Kittson Healthcare

06/06/2026

💙 Thank You, Skjeberg Lutheran Church! 💙

A heartfelt thank you to Skjeberg Lutheran Church for donating handmade quilts and wheelchair bags for our patients and residents.

These gifts provide comfort, warmth, and a reminder that our community cares.

Want to help?

We are currently accepting:

🧵 Blankets and quilts for adult patients

🧸 For pediatric patients:

• Stuffed animals
• Small packaged toys
• Board books
• Coloring books
• Sensory toys

These simple items can bring comfort when it is needed most. You can also donate the gift of your time. Whether you would like to volunteer, make handmade items, or organize a donation drive, there are many ways to help.

📞 Call Shunay in Social Services at 218-843-3841 to learn about donation needs, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to support local patients and residents.

05/29/2026

Understanding Your Healthcare Costs—We’re Here to Help 💙

Medical bills and insurance can feel confusing—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Kittson Healthcare, our Business Office Manager, Crisa Mortenson, and our team are here to help you understand your healthcare costs and feel confident every step of the way.

Here’s how we can help:

🧾 Clear Billing Guidance
We can walk through your bill with you—what your insurance covered, what it didn’t, and what you may owe—so everything is clear and easy to understand.

🤝 Community Care Program
Need a little extra support? If you qualify, this program may help lower the cost of your care. We’ll help you explore your options.

📞 Business Office Assistance
Have questions about a bill or payment plan? Our team is here to talk it through and find a solution that works for you.

💙 You’re not alone
If you have questions about insurance, medical bills, or payment options, we’re just a phone call away.

📲 See our Price Transparency: https://kittsonhc.org/services/billing-financial-services/price-transparency.html

Providing personalized medical, hospital & senior care services—because care is right next door.

05/27/2026

Between tree pollen, field dust, windy days, and more time spent outdoors, allergy and asthma symptoms can flare up quickly this time of year in Kittson County.

The top 3 offenders in our area are:

🌱 1. Tree Pollen (spring)

🌾 2. Grass & Field Allergens

🚜 3. Dust & Agricultural Irritants

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month — a reminder to stay ahead of symptoms before they start affecting your sleep, breathing, or daily activities.

A few simple ways to manage seasonal allergies and asthma:

🌳 Keep windows closed on high pollen days
🚿 Shower and change clothes after being outside
🚜 Wear a mask during dusty outdoor or farm work
💊 Use over-the-counter allergy relief as directed
🫁 Stay on top of prescribed medications and inhalers

Don’t ignore ongoing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

Schedule a visit with your primary care provider to explore treatment options and specialty care referrals if needed.

💙 Care close to home makes it easier to breathe a little easier this season.

05/23/2026

💙 “The best part of EMS is being out in the community and having someone approach me and say ‘thank you.’ It means the world.”

Naomi Larson, Manager of Ambulance Services, has served Kittson Healthcare for nearly eight years and says: al-care/emergency-services.html

“Rural EMS is unique because we’re caring for people we know—our friends, neighbors, classmates, and families. That connection makes this work incredibly personal and meaningful.”

This National EMS Week, we’re proud to recognize the Kittson Healthcare Ambulance crew—the highly trained team answering calls, transporting patients, providing emergency care, and supporting our communities every single day.

Many people see the ambulance arrive and think “driver,” but every member of Kittson’s 15-person crew is EMS trained and prepared to respond during critical moments.

And in rural Minnesota, those moments matter.

From emergency calls to hospital transfers during snowstorms and late-night medical emergencies, the Kittson Healthcare Ambulance team helps ensure patients receive care quickly and safely—often before they ever reach a hospital room.

🚑 Just this month alone, the crew completed 14 transfers to Grand Forks and Fargo, with some transfers even reaching Minneapolis. Kittson Healthcare nurses sometimes accompany those trips to help manage medications and provide additional patient support along the way.

She also shared:

💙 “We’re very fortunate to have a crew with a true passion for helping people. You need to have a passion to help in this line of work.”

Beyond emergency response, the EMS crew is deeply involved in the community—participating in Trunk or Treat events, local fundraisers like the Hallock Eagles Fish Fry, CPR trainings for schools and businesses, and even helping Lancaster upperclassmen become CPR certified before graduation.

Next month, the crew will participate in advanced training through the SIMS truck, where they’ll work through realistic emergency response scenarios to continue sharpening their lifesaving skills and preparedness.

🚑 Kittson Healthcare Ambulance Services relies on strong local support to continue serving our area. Funding from Kittson Healthcare, townships, donations, fundraising efforts, and community involvement all help keep this vital service available close to home.

The crew is also always looking for additional help. Kittson Healthcare offers flexible on-call scheduling that works around full-time jobs and family commitments—and even provides EMS certification opportunities for community members interested in joining the team.

Because in rural communities, having access to local emergency care matters.
And we are incredibly grateful for the people willing to answer the call. 💙

Help Kittson EMS serve our community by learning more and joining their crew!
https://kittsonhc.org/services/general-care/emergency-services.html

05/22/2026

Wishing our community a safe Memorial Day weekend as we remember and honor those who served.

As you plan your weekend, please note our clinic will be closed on Monday, May 25.

05/22/2026

💗 You take care of everyone else. Don’t forget yourself.

Between work, family schedules, sports, caregiving, and everyday life, it can be easy for women to put their own health on the back burner.

“As a mom and healthcare provider, I know how easy it is to put your own health last,” says Karrah Oliver, PA-C. “But staying up to date on screenings and wellness visits is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family.”

Women’s Health Month is a reminder to take a few minutes for your health before summer gets busy.

Screenings to consider:

🌸 Annual wellness exams
🩺 Blood pressure checks
🎗️ Mammograms
🧪 Cervical cancer screenings
🦴 Bone health screenings
🧠 Mental health check-ins

The 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment showed many people in our community are delaying needed care. Preventive care and early detection can make a big difference.

At Kittson Healthcare, care is available close to home — from providers who understand the realities of rural life and busy family schedules.

💕 Take a few minutes for your health this year. A simple screening today could make a big difference tomorrow.

📞 Contact us to schedule your visit.

05/20/2026

💙 In small towns, healthcare is personal.

Your provider may also be the parent cheering at local hockey games, the familiar face at the grocery store, or the neighbor who understands the realities of rural life because they live it too.

At Kittson Healthcare, our family medicine providers care for patients through every stage of life—from childhood checkups and sports physicals to preventive care, chronic condition management, and healthy aging.

But what truly makes local healthcare different is the relationship behind the care.

Our providers take the time to know your family, understand your lifestyle, and support your health in a way that feels personal, connected, and close to home.

This World Family Doctor Day, we’re proud to highlight:
💙 Julie Johnson, CNP
💙 Karrah Oliver, PA-C
💙 Amanda Pinnock, FNP
💙 James Surdy, MD

Meet the local providers caring for Kittson County families and read more about why family medicine feels different close to home:

🔗 https://kittsonhc.org/newsroom.html/article/2026/05/19/from-first-steps-to-lifelong-care-why-family-medicine-feels-different-close-to-home

05/16/2026

🌷 Moments in Bloom 🌷National Nursing Home Week reminds us that senior living is about so much more than care—it’s about community, connection, and continuing to enjoy life’s meaningful moments.

This week, our residents shared visits with students and families, celebrated Mother’s Day, received flowers through our first-ever “Bring Spring to Residents” flower drive, and spent time together laughing, visiting, and making memories.

For many families in rural communities, senior living can feel like a difficult conversation. But the truth is, supportive living environments can help older adults stay safer, more social, and connected to the community they know and love.

At Kittson Healthcare Senior Living, residents are surrounded by:
💙 Familiar faces
🌷 Meaningful activities
👩‍⚕️ Skilled local caregivers
🏡 A community that feels like home

Because aging should still include joy, purpose, friendship, and moments that continue to bloom.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, families, and community members who help make those moments possible every day.

05/15/2026

Please help us welcome Cassidy Anderson to the Kittson Healthcare team! 💙

We’re excited to have Cassidy join our Imaging team after graduating from the Radiologic Technology program at Northland Community & Technical College. She’ll be working in X-ray while continuing to expand her skills in CT and DEXA scanning.

We’re incredibly grateful for programs like Northland that help train future healthcare professionals close to home and provide rural communities with skilled, compassionate caregivers. Partnerships like these strengthen local healthcare and help ensure our patients, neighbors, and families continue receiving quality care right here in our community.

Cassidy’s dedication, passion for learning, and commitment to rural healthcare are exactly what make our team stronger, and we’re so excited for the impact she’ll have at Kittson Healthcare!

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐧. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭. 🎓

Meet 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, a 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 student from 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀, 𝗡𝗗—one of Northland’s soon‑to‑be graduates whose journey began early and grew into a clear, confident career path.

"𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝—𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐎 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐗-𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐗-𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐄𝐗𝐀 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠."

Graduation is near—and Cassidy is stepping into a career she’s been preparing for all along.

💙

05/13/2026

⚠️ Tick activity is expected to be higher than normal this year.

Ticks can be found in backyards, tall grass, walking trails, and even on pets—and experts are expecting tick activity to be higher than average this year across the Upper Midwest.

🌿 Before you head outside this spring and summer, keep these tick myths in mind:

❌ Myth: You’ll always feel a tick bite
✔️ Fact: Many tick bites are painless and easy to miss

❌ Myth: Ticks only attach for a few minutes
✔️ Fact: Some ticks stay attached for hours or even days if not found

❌ Myth: You only need to check after hiking
✔️ Fact: Ticks can be picked up while gardening, mowing, golfing, or playing outside

A few simple habits can help protect you and your family:

✔️ Check skin, hair, and clothing after being outdoors
✔️ Look behind ears, under arms, around the waist, and behind knees
✔️ Shower soon after coming indoors
✔️ Toss clothes in the dryer on high heat
✔️ Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves in wooded or grassy areas
✔️ Check pets—ticks often hitch a ride indoors

🩺 If you find a tick:
Use tweezers to grasp it close to the skin, and pull straight upward slowly and steadily. Clean the area afterward with soap and water.

⚠️ Watch for symptoms like:

• Rash or expanding redness
• Fever or chills
• Fatigue
• Headache or body aches

If something doesn’t look or feel right after a tick bite, Kittson Healthcare is here to help. 💙