National Hospital Week – celebrating 130 years of caring for Winona As we recognize National Hospital Week, May 12-18, we have another important milestone to celebrate: Winona Health’s 130th anniversary. Since 1894, the Winona community has had its own, home-grown, healthcare organization.

From Student to Caregiver: A high schooler’s path at Winona Health We Are Winona. And people have been caring for their fellow community members at Winona Health for 130 years. Meet Abbey Gardner, CNA. Abbey joined the caregivers at Winona Health after her experience participating in Cotter High School’s Job Shadow Course.

Winona Health Volunteers: Part of Winona’s story for 130 years ‌Our hospital was established in February of 1894, and in March of that year, a group of volunteers formed with the purpose of supporting the hospital. Our volunteer organization has been serving and supporting Winona Health for as long as Winona Health has been caring for our community.

130 years: Expertise and advancements in surgical care The field of surgery has evolved through the years, from the days when the only option was an open surgery (which requires large incisions), to the advancement of laparoscopic procedures and now, robotic-assisted surgery.

In the news: Celebrating 130 years of caring! WXOW visited to learn more about us as we celebrate 130 years of neighbors coming together to take care of one another! Established on February 28, 1894, we are now celebrating 130 years of community-focused care! Watch our story on WXOW News 19.

Rehabilitation Services and Sports Therapy mark four years in Family Y As Winona Health continues to celebrate 130 years of community collaboration and connection in 2024, we look back on this more recent milestone when Winona Health Rehabilitation Services and Sports Therapy opened its doors in the Winona Family Y at 902 Parks Avenue, on December 14, 2020.

Caring for our community for 130 years! Winona Health’s story began more than a century ago with neighbors coming together to take care of one another regardless of circumstance. Established on February 28, 1894, Winona Health is now celebrating 130 years of community-focused care.

Fostering innovation Rachelle was among the healthcare leaders participating in a roundtable discussion at the Hormel Institute in Austin on August 20. The healthcare workforce shortage was among the topics, and leaders shared some of the ways they are working to generate interest in the field.

Washington, DC updates from Rachelle Schultz, EdD, President/CEO Rachelle is in Washington, DC, this week to share perspective and insights into the pressing challenges rural hospitals and healthcare systems and their patients are facing. Rachelle has long been a voice for rural healthcare here in Winona, in Minnesota and beyond.

Rachelle recognized by Twin Cities Business magazine for her advocacy work Twin Cities Business magazine has recognized Winona Health CEO and Minnesota Hospital Association board chair Rachelle Schultz in their 2024 Best of Business issue, as a Notable Non Profit Board member.

Remaining focused on our community with the strength of a state-wide network At the end of June, Winona Health, along with 18 other independent rural healthcare organizations, launched Headwaters High-Value Network. As independent entities, forming this clinically integrated network puts all of us in a better position to overcome the ever-increasing challenges of being small, rural healthcare systems.

Winona Health honored with Minnesota Hospital Association awards Winona Health was recognized with two Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) awards: The MHA Partnership and Improvement Award and The Environmental Services Department of the Year.

Winona Health recognized for quality performance Winona Health was recognized for quality of care at UCare’s annual “A Salute to Excellence!” event in September. UCare, a community-based, nonprofit health plan, recognizes clinics and care systems with top results in preventive care, disease management, behavioral health, maternity care, care transitions and medication management.

For every patient, our goal is less pain and better quality of life If you’re experiencing pain from injuries or arthritis, our Sports and Orthopedic Specialists provide a full scope of care from physical therapy and injection therapy to minimally invasive and arthroscopic procedures to total joint replacement.

Remarkable surgical advances in our community It’s interesting to imagine life 130 years ago, in 1894, and wonder what our founding ancestors would think about the medical technology we’re using at Winona Health today.

Have you ever done a skin cancer self-check? It’s as easy as ABC(DE) Have you ever noticed something on your skin and thought to yourself, “Was that there before?” or “Did that always look like that?” It’s important to keep an eye on changes to your skin. We recommend you do a self-check on your skin every month – make it part of your routine, just like flossing your teeth or exercising.

Winona Health offering free skin cancer screening Winona Health is offering free skin cancer screening on May 31. This is a head-to-toe skin screening with Winona Health Dermatologist Chad Weaver, MD, and Erin Hanson, CNP.

Hello Rushford! I’m happy to be here to care for you Now that I’m settled in at Rushford Clinic – and in Rushford, I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself and say hello to my fellow community members. I’m Maclane (please feel free to call me Mac) Bever, a Family Nurse Practitioner at Rushford Clinic. I’m a primary care provider, which means I provide care for people of all ages, and I specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating a broad range of conditions.

We are grateful to be an organization and part of a community that attracts top talent. In 2024, we were pleased to welcome these knowledgeable and compassionate new providers to our community!

Mary Anderson, CNP Urgent Care

Jonathan Birdsall, MD Emergency Medicine

Todd Connaughty, LPCC, LADC Psychiatric & Counseling Services

Jennifer Johnson, CNP Psychiatric & Counseling Services

Lydia Paulson, CNP Internal Medicine

Pamela Kay Rice, MD Women’s Health

Madeline Rueb, PA-C Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

Kalika Valentine, LPC Psychiatric & Counseling Services

Nurse dedicates decades to Winona Health A news team from KARE 11 visited Winona recently to meet “Tweety,” a nurse who has been caring for people at Winona Health for a little more than 50 years! Check out their Nurses’ Week story — and, if you’ve ever wondered how Tweety got her name, you just might find out.

Winona Health physician Charles Shepard retiring after caring for his community for 48 years Charles Shepard, MD, an Internal Medicine physician at Winona Health, is retiring in March, after nearly half a century of caring for the Winona community. To honor and thank him for his service and celebrate his well-earned retirement, Winona Health invites community members to an open house Saturday, March 23.

Recognizing the dedication of our caregivers who are marking service milestones Behind every one of these caregivers, there’s a story. It may include a calling to provide hope and healing, a desire to do meaningful work or a drive to be a part of creating something better. Our collective story is rooted in a community of neighbors who came together more than a century ago to care for one another.

Keri’s story (with a cameo appearance by Audrey) Keri Wegman has been a part of Winona Health’s story since 1974. Over those 50 years – yes, half a century – she has been a part of countless changes and advancements.

Featured: Winona Health Simulation Lab elevates patient care We believe outstanding caregivers have a learning mindset – whatever their level of expertise. Practicing life-saving skills, especially for those medical situations that happen very rarely, in the controlled environment of a simulation lab benefits caregivers, students, educators and each person they care for throughout their career.

U of M medical student learning at Winona Health earns Student Achievement Award Nyika Friberg, a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota received the University’s Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) Student Achievement Award.

Students from Sweden learn at Winona Health: Meet Emma! Recently we had two exchange students from Sweden! They shadowed in several areas of the hospital learning from our caregivers. We had the chance to catch up with Emma to get her thoughts about her time here before she heads back home.

Newborns and parents at Winona Health welcomed with quilts from Winona Area Quilters Guild members The Winona Area Quilters Guild recently delivered another bundle of quilts for the Winona area’s newest community members in the Family Birth Center at Winona Health.

Volleyball fans and caregivers dig pink for breast cancer awareness General Surgeon Colin Kennedy, MD, and other Winona Health caregivers were digging pink with the Cochrane-Fountain City Volley Ball team and fans on Tuesday, October 8.

Events at Central Lutheran Church benefit community members through Winona Health Breast Cancer Fund Central Lutheran Church in Winona held events in October to show support for those who are fighting or have fought breast cancer. Events included a walk to Windom Park and back to the church for additional activities.

Winona Community HUB expanding thanks to new grant Winona Community HUB will be able to help more community members thanks to a grant from the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with Taylor Family Farms Foundation.

Collaboration expands resources and access to mental health care The increasing need for mental health care is no secret. Together, a group of community partners formed the Mental Health Collaborative with the goal of helping people in our community access the mental health resources they need.

Music, horses and clowns – and so much more – oh my! A huge shoutout to the caregivers who planned, the community members who participated, the residents, family and friends who attended and the volunteers who helped everything go smoothly!

Winona Health Volunteers honored with Minnesota Hospital Association award The Winona Health Volunteers recently received a Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) Sustainability in Health Care award. The Sustainability in Health Care Award recognizes outstanding efforts and achievements promoting sustainability within the hospital or health system.

Winona Health Foundation’s Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship awarded Shari Masyga is this year’s recipient of the Winona Health Foundation’s Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing scholarship.‌ Masyga is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who has been caring for residents at Lake Winona Manor for more than 16 years.

Ken and Sally Mogren recipients of Ben and Adith Miller Community Service Tribute “Sally and Ken have quietly and humbly improved the lives of Winonans for nearly fifty years…their fingerprints have undeniably been left on Winona’s healthcare, education, business, athletics and philanthropy,” wrote Paul and Jan Brosnahan in their nomination of Ken and Sally Mogren for the Winona Health Foundation Ben and Adith Miller Community Service Tribute.

Ben & Adith Miller Classic raises $120,000 for Patient Care Fund The 2024 Ben & Adith Miller Classic raised $120,000 for the Ben and Adith Miller Patient Care Fund, a charitable fund to provide financial assistance for community members who need medical care.