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When Melissa Fuhrmann, DNP of Emplify Health by Gundersen Harmony Clinic was awarded the Nurse Excellence Award for Advanced Degree Nursing this year, she joined her co-workers Cheryl Hotvedt, RN, and Lori Pfremmer, LPN, as recipients. Emplify Health by Gundersen has been presenting the Nurse Excellence Award for over 25 years now, but this is the first time that every nurse on staff at a clinic has been awarded it. Hotvedt was the first to be given the honor of receiving the Nurse Excellence Award in 2014 with Pfremmer following in 2020. “It was unexpected and exciting,” Pfremmer said about her award, adding that it made her feel like her work was appreciated.
Hotvedt agreed. “It makes you feel like you make a difference,” she said.
Of the three nurses, Lori has been working in the Harmony clinic the longest, starting in her position 19 years ago. She actually got started in her nursing career working as a nurses’ aide there before going to nursing school to get her LPN. “I’ve been working in this building since 16 years old,” she said.
Hotvedt has been working in the clinic for the last five years but also worked there for five years earlier in her career, giving her a total of 10 years. Her children were in grade school when her doctor told her that she should go into nursing, so she went back to school to get her RN.
Fuhrmann’s story was a little different. “I swore I’d never be a nurse,” she commented. She originally got a degree in business but didn’t feel like she was truly making a difference in people’s lives so went back to school and obtained her DNP. She’s been at the Harmony clinic for nine years now.
The Harmony Clinic provides invaluable services and resources to the community. Fuhrmann, Hotvedt and Pfremmer work together to ensure that their patients have the best care possible, and it shows with an average patient satisfaction rating of 95%. “We work a tight ship,” Fuhrmann said. “We all work at the top of our scope of practice and do what we can to provide the best care for our patients. I think we’ve done a great job with that.”
The clinic has also received the top diabetes scores in the Emplify by Gundersen system for months. “Top scores means we’re taking good care of our patients,” Hotvedt said. She is the main resource for their diabetic patients and makes sure that each one has the support they need, answers to their questions, follow-ups, etc.
Pfremmer’s focus is making sure that the patient’s blood pressure stays under control, helping them manage medications and lifestyle changes to do so. “If you keep blood pressure and diabetes under control, you’ll have less other health problems,” Hotvedt said.
Fuhrmann, Hotvedt and Pfremmer have been a nursing team for years now and have found that they work very well together. “We know our responsibilities and nobody has to micromanage anyone else,” Fuhrmann stated. “This is the highest functioning team I’ve ever worked with. We trust and respect each other.” Hotvedt agreed, adding that they’re able to communicate well and easily among themselves. They hold patient care to a very high standard. “We don’t look at them (patients) as numbers. We do what we can to keep them healthy,” Fuhrmann continued. “It’s a privilege to be able to be with people when they’re at their most difficult and vulnerable times.”
Practicing nursing in a rural community has its challenges. They see a wide range of patients including those with complex issues, the impoverished, and the Amish. “We have to know how to handle not having all the resources that bigger clinics have,” Hotvedt said. “You have to think outside the box sometimes and accommodate each patient.” Thankfully, being part of Emplify Health by Gundersen does give them the opportunity to have specialists just a phone call away to weigh in on patient care. Some patients are able to have telehealth visits with their specialists in La Crosse or Winona right at the Harmony Clinic. Lab work ordered by specialists can be completed there as well, helping patients avoid long drives. Other resources are also available locally such as Fillmore County Public Health, mental health services, physical therapy, assisted living facilities, etc.
“We do our best to connect patients with the services they need and deserve so they can get the best care possible close to home,” Fuhrmann said.
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