Riverwood Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Knee and Hip Replacement

Riverwood Healthcare Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Awarded by Blue Cross Blue Shield, this designation recognizes hospitals that meet rigorous quality standards and demonstrate excellent patient outcomes. The Blue Distinction® program is built on criteria developed by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in partnership with the American Academy of Orthopedic […]

Moving Freely, Living Fully

Shoulder pain was starting to limit Heidi Olesen’s daily life. Simple movements hurt, her favorite activities felt out of reach, and persistent throbbing kept her from sleeping. Seeking relief, Heidi turned to Riverwood’s Orthopedic team — the same experts who had helped her regain mobility after bilateral hip replacement surgery with Dr. Erik Severson years earlier. In August 2025, […]

Good communication, planning aid knee replacement recovery

Good communication with her health care team and planning for her recovery in advance helped Martha Morin have a better patient experience with her second knee replacement at Riverwood Healthcare Center. Morin explains, “I talked to Physician Assistant Erin Mason on the orthopaedic team about how to avoid some of the difficulties I had with […]

Riverwood introduces new orthopaedic provider

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome a new member to its orthopaedic team in Aitkin, Nurse Practitioner Jeff Temple. With a wide array of clinical and surgical experience, Temple has worked in the orthopaedics field for more than 35 years, beginning his career as a surgical technologist in 1987. He has advanced training and […]

Two new knees support active outdoor lifestyle

Physical difficulties with her knee joints began interfering with Jody Slinger’s enjoyment of life eight years ago when she was in her mid-50s. Today at age 60 two new knee joints are enabling her to pursue her passion for being physically active outdoors. She works as a paraprofessional teaching assistant with children in kindergarten through […]