Tag Archives: Aitkin
New family physician returns home to begin practice
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the addition of a new family physician to its medical staff. Dr. Chris Hughes will begin his practice in Aitkin in mid-August. He will offer the full spectrum of family medicine, including obstetric care and delivery, and do on-call rotations for inpatient care. Hughes earned his medical degree […]
Construction on hospital surgery expansion to begin
During the week of July 25-29, construction work will begin on Riverwood Healthcare Center’s hospital and clinic expansion for surgical services in Aitkin. Riverwood will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Tues, July 26, at 4 p.m. This event will be held on the northeast side of the parking lot in the Healing Garden. The program […]
TIF Talk on GERD treatment features Dr. Loveitt
If you are suffering from chronic heartburn or acid reflux or have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and struggling to control your symptoms with dietary and lifestyle changes and medicine, help is available close to home. Attend a virtual live stream presentation by Dr. Andrew Loveitt on Tues., May 31, at 5:30 p.m. […]
Why get an annual medical checkup?
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 […]
Acid reflux can cause esophageal cancer
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 […]
Riverwood presents DAISY Award to ER nurse
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 […]
Hernia surgery care exceeds patient’s expectations
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 […]
MPR features Riverwood on workforce shortages nationwide
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 […]
Pilot praises shoulder surgery care
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 […]
Equipment upgrade supports breathing for trauma, surgery patients
Helping patients breathe in an emergency situation is vital for our Emergency Department staff. An upgraded GlideScope tool is proving invaluable in supporting patient care in both Riverwood’s Emergency and Surgery departments. The GlideScope is a tool used in the OR and ER for placement of breathing tubes for patients that need one, either in […]
Breast cancer patient praises Riverwood care
Kris Palmer shared this letter praising her excellent care for breast cancer at Riverwood Healthcare Center. “I am writing today to share with you that I feel blessed to be a patient at Riverwood. Let me share some background. My husband, John, and I both grew up in the Twin Cities and raised our two […]
Aesthetic Skincare 10% off for the holidays
Are you looking for the perfect, last minute gift for the holidays? Melissa Herbranson, MD, and Megan Workman, DNP, CNM specialize in a variety of aesthetic skincare. Riverwood Healthcare Center is offering 10% off all Aesthetic Retail Skincare Services and pharmaceutical grade skincare products from Skin Medica® at Aitkin Pharmacy @ Paulbeck’s Market. This discount […]
Riverwood Healthcare hires new CEO
The Riverwood Healthcare Center Governing Board of Directors has selected Ken Westman as chief executive officer with an anticipated start date of Feb. 14, 2022. Westman is an experienced and accomplished health care executive with 25 years of successful and progressive experience with people, culture, and sustainability for health care institutions. For the past 10 […]
New Covid testing process, location in Aitkin
Riverwood Healthcare Center has moved testing for Covid-19 from its Aitkin clinic to its pharmacy at Paulbeck’s County Market. Appointments are required with a limited number available each day. The phone number to call for an appointment remains the same, Riverwood’s Covid line at 844-428-1323. The testing hours are 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and […]
Riverwood announces new emergency department manager
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to introduce Andrew Van Santen as the new manager of its hospital emergency department. Van Santen began his nursing career 20 years ago in Crosby, first working at a long-term care center and then transitioning to hospital nursing and caring for medical/surgical patients. He worked as a registered nurse in […]
Riverwood to not offer COVID-19 antibodies treatment
Riverwood Healthcare Center will not offer monoclonal antibodies treatment for COVID-19 patients at this time due to staffing concerns. “We’ve been offering the monoclonal antibodies infusion treatment for the past year, but with a large increase in the number of referrals of Covid patients this fall, we no longer have enough specially trained nursing staff […]
Riverwood recognizes local nurse with Daisy Award
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 first DAISY Team award recipient is Rose Appel, a licensed practical nurse who has cared for Riverwood hospital patients for more […]
Riverwood welcomes RPAP medical student
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Joel Madson, a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, who is participating in the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP). Through the RPAP program, a third-year medical student lives in a rural community for nine months and participates in rotations of hospital and clinic […]
COVID-19 booster, flu vaccine clinic in Aitkin
Aitkin County Public Health and Riverwood Healthcare Center are partnering to offer a joint community clinic to offer both the influenza (flu) vaccine and a third dose or booster shot for COVID-19. The clinic will be held on Tues., Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the St. James Catholic Church in Aitkin. Appointments […]
Riverwood to offer COVID-19 booster shots
Riverwood Healthcare Center is now offering COVID-19 booster shots to its patients and community members who meet the eligibility criteria during its regularly scheduled weekly Thursday vaccine clinics in Aitkin, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For an appointment, schedule online at https://RiverwoodCOVIDVaccines.rsvpify.com/ or call 844-428-1323, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The booster shots are only […]
Riverwood 2021 flu clinics open
Flu season is coming and getting vaccinated is more important than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. Minnesota influenza outbreaks typically occur between December through April. Antibodies develop about two weeks after getting the vaccine. For the elderly and those with immuno-compromising diseases, the immune system is often slower to respond. Flu shots or other vaccines […]
Riverwood announces two capital projects
The Riverwood Healthcare Center Board of Directors has approved moving ahead with two major capital projects that will enhance care for patients well into the future. Surgery wing addition The hospital’s surgery department, constructed in 2002 when a new hospital and clinic facility was built on Bunker Hill Drive, is in need of updating and […]
Riverwood recruits physician with hometown roots
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the upcoming addition of a new family physician to its medical staff. Dr. Chris Hughes, who is beginning his third year at the Duluth Family Practice Residency, has signed on to begin his practice at Riverwood in late Summer 2022. Hughes earned his medical degree at the University […]
Emily’s Gift fund supports cancer patients
A cancer diagnosis can often lead to financial hardship. That’s why Riverwood Foundation of Riverwood Healthcare Center is introducing a new fund to offer cancer patients some one-time assistance with living expenses. The Emily’s Gift Cancer Fund began with a student in Aitkin whose heart went out to those undergoing cancer treatments. As a high […]
Riverwood Covid-19 vaccine clinics open to all
Riverwood Healthcare Center is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone age 16 or older, according to the latest Minnesota vaccine eligibility guidelines that became effective March 30. Riverwood is scheduling weekly vaccine clinics primarily in Aitkin with some clinics in McGregor as well. To accommodate working individuals and families, vaccine clinics will offer some extended […]
Vaccine eligibility opens to wider group of Minnesotans
There is more good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front. On March 9, Gov. Walz announced that the state will expand Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to the next two phases for Minnesotans. Among those now eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1b Tier 2 populations include Minnesotans of any age with specific underlying health conditions, […]
Covid-19 testing at Riverwood
Getting tested for COVID-19 is recommended if you are having symptoms outlined below or have been exposed to someone who has recently tested positive. Symptoms may include fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, sore throat, headache, congestion or runny nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue, new loss of taste or smell, […]
Riverwood updates hospital visitor restrictions
Given the steady decline of COVID-19 cases in Aitkin County, Riverwood Healthcare Center has made some updates to its visitor restrictions policy effective Feb. 11. For those hospitalized patients, including the ICU, one adult visitor may be allowed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Labor and Delivery patients may have one visitor age 18 or […]
Riverwood continues COVID-19 vaccine distribution
During the month of February, Riverwood Healthcare Center will continue to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to those most at risk in the 65 and older group with a limited supply of vaccine, which fluctuates from week to week. To date, Riverwood has administered the first of two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to about 1,000 patients […]
