Striving to be the Best Place to Work and Receive Care

Every day, we work to make Essentia Health the best place for our staff to work and for you to receive high quality care.

You Are Welcome Here

At Essentia, we make sure everyone feels safe and cared for. We respect everyone's different life experiences and backgrounds, and we welcome all patients. Our mission is to make a healthy difference in people's lives, and our values include respect, justice, teamwork and quality.

We want you to feel seen, heard and valued.

Our Commitment to You in Action

Connecting You with Free and Reduced Cost Programs

During your medical appointments, we ask if you need help with food, shelter, health care, work and more. In the last few years, we have helped more than 10,000 people find free and low-cost community programs. Anyone can use this free program. Learn more about the Resourceful program here.

Honoring Your Spiritual Preferences

We provide spiritual care and chaplaincy services for you, your loved ones and community members. Our professional chaplains help people of all spiritual traditions, cultures and beliefs.

Uplifting Your Voice

Essentia’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) brings patients, family members, community members and our staff together to discuss patient care. We want to make changes that are important to you. Feedback from the PFAC is shared with leaders to make impactful decisions. Learn more about our patient and family advisory councils here.

Offering Interpretation and Sign Language Services

Essentia provides free, professional interpretation services for patients who speak a language other than English or who are Deaf or hard of hearing. If you need an interpreter, please mention this when scheduling an appointment. In an emergency, tell the triage nurse that you need language assistance. Learn more about our interpreter services.

Our Commitment to our Communities in Action

At Essentia, we care for our patients and our communities. We get involved in the communities we serve to help everyone live safe, healthy and active lives.

Supporting Affordable Housing

Essentia has committed more than $1.8 million to support the creation of more than 145 affordable housing units in Duluth. This has helped more than 13,000 people. One example is Brewery Creek apartments, which have added 52 affordable housing units to Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood. Thirty-two units are for homeless youth who receive services from Life House and the Human Development Center.

Tackling Food Access Concerns

When patients tell us they cannot afford groceries, we know it affects their health. We partner with Second Harvest Northland to help provide food for those who need it in the communities we serve. Essentia has committed nearly $700,000 to Second Harvest to support their mission.

Assessing Community Health Needs

Essentia studies the communities we serve to learn how we can help beyond our hospitals and clinics. Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) create a detailed picture of communities based on data like birth rates and income. We work with community partners to identify and address health needs. View our most recent CHNA and implementation plans on our community health needs assessments page.

Our Commitment to our Employees in Action

Essentia Health is comprised of many individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We live our values, which have guided us for more than 135 years.

Supporting the Well-Being of Our Staff

The Office of Well-Being (OWB) at Essentia opened in 2021 to help our staff with stress and burnout. Some initiatives include:

Employee support line
Peer support network for physicians and advanced practice clinicians
CARE Champions (volunteer network of well-being leaders)

Supporting Community Service

Essentia supports community service hours of our staff with the Together We Thrive program. This program rewards our employees' volunteer work with a $100 contribution to the eligible non-profit organization of their choice.

Providing Career Development Opportunities

At Essentia, we help develop the next generation of health care workers. We offer personalized work experience and support all staff to meet their career goals.

Connecting with Spirituality and Purpose

Essentia Health supports an environment where employees feel connected and find meaning in their work. We support our staff through programs, rituals, practices and celebrations. We also support their resilience as they deal with grief, trauma, and complex situations at work.

Essentia recognizes the importance of healing environments for patients, families, and staff. Daily prayers are broadcast within Catholic facilities and online for all employees.