Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) has earned first place in the Cost category at the Sanford Improvement Symposium for its work to expand access to MRI services in the region. The Sanford Improvement Symposium is an annual event that recognizes healthcare teams for projects that improve patient care, safety, and efficiency.

The project focused on improving the availability of MRI services at OAHS by establishing a dedicated MRI unit. Previously, OAHS relied on a mobile MRI unit that was available only two days a week. This limited schedule, along with the possibility of weather-related delays in getting the mobile unit on site, could postpone outpatient scans and create additional challenges for patients needing timely imaging. Additionally, patients requiring emergency MRI scans for possible stroke or trauma sometimes had to travel by ambulance or air to larger medical centers in Fargo or Sioux Falls. These transfers added time, expense, and stress for patients and their families.

OAHS launched on-site MRI services using a dedicated MRI unit in September 2025 with support from a Minnesota Department of Health Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant, capital funding, and a pay-per-scan equipment lease model. Early results show strong community demand, including a 70.59% increase in June MRI volume compared with mobile service, projected annual volume above 750 scans, and an estimated $432,000 in annual cost avoidance for patients and insurers.

Most importantly, local MRI services make it easier for patients to get the care they need. Patients can spend less time traveling and waiting for scans, and providers can get the timely information they need to make treatment decisions sooner. For people with urgent medical concerns, such as a possible stroke, local MRI access can help providers assess patients and determine the next steps in care more quickly.

The OAHS MRI Project shows how a rural hospital can improve access to advanced medical services, enhance the patient experience by reducing travel and wait times, and help lower costs for patients and insurance providers.

Pictured: Shane Ayres, Chief Financial Officer; Tyler Gall, IT Manager; Wylie Pullis, Radiologic Technologist ; Lacey Busack, Radiology Manager; Sara Tollakson, Quality and Patient Safety Coordinator; Nicole Wood, Executive Assistant; Dr. Al Ross, Chief Executive Officer.

If you missed this week’s episode of Health Corner on KDIO Radio, you can listen to it on our podcast channel. Betty Karels-Williamson, Granite View Neighborhood Lead at Fairway View, discusses the Fairway View Vendor Fair. This annual event is coming up Friday, October 23!

Listen to this episode below, and visit our entire podcast library at this link.

Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) has expanded access to its Nuclear Medicine services by installing a dedicated imaging system in the Radiology Department. The new equipment allows OAHS to perform a wider range of studies locally, while providing patients with improved scheduling options and greater convenience.

“We saw the need to have our own Nuclear Medicine imaging system on site,” said Lacey Busack, OAHS Radiology Manager. “Previously, Nuclear Medicine services were available through a mobile unit one day a week. Patients who could not be scheduled during that limited availability often had to travel to Watertown, Sioux Falls, or Fargo. Having the equipment on site allows us to provide greater availability and serve patients closer to home.”

Nuclear Medicine uses a small amount of radioactive material to create images that show how organs and tissues are functioning. During an exam, the patient lies on a table while the camera moves around them to capture detailed images of organs and tissues. The camera detects the radioactive material as it moves through the body, allowing providers to evaluate specific organs and body systems.

One of the primary studies performed at OAHS is cardiac stress testing. Other studies include HIDA scans to evaluate gallbladder function, gastric emptying studies, bone scans, and thyroid imaging. These studies may be ordered to evaluate a variety of heart, digestive, thyroid, and bone conditions.

OAHS’s imaging system is operated by a Nuclear Medicine technologist with specialized training and more than 20 years of experience. Nuclear Medicine studies are currently offered Monday through Thursday, providing patients with more consistent access to these services.

The project involved close collaboration with Sanford Health to connect the new equipment and related systems to the Sanford network. This integration allows Sanford specialists to interpret studies performed at OAHS. The addition of on-site Nuclear Medicine services is another step in OAHS’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care for patients throughout the region.

If you missed this week’s episode of Health Corner on KDIO Radio, you can listen to it on our podcast channel. In this week’s episode of Health Corner, Lacey Busack, OAHS Radiology Manager, discusses mammogram services and on-site nuclear medicine services offered at Ortonville Area Health Services.October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and October 4-10 is Nuclear Medicine Week.

Listen to this episode below, and visit our entire podcast library at this link.

Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) is pleased to announce the development of an ACGME-accredited family medicine residency program that will bring physician training to western Minnesota and help strengthen the future of rural healthcare. Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) means the program meets nationally recognized standards for physician training and education.

The program is being developed in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. A family medicine residency provides physicians who have completed medical school with specialized, hands-on training to become family medicine doctors. Residents in the program will spend their first year of training in an urban teaching environment before transitioning to Ortonville for their final two years, where they will gain hands-on experience caring for patients in our rural region.

The program will provide medical residents with experience across a broad range of healthcare settings, including family medicine, hospital care, obstetrics, emergency care, behavioral health and senior care. Residents will also have opportunities to become part of the community and learn how local resources, schools, families, and community relationships play an important role in rural healthcare.

The program builds on OAHS’s strong history of clinical education and provider recruitment. More than half of OAHS’s current providers previously completed clinical rotations within the organization before joining the OAHS medical staff.

By training physicians in a rural setting, OAHS hopes to introduce medical residents to the unique opportunities of rural practice while building on its long-standing approach of developing and recruiting healthcare professionals locally. The long-term goal is to strengthen the local healthcare workforce, expand access to primary care, and create a pathway for physicians to build their careers in rural communities.

“This program represents an investment in the future of healthcare in our region,” said Dr. Allan Ross, CEO of Ortonville Area Health Services. “Rural communities across the country face ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining physicians. By creating a residency program in Ortonville, we have the opportunity to train physicians in a rural setting, expose them to the unique rewards of rural practice, and develop a pathway for recruiting and retaining providers for years to come.”

If you missed this week’s episode of Health Corner on KDIO Radio, you can listen to it on our podcast channel. Missy Sigler, Assisted Living Housing Manager, discusses some of the Assisted Living services and activities offered at Fairway View. National Assisted Living Week is September 13–19!

Listen to this episode below, and visit our entire podcast library at this link.

If you missed this week’s episode of Health Corner on KDIO Radio, you can listen to it on our podcast channel. Missy Petersen, Registration/Scheduling, and Lindsey Lee, Patient Financial Services, discuss the administrative side of appointments, including prior authorizations, what happens behind the scenes when a provider orders imaging, paper billing statements, and MyChart.

Listen to this episode below, and visit our entire podcast library at this link.

Ortonville Area Health Services is pleased to welcome Hannah Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, GERO-BC, to its medical team. Johnson will join OAHS in September 2026, continuing the organization’s commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare for individuals and families throughout the region.

Hannah Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, GERO-BC

As a doctorally prepared and dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Gerontological Nurse, Johnson brings extensive experience caring for patients of all ages in rural and critical access healthcare settings. Her clinical practice includes preventive care, chronic disease management, women’s health, pediatric care, occupational health services, Department of Transportation (DOT) commercial driver medical examinations, Medicare Annual Wellness Visits, same-day acute care, nursing home rounds, and home visits. In addition to her primary care practice, she has experience providing emergency care in rural critical access hospitals, allowing her to care for patients across a broad range of medical needs. She has extensive experience managing a wide range of chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, COPD, asthma, and heart failure.

Johnson is passionate about building lasting relationships with patients and believes that excellent healthcare begins with listening, earning trust, and partnering with individuals and families to help them achieve their health goals. Having practiced in rural communities throughout her career, she values the opportunity to provide comprehensive, relationship-centered care while coordinating closely with regional healthcare partners when specialty services are needed.

“I am particularly drawn to Ortonville Area Health Services because of its strong commitment to locally governed, community-based rural healthcare and its integral role in supporting the health of the surrounding region,” Johnson said. “Rural medicine is about more than treating illness—it’s about building relationships, earning trust, and being there for patients through every stage of life. I look forward to caring for individuals and families and becoming a trusted healthcare partner for the Ortonville community.”

Johnson earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from South Dakota State University and holds board certifications as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and Gerontological Nurse.

Beyond caring for patients, Johnson is committed to strengthening rural healthcare through education and community engagement. During her previous practice, she implemented the Reach Out and Read program to promote early childhood literacy and preventive healthcare engagement. She has also served as a clinical preceptor for nurse practitioner and physician assistant students, helping prepare the next generation of rural healthcare providers.

Outside of work, Johnson enjoys life on her family’s farm near Alberta with her husband, Jeff, and their three daughters. She looks forward to caring for patients and building lasting relationships throughout the Ortonville community.

Johnson will join OAHS in September and begin seeing patients after completing the credentialing process. She is expected to begin accepting new patients this fall. Individuals and families interested in establishing care are encouraged to contact OAHS for scheduling information and updates.

If you missed this week’s episode of Health Corner on KDIO Radio, you can listen to if on our podcast channel. Dr. Al Ross, CEO of OAHS, discusses current events at OAHS including the recently announced Home Health transition.

Listen to this episode below, and visit our entire podcast library at this link.

Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) is announcing a planned transition of its Home Health service line following action by the OAHS Health Care Board.

Over the next four to six months, OAHS will work with Home Health clients, families, and caregivers to transition services to other qualified home health providers in the region. Several regional agencies have indicated they have the capacity to provide services to clients in our area. OAHS will work with each client to develop an individualized transition plan designed to support a smooth continuation of care. Our goal is to ensure every client continues to receive the services they need while making this transition as seamless as possible.

For many years, the OAHS Home Health team has provided compassionate care to individuals and families throughout our communities. No organization can replace the relationships, trust, and outstanding care provided by our nurses, homemakers, and aides. This transition is not a reflection of the quality of care provided by our Home Health team. Their work has made a meaningful difference in the lives of those they have served, and we are deeply grateful for their dedication, professionalism, and compassion.

The decision follows multiple evaluations of the Home Health service line, including an independent consultant review in 2021, and review by OAHS administration, the Home Health department and Health Care Board over the past year. Because of the value Home Health provided to our community, OAHS continued to support the service line despite annual losses of several hundred thousand dollars. However, after reviewing the long-term outlook, the Board determined that continuing to do so was not sustainable. The Board concluded that transitioning these services to other regional providers was the most responsible path for both current clients and the future sustainability of OAHS.

OAHS remains committed to providing high-quality healthcare services to the communities we serve. While this transition represents a significant change for OAHS and the clients we serve, it reflects our responsibility to ensure OAHS remains strong and independent for years to come. Our commitment to caring for this community has not changed, and we will continue working every day to meet the healthcare needs of our region now and for future generations.