The Sisters of Sorrowful Mother
St. Elizabeth’s was started in 1898 by the Sisters of Sorrowful Mother. Today, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s is a 25-bed critical access hospital as well as a pharmacy, skilled nursing home, and assisted living. It provides a broad continuum of prevention, wellness, aging and outreach services. As Tom enters his 53rd year of service to the organization, he shared career highlights and insights with the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care.
A lifelong career
Tom's career took an unexpected turn from working in the metro area when he visited his brother in Wabasha almost 53 years ago. As he visited in the community, folks let him know that the hospital was looking for an accountant to assist with cost-based reimbursement. He shared that he wasn’t looking for new work, but by the end of the visit, the hospital administrator had called him and asked for an interview. Tom agreed to six months of accounting work, which was the beginning of profound community engagement in Wabasha and decades of work in the healthcare landscape.
Tom discovered a love for the area and its people. The charm of working in a small, rural community had an immediate impact. Tom’s work emphasized the need for collaboration. After the first six months of accounting work, Tom accepted a permanent position. As time went on, he took on HR tasks along with accounting, and saw administrators come and go until the Sisters came to him and asked him to take on the role of administrator for St. Elizabeth’s. Tom’s leadership adapted to the unique needs of Wabasha’s community. Upon his acceptance of the role, he also signed a resignation letter for the board to bring to him should they ever be displeased with his work. He shares he would have left with no questions asked. Tom’s care for the community is evident.
Partnerships with the community
Early in his tenure, partnerships were formed with healthcare staff to focus on things like preventative initiatives for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. When it was suggested that the hospital’s cardiac rehab program should stop offering these “phase three” services because reimbursement rates were low, he and others made the decision to continue to offer the program to participants. Community members benefit from coming in to do their exercises in a communal space where there is more accountability. Many members have used the services for upward of 25 years because they found community while they exercised and felt support from the organization. This initiative, along with other preventative initiatives were all supported by healthcare staff, and contributed to a reduction in health issues, thanks to the comprehensive prevention programs St. Elizabeth’s supported. Even community organizations like the local grocery stores sought involvement in their prevention efforts and began labeling for healthier choices.
The community's response to health and wellness initiatives during Tom’s leadership was great. From the establishment of raised garden beds for a Food Prescription Program to collaborative efforts between residents of the assisted living and community residents living in low-income housing to prepare healthy foods and learn how to cook; every step taken was a testament to the power of community engagement. In Wabasha, Tom said, neighbors look out for one another. Tom credits this ethos to the Sisters who started the hospital in 1898. Their mission and values have been upheld by Tom throughout his career as well as passed on to all those he has worked alongside. Tom discussed being supportive of employees, getting to know them, and being warm and welcoming to one another while at work. This culture continues at St. Elizabeth’s today. Tom had a hand in hiring all of the staff who hold leadership positions today, and they carry out the mission to “meet community needs and ensure local access to a broad scope of healthcare services [that] has been our purpose, our privilege, our passion.”
Building workforce at home
Tom shares insight on how St. Elizabeth’s addresses workforce, specifically in the nursing field. While serving on the Rotary and other community organizations, Tom got to know individuals who needed a job – they began as nurse aides and after great performance, St. Elizabeth’s Foundation was able to assist them in obtaining LPN and then RN degrees. Individuals want to serve their neighbors.
Looking back
Reflecting on the transformation over the years, from the demographic shifts to the changing healthcare landscape, Tom’s career is a testament to the enduring power of community-focused healthcare. The transition from dealing with acute conditions to promoting wellness and preventive care marked a significant evolution in the hospital’s approach, benefiting from a close-knit community's support. The emphasis on mental health, community engagement, and the integration of the hospital within the broader social fabric of Wabasha encapsulates a model of health care that goes beyond treatment to encompass holistic well-being.
Tom’s reflections, at the age of 77, underscore a lifetime of dedication not only to healthcare but to nurturing a community that thrives on mutual support, innovation, and a shared commitment to the greater good.
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