Exciting things are happening at Wheatcrest Hills Healthcare Center in Britton. A new owner recently took over its operation. At the same time, the facility’s new Executive Director Stephen Schmitz will soon be celebrating his first full year there. Schmitz and his staff’s success were recognized recently when they were awarded a 5-Star Quality Rating.
The ownership of Wheatcrest Hills Healthcare Center recently changed hands. In just the last months, it was announced that Evergreen Healthcare Group acquired EmpRes Healthcare, who formerly operated the nursing home. The facility is now being run under the company name “EmpRes Operated by Evergreen.”
Schmitz feels that the transition is going well and is excited about the future. He explains that they are working to update the facility. “We are working at making spaces more modern looking which includes getting rid of wallpaper and adding fresh coats of paint,” he said. “And with the new company, we hope to see more updates.”
A recent development that Schmitz is particularly excited about is the 5-star rating Wheatcrest earned. The rating is given by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The three areas that factor into the rating are health inspections, staffing and quality measures. When the executive started less than a year ago, the facility was at a 3-star rating.
“Everyone who is here had a hand in earning that rating,” he stressed. “Our people really are passionate about what they do and provide a high level of quality of care.”
Speaking of passion, Schmitz personally is happy to have found his working at Wheatcrest. In his professional career, he was a Jack-of-all-trades. He has worked in law enforcement, education, retail, insurance and too many other areas to mention.
Schmitz is a Wheaton, MN native. His dad was a sheriff and his mother a kindergarten teacher, so it’s no wonder that Schmitz would eventually be in the business of helping others. He spent 17 years in law enforcement, mostly in North Dakota. He was also a certified nursing assistant on the side. After he got out of law enforcement, Schmitz would try his hand at various other lines of work, but eventually homed in on a couple areas: educational leadership or senior care.
After having advanced his education through the years, Schmitz already had a master’s in management and found working with the elderly very rewarding.
He was accepted into a training role working towards licensure as an administrator. His first admin job was right up the road in Forman. After two years there, he was approached by a recruiter who put him in touch with Empres for the Administrator Position at Wheatcrest Hills Healthcare Center.
Schmitz accepted the Executive Director position and started in early December of 2022. Though he faced a winter of rough driving from his home in Forman, Schmitz is happy with the decision he made. “I haven’t regretted it one bit,” he emphasized. Now, as the Executive Director of Wheatcrest Hills, he is enjoying finding his niche. Though he has been at the nursing home for less than a year, Schmitz has worked to better the facility.
As he looks back on the first year of work at Wheatcrest, Schmitz is proud of many things as he assesses the 60-bed facility. “We have really built up the dietary department,” notes Schmitz.
He is also happy with how his staff has developed. He is pleased to say that Wheatcrest is operating ‘out of agency,’ meaning they are not having to rely on traveling staff. “We are happy to have local people working for us,” he said. “This is great because they already know and care about the residents and their families and take good care of them.”
He is also proud of the open communication policy that he has fostered. “I strive to be very open with our team,” Schmitz says. This also goes for residents and their families. “I want to hear their questions, complaints and concerns. It all helps us improve.”
Schmitz acknowledges that the past year has brought challenges and changes. “COVID continues to be a concern,” he said. They work to maintain safety plus resident satisfaction.
As he looks to the future, Schmitz is excited to see the positive direction that Wheatcrest is headed. He enjoys seeing the residents thriving and engaging with the community, even as his staff continues to grow. He adds that they are always interested in hiring good people, including CNAs, RNs and LPNs. You can find more information on their Facebook page or website.
Schmitz concludes, “We look forward to contributing to the already exceptional healthcare offered in the Britton area.”
