stueven, perioperative RNs who recently passed the certification exam for their CNOR.  The CNOR certification program is for perioperative nurses interested in improving and validating their knowledge and skills, and providing the highest quality care to their patients. Certification also recognizes a nurse’s commitment to professional development and focuses on a specialty-based knowledge beyond basic nursing preparation and RN licensure.

With 50 percent of our surgery nurses certified now, Riverwood has recently earned the CNOR® Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute. READ MORE 

RHCC OB care rocks!

Brianna Brophy, RN for orthopaedic care in our specialty clinic, provided comments on her outstanding OB care experience at Riverwood.

See Brianna’s story, which is also featured on our Facebook page this week.

Holiday VOLUNTEER opportunities

Join your co-workers and our Auxiliary volunteers in supporting two great holiday giving traditions in Aitkin.
Volunteer with a friend, co-worker or family member.

Noel Bailey, Auxiliary volunteer

BELL RINGING FOR SALVATION ARMY:
Sign up for a 1-hr. bell ringing shift to invite donations and spread holiday cheer.
Shopko, Mon, Dec 18: 8 open shifts open from 10am-6 pm
Paulbeck’s, Tues, Dec 19: One shift open from 2-3pm

OPERATION CHRISTMAS (gifts for local families in need)
Help people select gifts, check out and keep gifts organized.
Sign up for a 2-hr. shift at the 40 Club Convention Center.
Wed, Dec 13:  Open shifts include 8-10am, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Thurs, Dec 14: 8-10am, 10am-12pm (2 volunteers), 4-6pm (3 volunteers)

Thanks for supporting Riverwood with these important community activities!  To volunteer, contact Katie Nelson, ext 5158, mailto:knelson2@riverwoodhealthcare.org or stop by the Foundation area and sign up on clipboards on the table decorated for the holidays.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY
Books are FUN – Collective Goods Book Fair
Mon, Dec 4, 7am-4pm, E&F/Support Services
Lots of books/gifts, plus novelty items
For online sales, go to http://www.collectivegoods.com/

Staff Holiday Party
“Flannel & Frost”
Thurs, Dec 7, 4:30-7:30 PM
Butler Building, 2nd Floor

This is a great opportunity to have some holiday fun with your coworkers. Great food! Lots of prizes! Wear jeans and your favorite flannel shirt. Free for employees and $10 for a guest. RSVP to Rebecca Peterson, HR, rpeterson@riverwoodhealthcare.org

RHCC Staff Education Opportunities

Learn  |  Enhance  |  Achieve

Contact RHHC-Education  |  5318 for more information

Mon, Dec 18 – WEBINAR on Emergency Preparedness: MN Pediatrc Surge

IN THE LOCAL NEWS

Riverwood’s quarterly column in the Nov. 22 Aitkin Age featured an article on “Lung Cancer Awareness” with CEO Chad Cooper’s byline.

Gwen Dickey, a longtime Auxiliary volunteer who formerly worked as a transcriptionist at Riverwood, is featured in a volunteer spotlight article in the Nov. 15 Aitkin Age.

These days she can be seen guiding patients to x-ray in the specialty clinic.

See a short summary and article links for our Winter Healthy Living community newsletter.  Our quarterly newsletter mailed out to all Aitkin County and Garrison area households on Nov. 13.

If you live outside this area and want to be added to the mail or email distribution list, contact Arlene Wheaton, PR & Marketing, ext 5589 or mailto:awheaton@riverwoodhealthcare.org

NEWS RELEASES

Riverwood celebrates staff milestone anniversaries
Riverwood receives national recognition for certification of surgery nurses

There are no new employees to welcome at this time.

If you have diabetes, Riverwood is here to help. Through our certified diabetes educator, Maureen Mau, and our registered dietitian, Megan Perpich, we offer individual and group sessions to help you learn how to manage your diabetes and live a healthier life. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral and call our Diabetes Education staff for an appointment at 927-8281.

Maureen Mau, Certified Diabetes Educator

Megan Perpich, Registered Dietitian

This week’s Aitkin Age features a story on diabetes awareness with comments from Maureen.

FOUNDATION

Each leaf represents a RHCC staff donor

Growing Together Capital Campaign

We are closing in on our goal of raising $1.3 million for our Aitkin clinic expansion and renovation project, but still have about $250,000 to go.

Here’s how you can help:
1) If you have not already made a donation, now is the time to do so. No gift is too small. You may give a one-time donation or use payroll deduction to pledge an amount to give over 1-3 years. See payroll deduction form
2) Consider encouraging friends/family who are RHCC patients to make a gift.  Or invite a civic/community organization you are active in to consider making a donation.

For information on how to ask others to give to the campaign or make a gift yourself, contact Katie Nelson, Foundation director, ext 5158 or mailto:knelson2@riverwoodhealthcare.org

AUXILIARY

Auxiliary donates for CPR training equipment

So much gratitude for this outstanding group of people who support our community in so many ways! In November the Riverwood Auxiliary made a $2,000 donation to the Riverwood Emergency Department for new CPR training equipment.

If you are interested in becoming a Riverwood Auxiliary member, contact Paula Eklund-Fisher at 927-8286 or peklund-fisher@riverwoodhealthcare.org 

Holiday Cookie Sale
Tues, Dec 12, 7am until gone!
Support Services Lobby

 MN Employee Recreation & Service Council (MERSC)
Discounts, coupons and services for Riverwood employees Entertainment, Music, Theater * Recreation, Health & Fitness * Travel, Hotel, Resorts * Sports Tickets * and MORE!

Xcel Energy Center concerts – St. Paul

Global superstar Shania Twain will hit the road in support of her new album, NOW. The tour includes a stop at the Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 7:30pm. A limited number of Club Concert Packages are now available to this show. Visit www.xcelenergycenter.com/mersc for details.

NEWS TO SHARE WITH ALL STAFF: Please submit it to mailto:RiverwoodTogether@riverwoodhealthcare.org The deadline for news is the 1st and 3rd Friday for the 2nd and 4th Thursday newsletter issues.  Also use this email to give us feedback on what info you want to see featured.