
Ken Westman, Riverwood Healthcare Center CEO
In a recent issue of Becker’s Hospital Review features Riverwood Healthcare Center CEO Ken Westman on its national list of “110 rural hospital and health system CEOs to know” for 2024.
This list highlights 110 top executives from rural hospitals across the United States with three other Minnesota CEOs, President and CEO Karla Eischens of Sanford Health Bemidji Medical Center, President Joshua Shepherd of Buffalo and Cambridge Medical Center, and CEO David Walz of Madelia Health, featured.
The Becker’s article describes those included in this top national ranking: “The executives featured on this list are committed to expanding hospital service lines, renovating and improving their facilities, and hiring talented team members. Although many rural hospitals have struggled due to Covid-19 and national staffing shortages in recent years, these leaders have created sustainable models for continued success.”
Becker’s description of Riverwood CEO Ken Westman states: “Mr. Westman has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare field, 10 of which were spent as CEO of Dillon, Mont.-based Barrett Hospital & HealthCare. Mr. Westman began his current role as CEO of the 475-person, 25-bed center Riverwood Healthcare Center in 2022.
Westman is honored to be included in this list of health care executives who are making an impressive difference for rural health care delivery in their local communities.
“This is indeed a great honor to be singled out for this list of top rural health care executives,” Westman said. “However, I must give full credit to our progressive and supportive board and the entire Riverwood team who make it possible for our organization to serve patients with outstanding compassion and excellence. Together, we embrace innovation and are moving toward completion of a state-of-the-art surgery expansion in August 2024 that will enable us to bring even more advanced medical care to the communities we serve.
“In addition, we have transitioned to OCHIN’s EPIC electronic health record system, a patient-centered decision to provide an exceptional digital patient experience with even more opportunities for provider and patient engagement and a ‘healthcare at your fingertips’ journey well into the future.”