Pictured from left Lara Max, Patient Safety Nurse, Wendy Franke, Chief Quality Officer, and Corrine Nelson, Quality Manager/Compliance Officer,
Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to announce it has received the Minnesota Hospital Association’s 2025 Quality and Safety Improvement Award, recognizing the organization’s outstanding commitment to patient safety and continuous quality improvement.
This prestigious award celebrates hospitals that take extraordinary and innovative steps to make safety a top priority. Riverwood was selected for its deeply embedded culture of safety, driven by Lean thinking, Just Culture principles, and a system-wide commitment to zero harm.
Key initiatives include Lean workshops, a real-time quality and safety dashboard, senior leadership rounding, and monthly high-reliability safety messaging. Riverwood’s Falls Guardian Program, which reduced inpatient falls by nearly 50% in one year, stood out as a model of proactive, patient-centered innovation.
“This award reflects the dedication of our entire team to creating a safe, high-quality environment for every patient, every day,” said Wendy Franke, Chief Quality Officer of Riverwood Healthcare Center. “We’re honored to be recognized and remain committed to sustaining and growing these efforts.”
The award was presented to Wendy Franke, Chief Quality Officer, Lara Max, Patient Safety Nurse, and Corrine Nelson, Quality Manager/Compliance Officer, in recognition of their exceptional leadership and impact.