May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a crucial time to learn about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of acting quickly. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious disability in the United States. Yet, with greater awareness and prompt medical attention, many strokes can be effectively […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center and the Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) of Aitkin County closed on the sale of the log building property at 601 Bunker Hill Drive in Aitkin on April 18. In 2008, Riverwood began renting the log building from Aitkin County Growth (now Growth Innovations) to house a sleep center and several outpatient services. […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Pharmacist Jake Heggem is the new manager of its retail pharmacy in McGregor. Heggem has worked in pharmacy roles since 2011 when he began working as a pharmacy technician while attending college. He then worked as a pharmacy intern while pursuing his pharmacy degree and most recently […]

Nancy B. is deeply thankful to Riverwood Healthcare Center for providing the expert medical care that helped restore her mobility and independence. Several years after retiring from a fulfilling career teaching optometric technology at St. Cloud Technical College and serving as a paraoptometric education coordinator for the American Optometric Association, Nancy began experiencing severe hip […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is making its voice heard at both the state and national levels as leaders advocate for the future of rural health care. U.S. Senator Tina Smith recently visited Riverwood to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing rural hospitals. During her visit, she met with leadership and clinical staff […]

We want to take a moment to recognize the critical role that our laboratory plays in patient care every single day. At Riverwood, our lab is more than a behind-the-scenes operation. It’s a vital part of how we deliver timely, accurate diagnoses and guide treatment decisions for our patients. Recently, our laboratory took a major […]

Erin Carey, PA-C, is already making a difference in the lives of our patients. Here’s what Mary Vinje, patient had to say after a recent visit: “I found Erin Carey to be thorough, efficient and very personable. Even with something as simple as a sinus infection, she took the time to educate me about the […]

  Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to announce that Ryan Henry, LPN, a nurse in the Aitkin Primary Care Clinic, has been selected as the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Henry has been with Riverwood for nearly 16 years, dedicating his entire nursing career to serving patients in the Aitkin community. […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center was recognized as a winner of the 2025 Population Health Pioneer Awards, presented by Wellvana. Each year, health care organizations and provider partners are honored for their exemplary work and innovative approaches in value-based care to improve quality of care for their patients and community. As the Community of the Year recipient, […]

We would like to take a moment celebrate how OT helps people of all ages improve their independence, function, and overall quality of life. Occupational therapy is more than just recovering from an injury. It’s about helping people do the things that matter most to them. Whether that means returning to work after an accident, […]

April is dedicated to raising awareness about esophageal cancer and educating the public on the risks posed by persistent heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers and is increasing faster than any other cancer in the United States. Sadly, only one in five esophageal cancer patients survives five […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Occupational Therapist Jordyn Asplin to its Therapy Services team in Aitkin. Asplin has two years of experience practicing at a large Level II hospital in Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, both from The College of Saint Scholastica. She describes […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the promotion of Stephanie Jacobs to patient access manager. In this role, Jacobs will oversee a team of 40 employees, managing admitting, scheduling, and registration. With nearly 30 years of health care experience in northern Minnesota, Jacobs brings extensive expertise to her new leadership position. In 2013, she […]

The Aitkin Community Hospital, Inc., dba Riverwood Healthcare Center, will host its 77th Annual Meeting on Tues., April 1 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom with participants signing in remotely via phone or computer. Riverwood will present an overview of the finances for the organization, fiscal year 2024 accomplishments and Foundation and Auxiliary updates. These presentations […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeff Ehnstrom as the new medical director of its emergency department. With 23 years of medical experience, Dr. Ehnstrom brings extensive expertise to this important role. As medical director, Dr. Ehnstrom oversees staffing, trauma patient chart reviews, and departmental decision-making in collaboration with the […]