Health care in Red Wing

Fairview Red Wing Health Services is a regional care system that integrates the services of clinic, hospital, home health and hospice, long-term care and senior housing. Reaching out to Red Wing and surrounding communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the care system provides a comprehensive scope of programs and services to individuals of all ages.

Fairview Red Wing Health Services is based in our community, with a history of community roots. Fairview Red Wing Health Services was created in 1997, out of a merger with River Region Health Services, Interstate Medical Center and Fairview Health Services. Fairview was key in bringing together River Region Health Services and Interstate Medical Center to strengthen the health care services in the Red Wing area

Background

Red Wing 2000, a community-wide planning process, was initiated in 1985 and was completed in mid-1986. The planning was sponsored by the City of Red Wing and the Red Wing Chamber of Commerce. Health care was quickly identified as a priority area. The consensus, through a series of community meetings, was that Red Wing wanted to build a regional health care system. The board leadership of St. John's Regional Health Center, Seminary Memorial Home (representing the nonprofit health care providers) and Interstate Medical Center (representing most area physicians) agreed with the goals of Red Wing 2000.

An organizational format was created for what was known as River Region Health Services (RRHS). Recommendation to create a new system and to build stronger working relationships with physicians were presented to the boards of St. John's, Seminary Memorial Home and Interstate Medical Center in September 1986. There was a clear vision that the future trend in health care was toward de-institutionalization––outpatient and home care, and alternative living arrangements. To meet the changing needs, RRHS created two additional subsidiaries in River Region Community Services (RRCS) and River Region Housing Corporation (RRHC).

Since its 1986 origin, RRCS brought together three pre-existing programs: Home Health, Red Wing Hospice and Friends of Seniors (RWHFS). The RWHFS programs had been managed by Seminary Memorial Home for several years. Red Wing Hospice was a volunteer-based program whose goal was to help terminally ill patients and their families.

When Seminary Memorial Home completed a strategic plan in 1984, a significant need for senior housing was identified in Red Wing. In November 1986, Seminary Plaza opened with 101 apartments.

By the end of 1989, the RRHS system had grown to include a wide continuum of services such as senior housing, home care, volunteer services for the elderly and terminally ill, medical equipment for use in the home, expanded acute care services and long-term nursing care.

Due to the combined efforts of the volunteer boards, the employees of the system, supporting physicians and the public at large, the RRHS system had grown in financial strength and in the quality and range of services provided.

Interstate Medical Center

Interstate Medical Center was a professional corporation and its predecessor was the Interstate Clinic. It originated with a partnership between Edward H. Juers, M.D., and Raymond F. Hedin, M.D., in 1932. In 1940, having added Grant Hartnagel, M.D., Royal V. Sherman, M.D., and George Kimmel, M.D., to the medical staff, their group, now the Interstate Clinic, moved to a new building at Third and Dakota streets. The group incorporated as the Interstate Medical Center, Professional Associates in 1969, and moved to Highway 61 in 1970. A major expansion of the building occurred in 1980. In 1986, a second building was added at this site.

In 1981, George M.B. Hawley, M.D., became associated with the Medical Center and the first branch office began operation at 303 West Fifth Street. In 1987, that office expanded and moved to Fourth Street in the Seminary Plaza. The branch office in Ellsworth, Wisconsin (Hwy. 65 & Cairns Street) was constructed in 1984. In 1986, Robert Thompson, M.D., in Zumbrota, joined Interstate Medical Center. That office expanded in 1987 and moved to 525 Mill Street.

In 1997, Fairview Red Wing Health Services brought together River Region Health Services and Interstate Medical Center as one coordinated system of care. As the needs of the community grew and changed, Fairview Red Wing Health Services responded to those changes. Today, the new Fairview Red Wing Medical Center serves the clinic and hospital needs of Red Wing and the surrounding area.