United Hospital District

04/07/2026

United Hospital District is excited to welcome Kelly Christianson, ARNP, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, to our Fairmont Clinic team!

Kelly is committed to delivering personalized, evidence-based care to patients of all ages, focusing on building strong, lasting relationships that support prevention, wellness, and effective management of health conditions.

Outside of the clinic, Kelly enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating, traveling, and cheering on the Vikings!

Call the Fairmont Clinic today to schedule an appointment and welcome Kelly to the community!

UHD includes an acute care hospital, three clinic locations, an ambulance service and home health/hospice services.

04/06/2026

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone and an even more extraordinary person.

Rita Volz, Medical Technologist, has dedicated 50 years of service to UHD, in our lab department.

Rita began her laboratory career after enrolling in a Medical Laboratory Technician program partnered with the Mayo Clinic, launching a lifetime devoted to patient care. She joined UHD during a time when lab work looked very different—manual tests, graph paper, test tubes, and even a “blood bank” that fit under the counter! Over the decades, Rita witnessed and helped lead the lab’s transformation into the modern, highly automated environment we rely on today.

From night call shifts and ER blood draws to cardiac stress testing, lab‑x-ray cross coverage, and navigating the many changes in healthcare, Rita has done it all—with humility, grit, and that legendary farm‑girl work ethic. She adapted as technology advanced, persevered through lean years, staffing changes, and the challenges of COVID, and always put patients first.

But if you ask Rita what mattered most over these 50 years, it isn’t the equipment or the tests—it’s the people. The coworkers who became lifelong friends, the teamwork that defined the lab, and the shared dedication to making good care even better.

Rita, thank you for your loyalty, leadership, and heart. You are truly a legend of the lab and an inspiration to generations of healthcare professionals.

Please join us in congratulating Rita Volz on an incredible 50 years of service to UHD!

04/03/2026

Provider Spotlight!

Dr. Brittany Waletzko Bartz provides Family Medicine and Obstetrics care at our Blue Earth and Wells Clinics, supporting patients from prenatal visits and women’s health needs to everyday family care.

Patients often share how comfortable and heard they feel during their visits:

“She was personable and made my daughter feel understood and comfortable. She's an excellent provider and we feel that we have found a new clinic.”

“Dr. Waletzko Bartz was very attentive and answered all my questions in a way I could understand. It was the first time seeing her and she did great learning my concerns.”

She views healthcare as a partnership, working closely with patients to help them better understand their health, prevent and manage illness, and feel supported throughout their care journey.

We’re proud to have Dr. Waletzko Bartz caring for individuals and growing families across our communities.

03/31/2026

What Is Robotic-Assisted Surgery?

Robotic-assisted surgery combines advanced technology with the expertise of highly skilled surgeons to enhance precision and care.

Using the da Vinci® surgical system, surgeons operate with improved visualization and greater control — allowing for more precise procedures. For many patients, this can mean:

• Smaller incisions
• Less disruption to surrounding tissue
• Shorter hospital stays
• Faster recovery in many cases

In this video, Dr. Wong demonstrates robotic-assisted surgery using a simulation designed to refine skills and enhance surgical precision.

At United Hospital District, investing in advanced technology like robotic-assisted surgery helps ensure our community has access to the same level of care often found in larger medical centers — right here close to home.

03/30/2026

Today, we proudly celebrate National Doctors’ Day and recognize the incredible physicians at United Hospital District who care for our community every single day.

From routine checkups to life-saving care, our doctors bring compassion, expertise, and dedication to every patient they serve.

They are not only healthcare providers — they are neighbors, mentors, listeners, and trusted partners in the health and well-being of our region.

At UHD, our physicians work alongside outstanding care teams to ensure patients can receive high-quality care close to home. Their commitment to improving lives, supporting families, and strengthening our community does not go unnoticed.

Today, and every day, we thank our doctors for their hard work, professionalism, and the genuine care they show to each person who walks through our doors.

Please join us in celebrating and thanking our UHD physicians for all they do!

03/26/2026

At UHD, our Laboratory team plays a vital role in patient care — by making an impact that reaches every patient we serve. Using a variety of advanced analyzers and equipment, the UHD Laboratory performs complex testing on patient samples to help providers make informed decisions about diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical conditions.

Our lab professionals are committed to delivering quick, accurate results, ensuring patients receive the care they need as efficiently as possible.

Here’s what some of our patients have shared:

“The Lab Staff is very busy with people wanting to get blood work done while fasting, but staff were very efficient and made quick work of getting everyone taken care of very efficiently!”

“I appreciate that the Lab Staff came to me at St. Luke's! What a pleasant surprise. Excellent service!!”

We are incredibly proud of our Laboratory staff for their dedication, precision, and compassionate service every day. Thank you for helping provide high-quality care close to home for our community. ❤️

03/23/2026

Colorectal Cancer Isn’t Just for Older Adults

Colorectal cancer is rising among young adults. About 10% of cases occur in people under 50, and rates are increasing each year. It’s the deadliest cancer among young men and the second deadliest among young women. (Colorectal Cancer Alliance)

If you are 45 or older, consider talking with your provider about getting screened. Screening helps find precancerous polyps when they are most treatable, saving lives and preventing deaths.

Call UHD today to schedule an appointment with your provider.

03/20/2026

It is National Healthcare HR Week!

Today we’re recognizing Shanna Gudahl, Human Resources Manager, and the amazing Human Resources team at UHD. HR is about people — supporting employees, strengthening our workplace culture, and helping our teams succeed — and Shanna and her team do this every day with dedication and compassion.

Thank you for being such an important resource and support system for our staff. We’re grateful for all you do!

03/18/2026

This week marks a major step forward for surgical care at UHD.

With Dr. Wong and Dr. Schulz leading the way, our new da Vinci surgical robotic system has officially arrived, bringing advanced surgical technology to our community.

While it’s currently being set up and used for training, this is about much more than a new piece of equipment. It reflects our continued commitment to bringing advanced, high-quality care closer to home.

For our patients, this means access to minimally invasive surgical options that can lead to more precise procedures and a quicker return to everyday life.

For our community, it means more care can stay right here, close to family, close to support, and close to home.

Over the coming weeks, our surgical team will be training and preparing for the first procedures using this technology.

We’re excited for what this means for the future of care at UHD, and even more excited for the impact it will have on the patients we serve.

More to come soon.

03/17/2026

To celebrate National Social Work Day, we’d like to recognize Katelyn Boran and Mary Johnson for the impact they make each day.

At UHD, social work isn’t just a role. It’s often the difference between someone feeling overwhelmed and someone feeling supported.

Whether it’s helping a patient navigate a difficult diagnosis, connecting families with resources, or walking alongside someone during some of the hardest moments of their life, Katelyn and Mary show up with compassion, patience, and understanding every day.

From our hospital and clinics to our home health and hospice services, their impact extends far beyond a single visit.

Katelyn and Mary, thank you for the care, guidance, and support you provide to our patients, their families, and our community.

03/16/2026

Colorectal cancer screening begins at age 45.

If you are 45 or older, consider talking with your provider about getting screened. Even without a family history, screening is important — most colorectal cancers occur in people with no known family history of the disease. (CDC)

Many people with colorectal cancer don’t experience any symptoms in the early stages, which is one of the reasons regular screenings are so important—even if you feel healthy. Screenings can detect changes before symptoms develop. (Colorectal Cancer Alliance)

Call UHD today to schedule an appointment with your provider.

03/13/2026

Something important is taking shape at United Hospital District!

Over the next year, you’ll begin to see some changes happening around UHD — construction crews, updated spaces, and new technology arriving. All of it is part of an exciting project to bring state-of-the-art MRI services to our community.

For many patients today, getting an MRI means traveling far from home. This project will help change that by bringing advanced imaging and answers closer to the people who need it.

See a few members of our Radiology team standing in the space where our new MRI will soon be installed. It’s just the beginning, and we’re excited to share the progress with you along the way.

This is more than new equipment — it’s an investment in the future of healthcare for our region.

And it’s happening right here at UHD.