AITKIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DBA RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER

RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE AND PERSONALIZED CARE. COUPLING THIS WITH OUR VISION OF BEING THE REGION'S PREFERRED HEALTH SYSTEM PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND OUR VALUES OF INTEGRITY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, UNITY, RESPECT, COMPASSION, EXCELLENCE AND PASSION, WE FOCUSED ON SIX STRATEGIC GOALS. THESE SIX PILLARS ARE PEOPLE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, GROWTH, COMMUNITY, STEWARDSHIP AND QUALITY. WE STRIVE FOR THESE IN ALL THAT WE DO FOR OUR PATIENTS.IN 2024, RIVERWOOD CONTINUED TO USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE, INCLUDING CONTINUING TELEMEDICINE VIRTUAL VISITS FOR PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE, AND TAPPING VIRTUAL RESOURCES FOR INPATIENT CARE AS WELL. VIRTUAL RESOURCES OFFER GREATER CONVENIENCE FOR THOSE WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR JOB, FIND THE TIME TO TRAVEL TO THEIR CLINIC FOR AN IN-PERSON EXAM OR WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS MAKE IT UNSAFE TO TRAVEL. DR. TIM ARNOLD SAID, "FROM A PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE, THE VIRTUAL VISIT GIVES US A NEW WAY TO CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS THAT IS MUCH BETTER THAN A PHONE VISIT. WE STILL LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE PATIENTS IN THE CLINIC, BUT THIS IS A GREAT OPTION FOR BOTH PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS." RIVERWOOD RECEIVED SEVERAL HOSPITAL DESIGNATIONS IN 2024. THE CENTERS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RELEASED ITS HOSPITAL COMPARE REPORT SHOWING HOW HOSPITALS ACROSS THE NATION ARE PERFORMING. RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER EARNED A FIVE-STAR RATING FOR THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD COVERING OCTOBER 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023. STAR RATINGS OFFER VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS COMPARE HOSPITALS LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE. THESE RATINGS, BASED ON A FIVE-STAR SCALE, PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE ACROSS MEASURES INCLUDING MORTALITY AND READMISSION RATES, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TREATMENT, AND VALUE OF CARE. RIVERWOOD'S HOSPITAL RECEIVED FIVE STARS FOR THE PATIENT STAR RATING, WHICH IS BASED ON SURVEY RATINGS OF RECENTLY DISCHARGED HOSPITAL PATIENTS, MEASURING VARIOUS EXPERIENCE ITEMS SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, STAFF RESPONSIVENESS, CLEANLINESS, QUIETNESS, CARE TRANSITION AND OVERALL PATIENT EXPERIENCE. IN MAY 2024, THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (MHA) AWARDED RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER WITH THE HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION AWARD. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND SAFETY. WITH AN OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE FOR "ZERO HARM" RIVERWOOD EMPLOYEES ARE STRONGLY COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING SAFETY, QUALITY, AND EFFICIENCY GOALS. CHIEF NURSING OFFICER CARLA ZUPKO, WHO ACCEPTED THE AWARD FOR RIVERWOOD, COMMENTS: "THIS STATEWIDE RECOGNITION IS A TRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS OUR ORGANIZATION HAS MADE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. RIVERWOOD HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN IMPROVING QUALITY AND SAFETY FOR OUR PATIENTS AS WE STRIVE FOR ZERO HARM." EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF KEY SAFETY MEASURES COMMUNICATED THROUGH MONTHLY TALKING POINTS FOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS, REGULAR TEAM DISCUSSIONS ON SAFETY ISSUES, AND THE USE OF A QUALITY DASHBOARD TO HELP IDENTIFY AND GUIDE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. ZUPKO ADDS: "WE ROLLED OUT AN EIGHT-STEP CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MODEL AND OUR STAFF COMPLETED MORE THAN 19 FACILITATED CPI EVENTS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS TO HELP DEPARTMENTS STREAMLINE PROCESSES, ELIMINATE WASTE AND INCREASE SAFETY." RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER EARNED THE JOINT COMMISSION'S GOLD SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR ACCREDITATION FOR ITS LABORATORY SERVICES BY DEMONSTRATING CONTINUOUS COMPLIANCE WITH ITS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. THE GOLD SEAL IS A SYMBOL OF QUALITY THAT REFLECTS A HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SAFE AND QUALITY PATIENT CARE. RIVERWOOD UNDERWENT A RIGOROUS, UNANNOUNCED ONSITE REVIEW NOV. 14-16, 2023. DURING THE VISIT, A TEAM OF JOINT COMMISSION REVIEWERS EVALUATED COMPLIANCE WITH CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL STANDARDS SPANNING LABORATORY SERVICES. THE JOINT COMMISSION'S STANDARDS ARE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND PROVIDERS, MEASUREMENT EXPERTS AND PATIENTS. THEY ARE INFORMED BY SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE AND EXPERT CONSENSUS TO HELP HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS MEASURE, ASSESS, AND IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. THE SURVEYORS ALSO CONDUCTED ONSITE OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS. RIVERWOOD CEO KEN WESTMAN COMMENTS: "IN PREPARATION FOR JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION, RIVERWOOD MAINTAINS STRONG LEVELS OF SAFETY AND QUALITY ACROSS ALL SERVICES THROUGH FREQUENT INTERNAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENTS. OUR STAFF CONTINUALLY IMPROVES PERFORMANCE WITHIN A SAFETY CULTURE, KEEPING THE PATIENT AT THE CENTER OF CARE DELIVERY AND SEEKING IMPROVEMENT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY." IN 2024 RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER WAS RECOGNIZED AS 2024 HUMAN EXPERIENCE GUARDIAN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER ALONG WITH OTHER HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN THROUGH PRESS GANEY, A GLOBAL LEADER IN HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES. THIS AWARD IS PART OF PRESS GANEY'S ANNUAL RANKING OF THE TOP HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE IN PATIENT SATISFACTION. AS A WINNER OF THIS AWARD, RIVERWOOD SCORED IN THE TOP 5 PERCENT OF PRESS GANEY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR PATIENT EXPERIENCE BASED ON ONE YEAR OF DATA. RIVERWOOD CEO KEN WESTMAN SAID: "THANKS TO ALL OUR RIVERWOOD TEAM MEMBERS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION TO IMPROVE HEALTH BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE, AND PERSONALIZED CARE. THE SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY PRESS GANEY GIVES US GREATER INSIGHT INTO HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO RAISE THE BAR TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. CONNECTING ALL THE DOTS ACROSS PEOPLE, PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY HELPS DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN CARE DELIVERY, PUTTING HUMAN EXPERIENCE AT THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE." PRESS GANEY IS THE LEADING HUMAN EXPERIENCE (HX) HEALTHCARE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OFFERS AN INTEGRATED SUITE OF SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS SAFETY, CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, PATIENT EXPERIENCE AND WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT. THE COMPANY WORKS WITH MORE THAN 41,000 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN ITS MISSION TO REDUCE PATIENT SUFFERING AND ENHANCE CAREGIVER RESILIENCE TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL SAFETY, QUALITY, AND EXPERIENCE OF CARE. THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONTINUES TO RECOGNIZE RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER AS A LEVEL III TRAUMA HOSPITAL. AFTER PARTICIPATING IN AN INTENSE TRAINING PROCESS TO BECOME PART OF MINNESOTA'S STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM, THE AITKIN COUNTY HOSPITAL EARNED ITS INITIAL DESIGNATION IN DECEMBER 2006 AND WAS THE FIRST RURAL HOSPITAL IN MINNESOTA TO ACHIEVE THE LEVEL III DESIGNATION. "RIVERWOOD HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO CARING FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS WHERE RAPID MEDICAL RESPONSE IS CRITICAL TO SAVING LIVES," SAYS DR. JIM HARRIS, RIVERWOOD EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND TRAUMA PROGRAM MEDICAL DIRECTOR. "THROUGH THE STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM, WE PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES AND STAFF TRAINING, ENSURING THAT ALL OUR ED NURSES AND PHYSICIANS ARE RE-CERTIFIED IN ADVANCED LIFESAVING AND TRAUMA CARE ANNUALLY. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RIVERWOOD TEAM FOR THIS BIG ACHIEVEMENT OF CONTINUOUS TRAUMA CENTER DESIGNATION OVER 17 YEARS." THE MINNESOTA TRAUMA SYSTEM FEATURES FOUR LEVELS OF CARE WITH VARYING DEGREES OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT HOSPITALS. LEVELS I AND II HOSPITALS HAVE THE MOST TRAUMA CARE RESOURCES. THESE ARE TYPICALLY HIGH-VOLUME TRAUMA CENTERS WITH SURGICAL SUBSPECIALTIES IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AT THE HOSPITAL. LEVEL III AND LEVEL IV HOSPITALS DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY TRAUMA CARE WITH RESPECT TO THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE. LEVEL III TRAUMA CENTERS HAVE SURGEONS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE HOSPITAL BUT LACK OTHER SURGERY SUBSPECIALTIES. LEVEL IV HOSPITALS DO NOT REQUIRE SURGERY SERVICES. FOR A SEVERELY INJURED PERSON, THE TIME BETWEEN SUSTAINING AN INJURY AND RECEIVING DEFINITIVE CARE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PREDICTOR OF SURVIVALCALLED THE "GOLDEN HOUR." THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DIMINISHES WITH TIME. A STRONG LOCAL TRAUMA CENTER ENHANCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, REGARDLESS OF PROXIMITY TO AN URBAN HOSPITAL OFFERING A HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAUMA CARE. "INJURY IS A LEADING CAUSE OF PREMATURE DEATH IN MINNESOTA," SAID MINNESOTA COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH DR. BROOKE CUNNINGHAM. "THE GOAL OF THE TRAUMA SYSTEM IS TO DECREASE INJURED PATIENTS' TIME TO CARE BY MAKING SURE THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS ARE APPROPRIATELY MATCHED WITH HOSPITAL RESOURCES." ON AVERAGE, TRAUMA CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 4,300 MINNESOTANS ANNUALLY. STATES WITH TRAUMA SYSTEMS HAVE SEEN SURVIVAL RATES INCREASE BY 15 TO 20 PERCENT. WIDE-SCALE PARTICIPATION IN THE VOLUNTARY TRAUMA SYSTEM ENSURES THAT A STATEWIDE, COOPERATIVE EFFORT IS IN PLACE TO CARE FOR SERIOUSLY INJURED PATIENTS. RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (MHA) FOR ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA WITH ITS RIVERWOOD CONNECTS PROGRAM. RIVERWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (MHA) FOR ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA WITH ITS RIVERWOOD CONNECTS PROGRAM.