For further information, contact Judie Dunlop, Hospice social worker, at 320-243-7768.

Bike Helmet fitting
Bike Helmet Fitting is an ongoing program at PAHCS. If you are interested in getting fitted for a bike helmet, or would like to purchase a helmet, please contact Mike Noonan at 320-243-3779.

Regular helmets are $5 and jump style helmets are $8.

MS Support Group
Meets the third Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Nehring Room at PAHCS.

Medication Management Services
(Pharmacotherapy Services)
Paynesville Area Health Care System offers medication monitoring and management services by two doctors of pharmacy (PharmDs). A PharmD is a health care professional who works with the primary physician to help ensure that medication use is safe, appropriate, and effective.

People may be referred to a PharmD for ongoing management and education in the areas of diabetes care, asthma or other chronic breathing problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood thinner monitoring, smoking cessation, and more. The care plan is developed with the patient, the pharmacist, and the primary physician.

Pharmacotherapy services are offered in Paynesville, Richmond, Eden Valley, Watkins, and Belgrade.

Diabetes Education Program
The Paynesville Area Health Care System offers a diabetes education program to serve people with Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. We are recognized by the American Diabetes Association as meeting the standards for basic and advanced diabetes self-care training.

The program instructors consist of a registered dietitian, a doctor of pharmacy, and the patient's primary care provider. Three of the program staff are certified diabetes educators. We also offer a monthly diabetes support group for people with Type 2 diabetes and group updates twice per year.

Diabetes education is offered in Paynesville, Richmond, Eden Valley, and Watkins.

Breast Cancer Support Group
Meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Hill Top Restaurant. Call Shari Heitke at 320-243-2313 for more information. All are welcome.

Prepared Childbirth Classes
If you're pregnant and close to or in your last trimester of pregnancy, sign up now for Prepared Childbirth Classes sponsored by Paynesville Area Health Care System.

Topics covered in the classes include labor, delivery, postpartum, and infant care. Call 320-243-3767 or 1-800-242-3767 for more information or to register. A $50 fee will be collected upon registration.

Rural Health School
Paynesville is one of seven communities (others include Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Moose Lake, Staples, Willmar, and New Ulm) in Minnesota partnering with the Rural Health School, a program from the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Rural Health School brings together medical students from various disciplines for three months to tour rural health care facilities, learn about rural medicine, and learn from each other in a team setting.

To read about the latest class of PAHCS students, click here.