Acid reflux symptoms were not a problem for Barry Anderson until a few years ago. Anderson explains: “When I would bend over, I would get a burning feeling in my throat that would last two to three days. I also felt nauseous. I got referred to a reflux specialist by my primary care provider, Nurse […]

Undergoing an MRI imaging scan can be daunting, especially if a person is prone to feeling claustrophobic in small, tight spaces. When Colleen Richards needed to undergo an MRI to help diagnose neck and back pain recently, she was pleasantly surprised with her positive patient experience at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin. “I’m claustrophobic so […]

The Minnesota Department of Health recently recertified Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin as a Level III Trauma hospital. After participating in an intense training process to become part of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system, the Aitkin County hospital earned its initial designation in December 2006 and was the first rural hospital in Minnesota to achieve the […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce Tanya Pietz as the new Riverwood Foundation director. In this position, she will provide leadership, support, strategic direction, management, and coordination for all functions of the Foundation. She will also be responsible for fund development through special projects, events, annual giving, capital campaigns and planned giving. “We are […]

Physical difficulties with her knee joints began interfering with Jody Slinger’s enjoyment of life eight years ago when she was in her mid-50s. Today at age 60 two new knee joints are enabling her to pursue her passion for being physically active outdoors. She works as a paraprofessional teaching assistant with children in kindergarten through […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Hipp to the organization’s Governing Board of Directors. “On behalf of our governing board, I’m happy to welcome Heather,” said Kathleen Ryan, Riverwood board chair. “Heather’s experience in finance along with her knowledge of education and local schools is a great addition to our […]

Dr. Brandon Reynolds, a urologist practicing at Riverwood Healthcare Center, has been designated as a Medtronic InterStimTM  Center of Excellence physician. This designation is awarded to physicians with high-level training and experience with InterStim, a minimally invasive treatment for overactive bladder, a condition that causes urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence. InterStim uses electrical pulses to […]

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 […]

August is the perfect time to shop your local farmers market for zucchini, a low-calorie food that can help you lose weight as part of an overall healthy diet. Like other fruits and vegetables, zucchini is low in calories but contains satiating fiber and water that can help keep you full. Substituting it for empty-calorie […]

Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning technology was first introduced in hospitals in the 1980s, the speed of the scans and image quality has continued to improve significantly to greatly enhance the patient experience and diagnosis of medical conditions. Today advanced MRI technology in the form of a new Siemens Sola MRI machine with Deep […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce Kari Carlson, registered nurse, as specialty clinic manager for its clinic in Aitkin. This role is a new position to help support day-to-day operations and management of staff within more than 13 specialty areas. Carlson joined Riverwood in 2018 and has been a key member of Riverwood’s Behavioral […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Critical Access Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. Riverwood underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on […]

Prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), affects millions of men around the world and can lead to bothersome problems such as frequent urination, urgency, and blocked or reduction in the low of urine. Riverwood Healthcare Center offers a minimally invasive procedure called UroLift that can provide long-term relief from these symptoms without […]

For those looking for community resources and don’t know where to begin, Riverwood Healthcare Center now offers two new ways to find support through Riverwood Connects. Find Help is an online tool to help locate community resources such as food, housing, transportation and more. To use this tool, go to www.riverwoodhealthcare.org and click on Riverwood […]

Humana, a health plan administrator based in Louisville, Kentucky, recognized Riverwood Healthcare Center with the 2022 Patient Experience Award. The award is based on an organization’s measured ability to provide quality patient experience, highlighting the level of excellence offered at Riverwood’s hospital and clinics. From Ken Powers, Humana Director, Stars and Risk Adjustment – Central […]