Lakewood Health System is an independent, integrated rural healthcare system. We have been caring for the health of our community for over 70 years, and are continually striving to not only meet, but exceed the expectations of our patients. With a hospital, five primary care clinics, a senior care center, two assisted living facilities, a dermatology clinic and skin and laser center, Lakewood works with patients to recognize and meet their healthcare goals. Lakewood is a recognized leader in providing innovative, patient-based care including women’s specialty services, senior services, surgical and outreach care, all of which help us give our patients the best possible care and service.
Our Mission is to provide quality, personalized healthcare for a lifetime.
Our Vision is to be the region's top value healthcare organization by 2019.
We Value open communication, innovation, personalized service, ownership, and integrity.
Lakewood is home to over 800 employees. In addition to the services provided by the full-time primary care medical staff, the hospital and clinic also have specialists, visiting and on-staff, in cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology, nephrology, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, orthopedics, physical medicine, pediatrics, podiatry, psychiatry, pulmonology, radiology, rheumatology and urology.
2013 – Awarded the 2013 Women's Choice Award for America's 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience
2013 – Awarded the 2013 Women's Choice Award for America's 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience in Obstetrics
2013 – Awarded UCare Minnesota’s Overall Performance Quality of Care for the third year in a row
2013 – Awarded the Best-in-Class® Seal by HR Solutions for the second year in a row
2012 – Lakewood's IT division was recognized as one of the five best IT small hospital workplaces in the country for the second year in a row by Healthcare IT News
2012 – Awarded UCare Minnesota’s Overall Performance Quality of Care for the second year in a row
2012 – Awarded a Best-in-Class® Seal by HR Solutions. This honor is for select organizations whose employee survey scores are within the top 10 percent of Employee Engagement and Overall Job Satisfaction levels
2012 – Named the nationwide winner of Akro-Mils® Before & After Room Reorganization Photo Contest
2011 – Lakewood's IT division was recognized as one of the five best IT small hospital workplaces in the country by Healthcare IT News
2011 – Awarded UCare Minnesota’s Overall Performance Quality of Care
2011 – Recipient of the Minnesota Hospital Association Career Promotion Award for promotion of healthcare careers and summer internship program
2011 – Lakewood Health System received the Environmental Excellence Award from SteriMed for implementing initiatives that reduce waste and costs
2010 – Lakewood Health Care Home model is dubbed by the Minnesota Department of Health as an innovative “Successful Model”
2010 – Recipient of two bronze Aster Awards for Excellence in Medical Marketing
2010 – Recipient of the 2010 Good Catch for Patient Safety Award on behalf of the Minnesota Hospital Association
2010 – Lakewood Health System Social Services Director recipient of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 award
2010 – Recipient of the MHA Innovation of the Year in Patient Care – Small Hospitals Category
2010 – Recipient of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award by the Minnesota Psychological Association
2009 – Lakewood Health System President, Tim Rice, recipient of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Rural Health Hero Award
2008 – Recipient of the Minnesota Hospital Association SAFE initiatives award
2008 – Recipient of the nationally-recognized HealthLeaders Media Top Leadership Team Award (small hospital category)
2008 – Dr. Bill Mennis and Dr. Ted Lelwica, both Lakewood family physicians, are joint-recipients of the Staples Community Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award
2007 – Recipient of the Minnesota Hospital Association award for Health-Care Career Promotion (small hospital category)
2005 – Recipient of the CentraCare Spirit of Caring Award
2005 – Lakewood Health System employee, Helen Kimball, was the recipient of the Minnesota Hospital Association Caregiver of the Year award
2002 – Recipient of the Minnesota Department of Health Rural Health Hero Award
2002 – Recipient of the Minnesota Department of Health Rural Health Team Award
2002 – Recipient of the Minnesota Hospital Association Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace
2008 SAFE Initiatives Award
The Minnesota Hospital Association awards hospitals that show excellence in patient safety initiatives including SAFE Skin, SAFE Falls, SAFE Site and SAFE Count. Lakewood Health System has been recognized in all four categories and continues to practice SAFE initiatives.
2013 Nurse - Caregiver of the Year
Katie Paine-Santos, RN Coordinator for Lakewood Care Center's Memory Care Unit was named Nurse - Caregiver of the Year by Care Providers of Minnesota. This award is given to a nurse who displays extraordinary skills in caring for individuals residing in a nursing facility, assisted living establishment, or receiving care at home.
2005 Spirit of Caring Award
The CentraCare Health Foundation announced that “Methamphetamine: The Facts” was one of this year’s recipients of the “Spirit of Caring” award. Bev Nelsen, Staff Nurse/Occupational Health/Education and long-time employee at Lakewood Health System, was presented the award on November 9, 2005 at CentraCare Health System.
Caregiver of the Year
Helen Kimball, a certified resident assistant with Lakewood Health System in Staples has been named the Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance's District D "Caregiver of the Year." This award is given annually to a direct care employee in each of MHHA's seven geographical districts. The award honors individuals who go "above and beyond" to enhance and enrich the quality of life for seniors in their communities; who have demonstrated their commitment to Minnesota's elderly; and have shown exceptional service to a MHHA-member facility and their residents.
Innovation of the Year
Lakewood Health System was named recipient of the Innovation of the Year award in Patient Care Enhancement by the Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership at its annual meeting near Brainerd in September. The hospital received the award for its newborn hearing screening program. The association presents the award annually to a hospital or health system that has developed a creative, new method or model for health care delivery.
Rural Health Hero Award
At the Minnesota Rural Summit Conference sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Rural Health Primary Care, Mel Nefstead, Board Chair of Lakewood Health System, Staples, was presented the Minnesota Rural Health Hero Award.
Rural Health Team Award
Lakewood Health System and Freshwater Education District of Staples were awarded the outstanding Rural Health Team Award at the Minnesota Rural Summit sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Rural Health Primary Care. Lakewood Health System and Freshwater Education District received the Outstanding Rural Health Team for the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic.
Team Achievement Award
Care providers of Minnesota awarded Lakewood Health System the Team Achievement Award. Lakewood Health System has an employee group which teams up with administration in establishing overall facility philosophy as well as policies and procedures affecting employees and customers. This group is called Partners in Action. Partners in Action is a committee with employee and manager representation from each division. Partners in Action meets monthly with administration and has access to all minutes and meetings conducted by administration.
Trustee of the Year
Melvin Nefstead, chairman of the Lakewood Health System in Staples, received the Trustee of the Year award from the Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership at its annual meeting near Brainerd in September. The Trustee of the Year award is presented annually to a health care trustee for providing exceptional leadership to his or her hospital and the community.
Volunteer of the Year
Lillian Postel, a volunteer with Lakewood Health System in Staples has been named the Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance's District D "Volunteer of the Year." This award is given annually to a volunteer in each of MHHA's seven geographical districts. The award honors individuals who go "above and beyond" to enhance and enrich the quality of life for seniors in their communities; who have demonstrated their commitment to Minnesota's elderly; and have shown exceptional service to a MHHA-member facility and their residents.
Workplace of the Year
Lakewood Health System was presented the "Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace" Award at the Minnesota Hospital Associate (MHA) Trustee Conference this past January 17. The nomination was submitted by employees who felt Lakewood Health System implemented systems and programs to encourage employee participation, creating a work environment that meets employee needs and makes them feel valued.
Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership Patient Enhancement Award
In October 1997, the Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Lakewood Health System was the winner of the Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership Patient Enhancement Award. Lakewood Health System was the very first in the state of Minnesota to implement a universal newborn hearing screening program where all babies born at the hospital are screened by our lab team for hearing loss before discharge.
Distinguished Service Award
In April 1998, the Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Lakewood Health System was honored by the Minnesota Speech, Language, Hearing Association by being awarded the Distinguished Service Award.