Each year, 60,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a chronic neurological disease with progressive degenerative symptoms. Parkinson’s disease symptoms vary from person to person and can include tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity; difficulty with balance; and swallowing, chewing and speaking. Non-motor symptoms can include depression and mood disorders; sleep disorders; loss of smell; […]

If you feel great, you’re healthy, and you’ve never been diagnosed with a chronic illness or experienced a major medical issue, do you really need to make time for an annual check-up? The answer is a definitive YES. Like children and teens, adults of all ages can benefit from having regular physical exams, including men […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Kristina Sorenson as the new pharmacy manager for its pharmacy located in the Paulbeck’s County Market in Aitkin. Sorenson brings eight years of experience as a pharmacist. She most recently worked as a pharmacy manager at Walgreens in Brainerd. She earned her undergraduate and pharmacy degrees at Drake University in Des […]

The month of April is dedicated to promoting Esophageal Cancer Awareness and education around the risk posed by persistent heartburn or acid reflux disease. An estimated one in every five American adults suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a chronic condition caused by changes in the lower esophageal valve that allows contents to […]

Your body makes vitamin D when your bare skin is exposed to the sun, about 10,000 units of vitamin D in 10 minutes of sun exposure, depending on time of the year and the amount of melanin in the skin. According to Dr. Tim Arnold, family physician at Riverwood Healthcare Center, it’s good to get […]

Nurses at Riverwood Healthcare Center are being honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. The second DAISY Team award recipient is Bonnie Neumann, a registered nurse in Riverwood Healthcare Center’s Emergency Department. She has more than […]

After Dave Sadlowsky began experiencing symptoms for an inguinal hernia, he started to have a difficult time standing at work and at football games for any length of time. “Given that I am not a very experienced or comfortable patient, I was somewhat apprehensive about having a surgical procedure. However, as the person who does […]

March is National Nutrition Month. It is a great time of year to review your eating habits and learn something new about proper nutrition. This year’s theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors”. Learn how to incorporate different flavors when planning your meals and snacks.  SEE FLYER March 9th is National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. […]

On average, your risk of getting colon cancer is 1 in 20, varying a bit according to individual risk factors. That is why Riverwood Healthcare Center has joined the American Cancer Society in recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. Testing is key to preventing colon cancer or finding it early. Why? Answer true […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is introducing a new annual scholarship with awards to eligible high school students in the Aitkin County community (Aitkin, Hill City and McGregor) and/or current employees who wish to pursue a degree in healthcare.  In 2022, applications are open to students wishing to pursue a career as a medical laboratory tech and/or […]

Effective in mid-February, Riverwood Healthcare Center has adjusted its patient visitor restrictions that have been in place during the recent surge of COVID-19 illness. One adult visitor, who is symptom-free, will be allowed for patients in the surgery department, emergency room, or hospital. In a 24-hour period, the adult visitor must remain the same person […]

On Feb. 17, Riverwood Healthcare Center was featured in a Minnesota Public Radio story on the shortage of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Riverwood shared some of the difficult challenges for our staff and organization, which reflects what hospitals statewide and nationwide are facing. Through it all, Riverwood’s staff has remained resilient and committed […]

As a pilot for North Memorial Health in the Brainerd area, Jeff Benson likes to stay fit with regular workouts. However, while working out with his 18-year-old son, he did a bench press weight lift that left him with a sore left shoulder, and ultimately an injury that needed surgical repair. “I laid off working […]

The latest robotic technology for knee replacement procedures is now available at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin.  Dr. Erik Severson, Riverwood Healthcare Center’s fellowship-trained hip and knee reconstruction surgeon, performed the first robotic assisted knee replacement surgery at Riverwood with the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution in January.  This robotic equipment helps orthopaedic surgeons perform knee replacement […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center has partnered with Isabel Healthcare to integrate the artificial intelligence symptom checker and self-evaluation platform into its website to enhance care access and patient engagement. The Isabel tool allows consumers to enter unlimited symptoms and covers over 6,000 conditions. It delivers accurate care recommendations and options with just 11 questions. The symptom […]