Lakewood Health System is a well-established, not-for-profit integrated rural healthcare system located in Staples, Minnesota. Its history dates back to 1936, evolving from the Staples Municipal Hospital to its current comprehensive form. The organization operates a 25-bed
Critical Access Hospital, providing inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialized healthcare services, including a 10-bed geriatric behavioral health unit.
Beyond its hospital, Lakewood Health System boasts a network of five primary care clinics strategically located in Staples, Motley, Pillager, Eagle Bend, and Browerville, Minnesota. These clinics are staffed by physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who deliver a broad range of primary care and other health services to rural and medically-underserved areas. Additionally, Lakewood Health System operates a dermatology clinic in Sartell, Minnesota.
The system is dedicated to providing care across the lifespan, offering extensive senior services. This includes a 100-bed, Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility in Staples for long-term and rehabilitative care, as well as
Home Health Care and hospice programs to support patients in their residences. They also manage assisted and independent living facilities, like Lakewood Manor and Lakewood Pines, providing a spectrum of health-related and supportive services.
Lakewood Health System emphasizes patient-centered care and community well-being. It is recognized for its commitment to quality and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being named a "Top Workplace" in Minnesota multiple times, and various quality awards for its care center and clinics. The system is a dual-governance model, operating as both a governmental entity through its district hospital affiliation and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a strong commitment to responsible resource management and providing community benefits. Dr. Ronald R. Schnier is associated with the system, likely as a physician within their comprehensive network of providers.
