Respiratory Care Intern

Essentia Health's Community Paramedics Program works to eliminate barriers for patients in need. Mary Skorich WDIO Updated: September 4, 2026 - 5:03 PM Published: September 4, 2026 - 4:53 PM For many, getting access to the healthcare they need can be a challenge. That's why Essentia Health created a Community Paramedics Program, to meet their patients where they are at. Nolan had worked as a traditional paramedic for almost six years before applying for a Community Paramedic position in Duluth. During those six years, he realized he wasn't getting the time to help his patients adequately combat their health problems, which is why he pursued the role through Essentia's program. "We have that ability to really build that rapport with that patient in that home and pick up on those things that are causing them to have to get re-emitted to the hospital and have to utilize those healthcare services in a not so fun way," said Nolan. Community Paramedics are trained the same as a traditional paramedic, but receive additional training in chronic illness management, preventative care, and to identify different things in one's home that could result in an emergency. "To prevent the frequent use of the emergency department and the re-hospitalizations and admissions to the hospital," said Nolan. Nolan doesn't just conduct typical check-ups with his patients, he travels to their home and can provide resources to allow people to feel in control of their treatment. "I've seen first-hand patients benefit from this program. We have patients who have missed multiple doctors' appointments and specialty follow-ups just simply because they didn't have that ability to transport themselves. And we work alongside a lot of our community partners, and we help connect those patients to those resources," said Nolan. "And sometimes that's just the simple, you know, missing puzzle piece that allows for that patient to get to and from those appointments and be more involved into their own care." On Friday, Nolan took a trip to Diane's house in Duluth for a checkup. Diane became a patient of Nolan after a trip to the hospital. "After I got out of the hospital, they had all these people that wanted to come out. And I said, I don't want any of that. I don't need any of that. I'd rather do it myself and slow. And that's the way I've been with everything. I don't ever want anybody coming in to help me. And so, when he said that he wanted to come out for Essentia, I just thought, well, it's fine if he comes out one time. But I was so shocked when I found out he was going to come regular," said Nolan. "It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me from going to the doctor and having him do this." Nolan makes an effort to ensure all of his patients can get the treatment they need and have access to the resources needed to ensure emergency medical events don't happen. "So, you know, simple things like fixing the door," said Nolan. "It's difficult to pull open. Yeah, I knew it didn't want to open half the time. I'd have to actually push it in and try to pull open at the same time. And he worked on that for probably half an hour or longer and finally got it to where it was working. So, I call him my handyman now, too," added Diane. "At the heart of what we're doing is we are identifying those barriers, what makes healthcare difficult for these patients and meeting the patients with where they're at and treating them in a different way. We're treating them as the whole picture, as a more of a patient-centered approach and taking into account the community, their home, but also them and all of the things that impact their healing process and their well-being," said Nolan. According to Essentia Health, those who have had frequent visits to the emergency room or whose doctor is concerned they may be at risk for hospitalization could be eligible for community paramedic visits. Those interested in trying community paramedic services should contact their primary care provider for a referral.

Essentia hospitals in Brainerd, Detroit Lakes ranked among the best by Forbes. Reflecting their commitment to provide the best possible patient care, Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd and Essentia Health St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes were named two of the top hospitals in Minnesota for 2026 by Forbes. St. Joseph's and St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes were two of 14 Minnesota hospitals to receive a five-star overall rating. Of the approximately 2,600 hospitals that met Forbes' inclusion criteria, only 259 earned five stars (less than 10%). This is the second consecutive year St. Joseph's and St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes received the five-star designation. The "unbiased, data-driven rating system" identifies "general acute care hospitals across the country offering high-quality healthcare services," according to Forbes, which used healthcare quality measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Data Catalog to devise its top hospitals methodology. These CMS measures assess things like patient outcomes and experience, value and hospital best practices. "These recognitions reflect the talent, compassion and unwavering commitment of our clinicians and staff who care for our patients in and around Brainerd," said Todd DeFreece, senior vice president of operations for Essentia in the Brainerd Lakes area. "Honors like these reinforce our dedication to excellence as we continue to make a healthy difference in our community." "We're honored to continuously be recognized as one of the best hospitals in Minnesota and across the country," said Rachel Lawlor, vice president and administrator for Essentia in Detroit Lakes. "We're always moving healthcare forward, and this is another reminder that the tireless work of our team is benefiting all the patients who entrust us with their care." This latest recognition follows numerous other awards and distinctions for St. Joseph's and St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes. Both have been named top 100 rural hospitals by the Chartis Center for Rural Health multiple times, while St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes ranked 17th out of more than 800 on a list of "small community hospitals" by Fortune/Merative in 2022. St. Joseph's has received a prestigious five-star rating from CMS, and St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes has earned four stars. Both are Birthing-Friendly Hospitals.