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Posts Tagged ‘hospital’

Patients treated at Riverwood not at risk for fungal meningitis

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

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 – and five deaths – in seven states, according to the CDC. Riverwood Healthcare Center reports that none of its steroid products used for patient care are from this Massachusetts company.

“We want to reassure patients who may have had an epidural steroid injection at Riverwood recently that there is no cause for concern,” explains Dr. Mark Heggem, Riverwood Chief Medical Officer. “The steroid products used to treat patients here are not from the same manufacturer.”

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials say they’ve confirmed three cases of a rare fungal meningitis linked to a steroid commonly used to treat back pain.  According to the MDH, the only Minnesota health care providers known to have used the implicated drugs are Medical Advanced Pain Specialists (MAPS) in Edina, Fridley, Shakopee and Maple Grove, and the Minnesota Surgery Center (MSC) in Edina and Maple Grove.

As of Oct. 8, approximately 950 Minnesota patients are now believed to have been treated with the implicated steroid products. The New England Compounding Center has been closed. All of its products have been recalled, or are currently being withheld from use.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious. MDH officials are emphasizing that the fungal infections associated with the steroid products are different from the viral and bacterial forms of meningitis. The fungal infections cannot be transmitted from person to person, so people who have not been treated with the implicated steroid products are not at risk.

For more information about the fungal meningitis outbreak, go to the websites for Minnesota Department of Health at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/meningitis/fungal/index.html

or Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html

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Foundation closing in on challenge grant goal

Friday, June 15th, 2012

Riverwood Gala Committee points to progress toward Otto Bremer Foundation matching grant goal of $300,000.

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 families. To support the project, the Otto Bremer Foundation put forth a challenge to the community in the form of a generous $300,000 matching grant, of which Riverwood Foundation has raised $288,555.

Riverwood Foundation Interim Director Jodie Johnson says: “We are thrilled with the level of support we’ve received so far from our volunteers and donors. We are hopeful that folks who have not yet made a contribution to the campaign will now rise to the challenge. Time is running short to get your gift doubled with a dollar-for-dollar match by the Otto Bremer Foundation as we expect that we’ll reach the $300,000 goal before the end of June.”

To date, donations to the Better Together campaign total nearly $1.6 million with another $600,000 that must be raised to reach the $2.2 million goal by the end of 2012.

2012 Riverwood Gala

Planning is already underway for the Foundation’s premier annual fundraising event and is being organized by a dedicated group of volunteer committee members.

This year’s gala is set for October 13th at the 40 Club Convention Center. Proceeds from the 2012 black-tie affair will support Riverwood’s hospital expansion project. In 2011, more than $57,000 was raised toward the Better Together campaign.

Johnson says: “We are looking forward to another spectacular evening to raise funds to serve the healthcare needs of area residents at Riverwood Healthcare Center.”

For more information about the expansion project and to make a tax-deductible gift, visit www.riverwoodhealthcare.com/bettertogether or call the Foundation office at (218) 927-5554.

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New CFO joins Riverwood

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

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 practices and procedures that is a terrific asset to our management team,” says Michael Hagen, Riverwood CEO.  “His past experience auditing Riverwood’s financial statements and communication with our management and finance staff has given him a thorough knowledge of the financial issues affecting our health system.”

Dumonseau is joining Riverwood Healthcare Center after a 15-plus year career as a CPA with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.  Previously, he was a Director with McGladrey, specializing in providing assurance and consulting services to many critical access hospitals throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Riverwood.  Kent has worked with the accounting, finance and management staff at Riverwood for approximately 15 years.

Dumonseau holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin, Superior. He is a member of the Minnesota Society of Public Accountants and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

“I believe my long-standing relationship with the accounting, finance, and administrative staff at Riverwood, as well as the in-depth knowledge of Riverwood’s finances will serve me well in my new role as CFO,” Dumonseau says. “I will bring the best practices I have observed and helped develop while working with many other critical access hospitals in the region. The network of healthcare finance individuals I have the pleasure of being part of will also serve as an additional source of new ideas and innovations in this ever-changing healthcare environment.  I look forward to becoming an integral part of this great organization.”

A native of Superior, Wisconsin, Dumonseau enjoys family activities with his 12-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son and golf and fishing.

 

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2011 Riverwood Annual Report

Monday, February 27th, 2012

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 Riverwood serves.

Our key accomplishments for 2011 include:

  • Building for the future. We launched a $21 million hospital expansion and renovation project that is designed to enhance local healthcare services for years to come.
  • Focusing on quality of care.  We achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission, a designation that reflects high quality and safety standards for patients.
  • Collaborating to offer the best care locally. We continue to partner with other health systems, which helps ensure access to advanced specialty care close to home.

 “In the past year, we made great strides in improving what is already an excellent rural health system,” says Riverwood CEO Michael Hagen. “This is all made possible by an outstanding team effort from our medical staff and healthcare professionals, donors, board members and volunteers.”

For a printed copy of the 2011 Annual Report, contact Riverwood at pr@riverwoodhealthcare.org or (218) 927-5589.

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New Riverwood Lab Manager

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Craig Ward, Lab Manager, Riverwood Healthcare

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Craig Ward as Lab Manager. In this role, he oversees service to patients as well as the medical staff. Ward oversees a staff of 13 and three labs in Aitkin, Garrison and McGregor.

“Craig has a wealth of experience in both running labs and in management within healthcare,” said Mike Delfs, Riverwood chief operating officer. “He is a tremendous addition to our management team.”

Previously, Ward was director of clinical operations for Sibley Medical Center in southern Minnesota. Over the past decade, he has supervised medical labs and other medical services for various health systems in Brainerd, Mankato, St. Peter and Virginia. He holds both a bachelor of science degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in health administration, attending colleges in Montana and Wyoming, respectively. He is certified as a medical laboratory scientist.

“I was attracted to working here because of the robust amount of services offered for the size of the community,” Ward said. “At Riverwood, I feel like we are small enough to get to know our patients and big enough to serve most of their healthcare needs.”

Ward grew up just north of the Twin Cities in Andover and has been vacationing on Lone Lake in the Aitkin area for many years. He lives with his wife Jennifer, a physician assistant, in the Brainerd lakes area. They have three sons at home and a daughter who is in college.

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Study shows good news for rural heart attack patients

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Heart attack patients who are transferred from rural hospitals do as well as patients who go directly to Abbott Northwestern Hospital for treatment, according to a study published in the November issue of European Heart Journal.

The study’s objective was to see how well blood clot-busting drug therapy worked for patients who could not receive a balloon angioplasty procedure to open and repair clogged blood vessels within 90 minutes. Researchers analyzed the outcomes of 660 patients who were transferred from 31 regional hospitals and compared them with those of 600 patients who went directly to Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis.

Several authors of the study include three local cardiologists—Dr. Timothy Dirks, Dr. James Madison and Dr. Peter Stokman—of the Minneapolis Heart Institute who treat patients at Riverwood Healthcare Center’s specialty clinic in Aitkin, and Dr. James Harris, medical director of Riverwood’s Emergency Services. The lead study report author is Dr. David Larson of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in Minneapolis. “With our current drug regimen, we have shown that patients right here in Aitkin County and other small rural communities can have absolutely the same outcomes as those who may live just down the street from a primary heart center like Abbott Northwestern,” Stokman explains. “This is great news for cardiac patients living in rural Minnesota.”

 The study was based on the Minneapolis Heart Institute’s Level One Heart Attack Program database of 2,634 patients who were treated at Abbott Northwestern from April 2003 through December 2009.Since 2004, Riverwood Healthcare Center has participated as a Level One Heart Attack Program Hospital, using specific treatment protocols to fast-track heart attack patients to Abbott Northwestern for immediate advanced cardiac care.For more information, see comments on the new heart attack study from Dr. Tim Dirks and Dr. Peter Stokman on the November 15th Lakeland Public TV newscast.

About the Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital
TheMinneapolis Heart Institute® is recognized internationally as one of the world’s leading providers of heart and vascular care. Abbott Northwestern, part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, is the largest hospital in the Twin Cities and recognized nationally and locally for its exceptional expertise and care.

About the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is dedicated to creating a world without heart disease through groundbreaking clinical research and innovative education programs. MHIF’s mission is to promote and improve cardiovascular health, quality of life and longevity for all.   

Timing is critical in saving the life of a heart attack patient.  The average time from when a patient enters Riverwood’s ER in Aitkin to successfully opening the heart attack-causing blocked artery at Abbott Northwestern is 120 minutes.

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Style show raises funds for hospital

Monday, October 17th, 2011

On September 17, the Riverwood Healthcare Auxiliary presented its first style show and luncheon in Aitkin.

 The event took place at the Westside Church where 150 guests were served a delicious luncheon catered by Kathy Larson.  Emcee Bryan Johnson helped make the show’s musical arrangements. Vocal entertainment was provided by Paul and Becky Zenke. 

 Profits from this event will help the Auxiliary make its second payment on its $100,000 pledge to the Better Together campaign for the hospital expansion/building fund.

 Twenty-four Auxiliary volunteers and community members modeled clothing from area thrift stores in Aitkin, Brainerd, Garrison and McGregor. Apparel included everything from baby-doll pajamas, to beautiful evening gowns, a maid serving tea, prom dresses, casual wear, a mink jacket from someone’s attic, a mother’s wedding dress, a gardener carrying a basket of fresh vegetables, and golfers prepared to golf in any kind of Minnesota weather.

 The event committee included Ardy Akerson, Jeanne Christian, Ruth Ferguson, Dorothy Glidden, Marilyn Johnson, Karen Landrus and Jean Peterson. Support from the local thrift stores and the community helped make this event possible.

 Riverwood Auxiliary welcomes new members. For volunteer and membership information, call 927-5508.

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