Press Releases

River Valley Health Network (RVHN), a collaboration of four independent rural health care organizations in western Minnesota, is excited to announce that Lori Andreas has been selected to be its new Executive Director. As the Executive Director, Ms. Andreas will oversee the cooperation and collaboration of all RVHN members, provide strategic planning for collaboration, development and support of various products, programs, and services, and create grant proposals as needed. In addition, the Executive Director supports RVHN by providing budgetary oversight for the organization and RVHN programs. Ms. Andreas will begin as the Executive Director on Monday, August 2, 2021. Lori Andreas has an extensive career with 15 years of health care experience where she has provided result-orientated performance. She has served as CEO at Appleton Area Health and as President of the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative.  RVHN works collaboratively with its members to enhance the health care services they provide while remaining independently operated. RVHN also supports the collaborating health care organizations to research and apply for different grant opportunities, recruit new providers, and identify and meet health care needs for southwestern Minnesota. The four organizations that comprise RVHN are Appleton Area Health (Appleton, MN), CCM Health (Montevideo, MN), Johnson Memorial Health Services (Dawson, MN), and Madison Healthcare Services (Madison, MN). More information on River Valley Health Network can be requested by emailing River Valley Health Network at info@rvhn.org.

Lac qui Parle Health Network, a collaboration of three independent rural health care organizations in western Minnesota, has added CCM Health as a member and changed its name to River Valley Health Network (RVHN). The four organizations that comprise RVHN are Appleton Area Health (Appleton, MN), CCM Health (Montevideo, MN), Johnson Memorial Health Services (Dawson, MN), and Madison Healthcare Services (Madison, MN). RVHN works collaboratively with its members to enhance the health care services they provide while remaining independently operated. RVHN also supports the collaborating health care organizations to research and apply for different grant opportunities, recruit new providers, and identify and meet health care needs for southwestern Minnesota. More information on River Valley Health Network can be requested by emailing River Valley Health Network at info@rvhn.org .

The River Valley Health Network was awarded a grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Network Development Planning Grant is a one-year grant for $99,990. This grant will provide funds for completing a regional community health needs assessment and asset mapping process, including a strategic planning process for the development of innovative behavioral health integration strategies. The Planning Grant is a collaboration with the Members of the River Valley Health Network including Appleton Area Health Services in Appleton, Johnson Memorial Health Services in Dawson and Madison Healthcare Services in Madison, along with Woodland Centers, which provides comprehensive mental health services in the region and Countryside Public Health. The River Valley Health Network (RVHN) was also awarded The Rural Health Network Development Program Grant also awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Development Grant is a 3-year grant for $300,000 a year for a total of $900,000. The Development Grant will build on the strategic plan created by the Planning Grant to build a sustainable system for providing integrated behavioral health and primary care. This project is collaboration between the members of the River Valley Health Network (RVHN) and Woodland Centers. ​ With limited economies of scale, the proposed projects will provide the infrastructure and resources necessary to allow network members and partners to develop effective and meaningful partnerships that work to meet the primary and behavioral health care needs of the region.

Wendy Wallace, Epic Ambulatory Optimizer, Credentialed Trainer and Staff Education Coordinator at Tri-County Health Care was presented with Certificate of Completion for the MENTOR Health IT Program. Presenting the Certificates are Bernice Robinson, Executive Director and Lisa DuFrane, Program Manager from the River Valley Health Network (RVHN) also pictured is Jose Albe, Clinic Manager and Wendy’s supervisor. Health Information technology has become a critical and required body of knowledge across the entire spectrum of healthcare. As the technical and reporting demands grow, so does the need for a workforce that has the knowledge and skills to meet these demands in every aspect of healthcare. The River Valley Health Network (RVHN) has partnered with experienced health IT trainers at Normandale Community College to create the MENTOR Health IT Program. Other partners of the project include Medi-Sota Health Care Consortium, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council. The MENTOR Health IT Program provides health IT training specifically geared toward rural needs. Upon completion of the MENTOR Health IT Program this newly trained workforce will be able to support the planning, implementation, usage and optimization of Health Information Technology to support better care, greater access to care and lower costs to the patients, healthcare facilities and providers The MENTOR Health IT training will be offered again in September of 2015. For more information please contact Bernice Robinson, LqPHN Executive Director or Lisa DuFrane, LqPHN Program Manager at 320-698-7199. MENTOR Health IT Program Certificate of Completion Awards

Rachel Severson, Director of RHIT Health Information Management, from the Sleepy Eye Medical Center was presented with Certificate of Completion for the MENTOR Health IT Program. Presenting the Certificates are Bernice Robinson, Executive Director and Lisa DuFrane, Program Manager, from the River Valley Health Network (RVHN) . Health Information technology has become a critical and required body of knowledge across the entire spectrum of healthcare. As the technical and reporting demands grow, so does the need for a workforce that has the knowledge and skills to meet these demands in every aspect of healthcare. The River Valley Health Network (RVHN) has partnered with experienced health IT trainers at Normandale Community College to create the MENTOR Health IT Program. Other partners of the project include Medi-Sota Health Care Consortium, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council. The MENTOR Health IT Program provides health IT training specifically geared toward rural needs. Upon completion of the MENTOR Health IT Program this newly trained workforce will be able to support the planning, implementation, usage and optimization of Health Information Technology to support better care, greater access to care and lower costs to the patients, healthcare facilities and providers The MENTOR Health IT training will be offered again in September of 2015. For more information please contact Bernice Robinson, LqPHN Executive Director or Lisa DuFrane, LqPHN Program Manager at 320-698-7199.

Melissa Hunt, Radiology Manager and Marie Schneeberger, Director of Health Information, from the Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic were presented with Certificate of Completion for the MENTOR Health IT Program. Presenting the Certificates are Bernice Robinson, Executive Director and Lisa DuFrane, Program Manager, from the River Valley Health Network (RVHN) . Health Information technology has become a critical and required body of knowledge across the entire spectrum of healthcare. As the technical and reporting demands grow, so does the need for a workforce that has the knowledge and skills to meet these demands in every aspect of healthcare. The River Valley Health Network (RVHN) has partnered with experienced health IT trainers at Normandale Community College to create the MENTOR Health IT Program. Other partners of the project include Medi-Sota Health Care Consortium, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council. The MENTOR Health IT Program provides health IT training specifically geared toward rural needs. Upon completion of the MENTOR Health IT Program this newly trained workforce will be able to support the planning, implementation, usage and optimization of Health Information Technology to support better care, greater access to care and lower costs to the patients, healthcare facilities and providers The MENTOR Health IT training will be offered again in September of 2015. For more information please contact Bernice Robinson, LqPHN Executive Director or Lisa DuFrane, LqPHN Program Manager at 320-698-7199.

Cristin DeLong, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, at the Granite Falls Municipal Hospital and Manor was presented with Certificate of Completion for the MENTOR Health IT Program. Presenting the Certificates are Bernice Robinson, Executive Director and Lisa DuFrane, Program Manager from the River Valley Health Network (RVHN) . Health Information technology has become a critical and required body of knowledge across the entire spectrum of healthcare. As the technical and reporting demands grow, so does the need for a workforce that has the knowledge and skills to meet these demands in every aspect of healthcare. The River Valley Health Network (RVHN) has partnered with experienced health IT trainers at Normandale Community College to create the MENTOR Health IT Program. Other partners of the project include Medi-Sota Health Care Consortium, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council. The MENTOR Health IT Program provides health IT training specifically geared toward rural needs. Upon completion of the MENTOR Health IT Program this newly trained workforce will be able to support the planning, implementation, usage and optimization of Health Information Technology to support better care, greater access to care and lower costs to the patients, healthcare facilities and providers The MENTOR Health IT training will be offered again in September of 2015. For more information please contact Bernice Robinson, LqPHN Executive Director or Lisa DuFrane, LqPHN Program Manager at 320-698-7199.