Tag Archives: northern Minnesota
Outstanding experience prompts patient to transfer care
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Tim McCoy was enjoying a short vacation stay at Big Sandy Lodge with his family in the McGregor area when a life-threatening health emergency arose. About 3:00 a.m. on May 26 he became extremely short of breath and his son called 911. “I had a suffocating feeling and saw my […]
Breastfeeding gives babies a healthy start
Research has shown that exclusive breastfeeding for six months is crucial for the health of mothers and infants. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), launched in 1991, is an effort by UNICEF and the World Health Organization to ensure that all maternities, whether free-standing or in a hospital, become centers of breastfeeding support. In 2012, Riverwood […]
New WELLNESS Resources guides now available
Get outside, get active this summer. With long hours of daylight, school vacations and family travel, summer offers rich opportunities for fitness and fun. Think of the warm weather and sunny days as a chance to improve your own and your family’s physical fitness. Riverwood Healthcare has put together a new Community Wellness Resources guide that […]
Join Breast Health Alliance team for Brainerd Lakes race
A woman’s lifetime risk by age 85 of getting breast cancer is one in eight. Lend your support in a global movement to end breast cancer forever. The Cuyuna Riverwood Breast Health Alliance is organizing a team for the annual Brainerd Lakes Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® to be held Saturday, June 29, […]
Riverwood receives statewide award for wellness campaign
Riverwood Healthcare Center was one of seven Minnesota hospitals honored by the Minnesota Hospital Association with an annual health care award. The Minnesota Hospital Association Annual Health Care Awards honor the best and brightest in Minnesota health care — individuals who have offered dedicated service to hospitals and organizations that have implemented successful, innovative programs. […]
New CEO to join Riverwood in July
The Riverwood Healthcare Center Governing Board of Directors has selected Chad Cooper as chief executive officer with an anticipated start date of July 8. Michael Hagen, current Riverwood CEO for the past 12 years, announced his retirement last fall. Cooper is an experienced and accomplished health care executive with 16 years of successful and progressive […]
Riverwood named Top 100 Critical Access Hospital
Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn., was recently named one of the HealthStrong™ Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States for the second time, the first ranking coming in 2011. “Riverwood is proud of the efforts of its physicians and all of our health care team members who have contributed to our […]
Foundation grant supports caregiver program
In January, Riverwood Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Aitkin County CARE to be used for a caregiver program for hospice or end-of-life patients needing respite care. CARE will use these funds to expand caregiving services to serve more residents in Aitkin and Crow Wing counties. Pictured (from left) are Jodie Johnson, Riverwood Foundation director; […]
Riverwood Healthcare to launch new wellness initiative
George Family Foundation and Allina Health partnership to improve health Riverwood Healthcare Center is among 13 health systems serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities that have been chosen to participate in a three-year program called the Healthy Communities Partnership. A $475,000 grant from the George Family Foundation and Allina Health, and administered by the George […]
New nurse supervisor joins Riverwood
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Kathy Starkka, nurse supervisor for its primary care and specialty clinics in Aitkin. Starkka brings 20 years of nursing experience to her new role managing the day-to-day operations of the clinics, supervising a staff of 20. As a registered nurse since 1993, for the past 17 years she worked at St. […]
Grief support group in McGregor
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? You can find information and help at a grief support group being held in McGregor this winter. The 4-week grief group series will be held Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, at the Riverwood McGregor Clinic. Group facilitator Mary Ann […]
New OB/GYN physician to see patients in Aitkin
Dr. Leigh Bauer, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) physician, joined the specialty care medical staff atRiverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin in October. Bauer joins Drs. Michael and Rachel Cady in offering a full range of obstetric and gynecological care including labor and delivery, minimally invasive surgery and wellness exams. “We are pleased to have Dr. Bauer […]
Riverwood welcomes new board member
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Gross to Riverwood’s Governing Board of Directors. Gross started his career in banking. He worked as a teller and personal banker at Bremer Bank inSt. Cloudduring college. After graduating from college, he worked for Citizen’s Savings Bank inSt. Cloudand rose to the position […]
Flu vaccine still available locally
If you want to get a flu shot, it’s not too late to get one. Riverwood Healthcare clinics in Aitkin, Garrison and McGregor are still offering nurse appointments for flu shots. If you already have a scheduled clinic appointment, just ask for the flu shot to be given at this time. To schedule a flu […]
Wellness tips for New Year’s and beyond
Reduce stress. Lose weight. Sleep better. Exercise more. Quit smoking. These are the top five New Year’s resolutions among Americans and all are topics that were covered in Riverwood’s wellness tips from healthcare practitioners in the BINGO – Win with Wellness campaign in 2012. These wellness tips, which are organized by category, are posted on […]
Riverwood CEO Michael Hagen to retire
After nearly a dozen years of service as chief executive officer for Riverwood Healthcare Center, Michael Hagen has announced plans to retire in June 2013. “This was not an easy decision to make because I care so deeply about Riverwood and all its constituents—patients, employees, volunteers, health care practitioners, donors and board members,”Hagenexplains. “My […]
Patients treated at Riverwood not at risk for fungal meningitis
An outbreak of fungal meningitis in 23 states, including, Minnesota, is being investigated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and reported widely in the media, beginning the first week in October. Steroid products produced by a New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts have been linked to 47 cases of fungal meningitis […]
New director for Riverwood Foundation
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Jodie Johnson is the new director of Riverwood Foundation, effective Oct. 1. In this position, she is responsible for the strategic direction and fund development through special projects, annual campaigns and planned giving. “We are very pleased to have Jodie become a permanent member of the exceptional […]
Hospital main lobby renovation to start
Beginning the week of Sept. 24-27, construction work will begin to renovate the main lobby area for Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin as part of the hospital expansion project that has been under way since May 2011. The area around the current front desk reception counter, admitting and clinic check-in stations will be enclosed with […]
New family nurse practitioner – McGregor
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Jeri Gilb, family nurse practitioner to its family practice medical staff. She will practice primarily at Riverwood’s McGregor clinic in collaboration with Dr. Tim Arnold and Nurse Practitioner Janet Larson. Gilb brings more than 20 years of experience as a registered nurse in acute care, long- term care, home care and […]
Riverwood welcomes new family physician
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Jessica Hodson, DO, family medicine physician who will begin seeing patients in mid-August. “We are excited to welcome Jessica to our family practice medical staff,” says Dr. Mark Heggem, Chief Medical Officer. “With her osteopathic degree and training, she brings to Riverwood an extra level of expertise in the treatment of […]
Physician in training will join Riverwood medical staff
Dr. Austin Krohn, who trained at Riverwood Healthcare Center through the Rural Physician Associate Program from October 2008 through June 2009, returned for a week of family medicine clinical training July 16-20. Krohn, in his third year of residency training at North Memorial Medical Center in the Twin Cities, will join the family practice medical […]
FLOE International supports hospital expansion campaign
Wayne and Janelle Floe with children Easton and Ramsi Donations to Better Together campaign matched to $12,500 Thanks to Wayne and Janelle Floe, McGregor area residents now have an even greater reason to give to the Better Together Capital Campaign.FLOE International is challenging the McGregor area community with a matching gift of $12,500. Floe says, […]
Foundation closing in on challenge grant goal
There’s just $11,945 left to raise for Riverwood Foundation to secure a $300,000 challenge grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation. In 2011, Riverwood Foundation set out to raise $2.2 million through its Better Together Capital Campaign to support Riverwood Healthcare Center’s $21 million expansion project that offers greater privacy and safety for patients and their […]
Healing Garden ceremony pays tribute
A few rain drops fell during the ceremony but this didn’t keep almost 50 people away from the annual Healing Garden Memorial Ceremony on May 27th to honor and commemorate loved ones. The short program included an invocation by Bill Fox, a reading of honors and memorials by Riverwood Foundation interim chairman Matthew Hill and […]
New hospital support services wing opens
As part of the hospital expansion and renovation project at Riverwood Healthcare Center, the new wing for support services will open Mon., June 18. The new wing, located in an addition on the south side of the hospital, will house about 60 to 70 employees from multiple departments, including administration, billing, Riverwood Foundation, education, finance, […]
New family nurse practitioner joins Riverwood
Riverwood Healthcare Center welcomes Lisa Gerhart, family nurse practitioner, who has been seeing patients at Riverwood clinics since last fall as she completed her nurse practitioner training. Gerhart brings more than five years of experience as a registered nurse and charge nurse for medical/surgical patients prior to obtaining her family nurse practitioner certification. She also served as […]
New CFO joins Riverwood
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Kent Dumonseau as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He joins Riverwood’s management team and will oversee fiscal management for the hospital and clinics as well as participating in overall strategic planning and administrative operations. “Kent brings to Riverwood a great deal of expertise in financial management and rural healthcare […]
Health Careers class begins
On March 14, 11 Aitkin High School (AHS) students met at Riverwood Healthcare Center for an orientation to the Health Career Exploration curriculum, a joint partnership between Riverwood Healthcare Center and Aitkin High School. AHS juniors and seniors who participate in the program learn firsthand what career opportunities await them in the healthcare field. Students […]
2011 Riverwood Annual Report
Riverwood Healthcare Center’s 2011 Riverwood Annual Report gives an update on initiatives to enhance quality of care, including several patient testimonials, and an overview of financials and donor support through Riverwood Foundation. The report’s theme–“Together we will”—represents all the individuals and organizations that come together to bring the best in healthcare to the Northern Minnesota communities […]