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 […]

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 […]

It’s a new year and a good time to take a fresh look at your health and wellness. Here are five practical tips to kickstart healthy habits that will help you thrive throughout your life. 1. Drink more water. Why it matters: Staying hydrated improves energy levels, digestion, skin health, and overall bodily functions. How […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Johannah Orbeck has joined its Behavioral Health provider team as a behavioral health therapist. In this role she will assess, diagnose, and provide psychotherapy to individuals, age 18 and older. Previously, Orbeck did waiver case management with Pinnacle Services for Ramsey County. Other work experience includes working […]

Riverwood employees Dr. Erik Bostrom and Amanda Bostrom share a passion for creativity, the great outdoors, and their dog, Kona, a five-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. Amanda, a speech therapist of seven years, and Erik, a physician for eight years, met at Riverwood and have been crafting a unique life together ever since. Their adventures often […]

For many, balancing a high-level leadership role with family and personal commitments is a full plate. But for our Chief Nursing Officer, the desire to give back to her community sparked a remarkable journey—from bedside nursing to battling blazes as a firefighter. Three years ago, she joined Riverwood Healthcare Center as Chief Nursing Officer, bringing […]

Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, togetherness, and indulging in delicious foods. It’s also GERD Awareness Week, when Riverwood Healthcare Center takes the time to promote awareness of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the heightened risk of uncomfortable symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux. Here are some helpful tips to help prevent GERD symptoms while […]

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer remains one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide. Smoking is the main cause of about 85 percent of all lung cancers. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic and more than 70 of which are known carcinogens. These substances damage lung […]

On November 14, Riverwood Healthcare Center celebrated a remarkable group of employees and retirees at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge, honoring 43 individuals for milestone anniversaries and retirements. Together, their contributions total nearly 750 years of service—a testament to their enduring commitment and dedication to the communities they serve. Riverwood CEO Ken Westman opened the evening […]

For Dr. Tim Arnold, a family physician at McGregor Clinic and chief medical information officer at Riverwood Healthcare Center, running is more than a way to stay in shape—it’s a lifelong passion that has shaped his approach to wellness and life. Dr. Arnold’s journey as a runner began in high school, where he participated in […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Kyle Strate, 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 […]

Dr. Joshua Horowitz, an Interventional Spine physician at Riverwood Healthcare Center, followed a unique journey into medicine. Before entering medical school in his 30s, he had already earned his pilot’s license at 19, flying both helicopters and airplanes, worked as a flight instructor, built homes, and served as a crew member on a commercial halibut […]