CRMC Recognized with Three Minnesota Hospital Association Awards
CROSBY, Minn. – Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) is proud to announce it has won three awards from the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). This statewide recognition is an incredible honor, highlighting the passion, innovation, and teamwork that define CRMC. The awards recognized outstanding contributions in Communications and Nursing Innovations reflecting the medical facility’s unwavering commitment to excellence, compassion, and patient-centered care. These achievements are a testament to people coming together to make a real difference, made possible by the collaboration, creativity, and dedication of many.
Advancing Patient Care Through Innovation: CRMC’s Scope Week Initiative
This team award gives special recognition to Joni Gutknecht, RN, director of surgical services. When faced with long wait times for colonoscopies, the surgical team, led by Gutknecht, rose to the challenge with Scope Week (March 4-8, 2024)—a bold and innovative initiative that completed more than 200 screenings in just one week. It’s a shining example of what happens when departments align with a single purpose: to save lives through early detection.
This success was only possible because of the extraordinary collaboration across countless departments. From wellness nurses making patient calls, to surgical and family practice teams accelerating care, to our general surgeons, and behind-the-scenes heroes in registration, supply, scheduling, culinary, and IT – Scope Week was a true all-hands-on-deck effort. Thank you to everyone who played a role, big or small, in making it happen.
The Scope Week core team consisted of Joni Gutknecht, RN; Andrew Loveitt, DO; Dan Hoffard, CHFM, CHC; Corinne Skoog, MBA, CPXP; Kristin Christensen, RN; Chris Hoehn, RN; Shantel Carlson, Lindsay Streeter, RN; Ryan Stepan, MPH; Jennifer Grams, Michael Austin, PharmD; and Cathline Helstrom, RN.
Delivering the Message: Colon Cancer Awareness – Making the Message Personal
The recipient of this individual award is Amy Hart, CEO of CRMC. This campaign took on the stigma and fear surrounding colon cancer screening by making the message personal. When Amy stepped forward to share her own colonoscopy experience, it wasn’t just about awareness – it was about showing our community that there’s nothing to fear and everything to gain by taking this life-saving step. The campaign reached over 230,000 people in just one week and sparked meaningful conversations.
Those involved in the larger project include CRMC’s Marketing Team: Corinne Skoog, Meghan McMahon, and Katie Peltier. Video Participants: Lacey Running Hawk, MD; Atlantis Russ, MD, PhD; Diana Weyhrauch, MLS (ASCP); Terry Abear, and project partners BlazeAir Productions and Eric Perkins.
Annie’s Story: A Community of Care
The recipient of this individual award is Jennifer Lowe, CRMC Foundation and Community Relations Director. Annie Henriksen’s courageous breast cancer journey – shared with humor, honesty, and gratitude – reminded us all what compassionate care truly looks like. Her story featured the remarkable collaboration of our Primary Care, Oncology, Surgery, Lab, Radiology, Pharmacy, and Foundation teams. It reached over 115,000 people and inspired support for local cancer patients through our Foundation’s events.
Those involved in sharing Annie’s story are members of CRMC’s Marketing and Community Engagement: Corinne Skoog, Jennifer Lowe, Katie Peltier, Meghan McMahon, as well as CRMC Care Teams in Oncology, Primary Care, Surgery, Lab, Radiology, Pharmacy, Preventative Care, and the Foundation. Video participants are Annie Henriksen, Dr. Hannah Elsenpeter, MD; Atlantis Russ, MD, PhD, and project partners BlazeAir Productions and Eric Perkins.