[Aitkin, Minn., May 20, 2025] – Riverwood Healthcare Center announced that it has been recognized as a 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ recipient by Healthgrades, the top website Americans use when searching for a doctor or a hospital. This achievement reflects Riverwood’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience.
“This is a prestigious honor that reflects the high level of care and compassion our staff delivers to patients every day,” said Ken Westman, Riverwood Healthcare Center CEO. “Being named among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience is a direct result of our team’s unwavering dedication to putting patients first. From the moment someone walks through our doors to the follow-up after a visit or hospital stay, we are focused on delivering care that is not only clinically excellent but also deeply personal. With a strong culture of teamwork, respect, and empathy, we strive to create an environment where every patient feels seen, heard, and valued.”
Each year, Healthgrades recognizes the top hospitals nationwide that provide an exceptional experience for their patients during their hospital stay. As part of its annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated more than 3,000 hospitals that submitted at least 100 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys, covering admissions from January 2023 to December 2023.
To determine the recipients of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, Healthgrades applies a scoring methodology to 10 patient experience measures. These measures focus on patients’ perceptions of their hospital care, including staff communication, medication explanations, and cleanliness. Riverwood’s Outstanding Patient Experience Award is the direct result of positive patient feedback in these critical areas.
“We commend Riverwood Healthcare Center for going above and beyond to ensure patients have the best possible experience during their hospital stay and recovery process,” said Debra Gradick, MD FACEP, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. “Better patient experiences lead to better health outcomes, which is why it’s so important for patients to choose a hospital that excels at providing high quality, compassionate care.”
Eight other Minnesota hospitals were also recognized with this award, including Mayo Clinic Hospital (Mankato), Saint Mary’s campus (Rochester), Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater), River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic (Saint Peter), Lake Region Healthcare Corporation (Fergus Falls), Ridgeview Medical Center (Waconia, Perham Health, and Alomere Health (Alexandria).
Visit www.healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access the Outstanding Patient Experience Award Methodology. A patient-friendly overview of Healthgrades’ complete methodology is also available here.
For more information on services and providers, go to www.riverwoodhealthcare.org
About Healthgrades
Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.
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Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central and Bezzy, which touch every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 100 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.