CentraCare

03/13/2026

Your shoes can make or break your run! 👟

CentraCare M Physicians Orthopedics providers Karl Koivisto, MD; Steve Jacobson, MD; and Paul Meirick, MD share their expert advice on choosing the best running shoes.

Train smart. Train safe. Join us for the CentraCare Earth Day Run, April 17 & 18!

03/12/2026

A war hero, an accomplished pilot, a worldwide phenomenon and he's even believed to be the inspiration behind the protagonist in The Great Gatsby.

His greatest legacy of all? Rice Memorial Hospital.

Learn how a will, thousands of dollars and a specific set of stipulations not only shaped healthcare in the Willmar community forever but also permanently enshrined the Rice family nearly a century later.

03/11/2026

Grace joins our outstanding vascular surgery team, helping patients with problems related to their circulatory system, such as carotid artery disease, deep vein thrombosis and aneurysm.

She says, “I enjoy providing personalized, empathetic care to patients each and every day.”

Learn more: https://www.centracare.com/doctors/profile/grace-eiden/

03/10/2026

During football season, Dewey Smith spends his Sundays cheering on his favorite professional football team, but his hands are always busy. Stitch by stitch, during every game-time high and low, he crochets hats for people in need.

Recently, Dewey donated more than 170 handmade hats to families with babies in the CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

For Dewey, it's more than a hobby. It's a way to turn game-day tension into something that brings comfort to others.

A small hat. A big difference. Watch his story!

03/09/2026

Spring break is right around the corner. If international travel is on your calendar, it might be worth adding a Travel Medicine visit to your pre-trip plans. Many travelers don’t realize how much health recommendations can vary depending on where you’re going. CentraCare's Travel Medicine specialists review your medical history alongside your specific itinerary to provide guidance. Services include:

• Pre-travel counseling

• Required and recommended immunizations

• Medication recommendations and timing

• Food and water safety education

• Updates on current local health concerns

• Information on health care access at your destination

• Safety considerations, including political unrest if relevant

• Planning for any follow-up care after you return

Appointments are recommended at least 4–6 weeks before departure to allow time for vaccines or medications to be most effective. A little preparation before you go can help make your time away healthier and more enjoyable. Learn more at https://www.centracare.com/services/travel-medicine/

03/06/2026

Springing the clock forward is a lot like traveling to a different time zone — minus the fun part of the trip. This weekend marks the start of Daylight Saving Time, which means we’ll lose an hour of sleep Sunday, March 8.

Our sleep experts share a few simple tips to help your body adjust and make the transition a little easier. Check them out before the clocks change!

03/06/2026

Returning to running after an ankle injury isn’t a flip-the-switch moment. It’s a process.

CentraCare M Physicians Orthopedics non-surgical sports medicine Karl Koivisto, M.D., shares why intentional training, strength work and gradual progression are so important.

Train smart. Train safe. We hope to see you at the CentraCare Earth Day Run on April 17 & 18. https://activecentralmn.org/events/earth-day-run/

03/06/2026

CentraCare President and CEO Ken Holmen, MD, is featured in the March/April 2026 issue of Business Central Magazine for his people‑focused leadership, commitment to rural communities and belief that every interaction in healthcare matters.

Read the interview here: https://issuu.com/businesscentral/docs/march_april_2026

03/05/2026

Last week we had the opportunity to host prospective medical school students for the next class at the University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud.

During Admitted Students Day, future medical students met their inaugural‑class buddies, explored their new community, and got a genuine feel for the supportive learning environment waiting for them.

From trying on white coats to hearing honest student perspectives and connecting with campus leaders, the day was all about imagining the journey ahead.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped welcome the next generation of physicians to Central Minnesota.

03/05/2026

It was 50 years ago this month (March 1976) that a new lifesaving technique called the Heimlich Maneuver was being taught widely through the Continuing Education Department at St. Cloud Hospital.

Sandy Rausch, LPN (left), demonstrates the technique on Konie Slipy, RN, education department coordinator. Just one week after learning the new technique at a hospital workshop, Rausch used the method on a young girl choking on a piece of ice at a local shopping center.

"If I had not learned how to assist a choking person, I don't know what I would have done," Rausch said. "Thanks to the Heimlich Maneuver, her life was saved."

Henry Heimlich, MD (1920-2016), an American thoracic surgeon and medical researcher, developed the series of abdominal thrusts to stop choking in the mid-1970s.

03/04/2026

Dr. Brewer is a general and acute care surgeon with expertise in trauma, emergency general surgery and surgical critical care. She says, “I was drawn to medicine to help people in their most vulnerable moments.”

Learn more: https://www.centracare.com/doctors/profile/jennifer-brewer/

03/03/2026

A child’s fever can feel scary, especially in the middle of the night. That's why CentraCare is expanding a pediatric fever education initiative to more than 30 locations statewide, giving parents the tools, guidance and confidence to care for kids at home when it's safe to do so.

Families will now receive:

-A digital thermometer
-Easy-to-follow fever education (with age-specific how-to videos)
-Tylenol & Ibuprofen dosing guidance
-Access to 24/7 nurse support

Sometimes what parents need most is reassurance. Learn more!

CentraCare is giving parents peace of mind by equipping them with the tools and resources they need to help keep their children safe, comfortable and out of the emergency room.

Primary care leaders recently launched a pediatric fever education initiative, distributing materials to over 30 locations across CentraCare, thanks to funding from CentraCare Foundation.

The following education materials are now offered to families at every 2-month well-child visit and are also available at each urgent care, walk-in care, same-day care and emergency department across our organization.
• a digital thermometer
• a fever education handout featuring a QR code linking to an age-specific temperature-taking video
• dosing guidance for Tylenol and Ibuprofen

“We anticipate we’ll have 6,000 or more opportunities to educate families with young children about fevers over the next two years,” said Kristen Guthmiller, Senior Director of Family Medicine. “Our goal is to help parents and caregivers feel confident in identifying a fever in their child and ensuring they have the tools they need at home to make the best care decision for their child.”

“Age, temperature and symptoms should all be taken into consideration when deciding when a child can be cared for at home versus when they need to be seen now,” shared Gini Pilles, RN and Director of Family Medicine. “That can feel overwhelming in the moment for parents and these education pieces provide helpful guidance.”

The education materials are available in English, Spanish, and Somali and encourage parents and caregivers to call CentraCare’s 24/7 nurse advice line anytime they need support in making a care decision.

“These fever education materials are useful when families are in the clinic, emergency room or urgent care where they can ask questions and they are good to have on hand when needs arise at home,” shared Stacey Heiling, Rural Initiatives Program Director. “We hope the first time, or next time, there’s a fever at home, parents have what they need to manage it.”