The following content is part of the Perham Health Culture Series, a writing collection explaining how we live out our core values and what they mean to us. These posts from our team members highlight the culture at Perham Health and share what it’s like to work within our organization, focusing on our values of Excellence, Compassion, Integrity, and Respect.

Our core values give us direction, motivate, and guide us as we strive to be champions of health and wellness, making Perham Health who we are today. Scott Wischnak, Perham Health Information Technology Technician, shares a story of excellence at Perham Health.

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Of the four core values of Excellence, Compassion, Integrity, and Respect that we live by each day here at Perham Health, I would like to tell you about the excellence around me every day.

When I started working here over two years ago, the first thing I noticed was how welcoming everyone was and how they went out of their way to answer my questions and help me out. I see that same welcoming atmosphere and willingness to go above and beyond from my colleagues day in and day out.

What does Excellence look like?

One story that demonstrates that commitment to excellence happened due to COVID-19. It was deer hunting season. Working on a deer hunting weekend in northern Minnesota is almost like working on Christmas, it is avoided if at all possible.

On a deer hunting Sunday in November, the call came out that people were needed to help turn our short-term rehabilitation area into a COVID-19 isolation area that needed to be ready the next day.

To me, excellence means going above and beyond and doing more than what is expected of you. That is exactly what many of my colleagues did that day. An extra maintenance employee came in to join the one already working to get everything cleaned, set up, and ready to go. Our Household Coordinator came in and got everything ready for the households. Our Materials Director drove up and down Highway 10 and stopped and shopped at nearly every store to get laundry bins, rolling carts, and other supplies needed to stock the new unit. I came in and got the phone lines, fax lines, printers, and computers on-line and ready to go.

Most of these employees are not “on-call” employees, yet each came in on a Sunday to meet the challenge that we were faced with that day and to make sure everything was ready for our patients and our caregivers.

Fostering Excellence at Perham Health

I truly enjoy working at Perham Health because I constantly see this willingness to step up to the plate and make sure everything we do is done well. My interactions with my co-workers, managers, and departments are very positive, and I know I work with nice, caring, and receptive people.

I see caregivers in our Northwinds dementia care unit go out of their way to be sure patient needs are met, and they are being treated with respect and dignity. Those employees say they are just doing their job, but it takes special people to creatively and lovingly do their job and help calm a patient who may be agitated or having a bad day.

At Perham Health, Excellence means:

• We practice safety.
• We promote quality in ourselves and those we provide care to.
• We create a positive and lasting impression.
• We strive to be healthy role models and live a balanced life.
• We seek out and implement best practices.
• We encourage innovation.
• We recognize the potential in others.
• We smile.

Excellence. I see it demonstrated here at Perham Health on a daily basis. It is worth something extra to be at a place with such a close knit group of genuinely good people who care about each other and the people we serve.

Scott Wischnak, Information Technology Technician
Perham Health

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People join Perham Health for the opportunities and stay because of the culture. Kickstarting your career with us means you’re joining a team of healthcare professionals dedicated to your success.

If you’re searching for a lasting career where you can make a difference in the health and wellness of others, explore the opportunities with Perham Health.