Kari Carlson, RN, Specialty Clinic Manager
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 Health team where she has been serving as the behavioral health coordinator. She brings more than 25 years of health care experience to this new role.
“Kari’s proven leadership skills and many years of experience in the health care field will be a tremendous addition to our management team,” said Dan Schletty, ambulatory care director. “We are excited to welcome her to this new leadership position.”
Carlson’s previous leadership experience includes serving as a residence and medical manager for Augustana Care, now Cassia, in Moose Lake, where she provided coordination of residence management of four assisted living facilities, including oversight of budget management, staff training and supervision, and provided ongoing staff education. She also worked as a program supervisor for the Women, Infants, and Children program and the Maternal Child Health program with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe public health department.
Carlson received her Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2000 and Registered Nurse license in 2006. She previously held certifications as CPR Instructor for about seven years, was a certified lactation counselor, completed training and served as a birth doula, and has also received extensive training in wound care management. She trained as a first responder and in FEMA emergency response.
Beginning work as a certified nurse assistant at age 16, one of Carlson’s first jobs was in long-term care at Riverwood’s extended care facility, now Aitkin Health Services.
Carlson comments on how she has appreciated working at Riverwood: “My five years of employment now at Riverwood have been very rewarding, both in the amazing coworkers I have had the privilege to work with and the pride felt in the stellar patient care that we are all able to provide together. I have never worked for a better health care system.”
Kari Carlson and her spouse, Bryan, have two sons. They love living in Minnesota, camping through the summer, hiking in the fall, and surviving the winters together as a family.