Why I Came, Why I Stayed: Tyler Housh Loves the Family Atmosphere in the Methodist Fremont Health Laboratory

In “Why I Came, Why I Stayed,” you’ll get to know people who are making a difference every day at Methodist and how they contribute to providing The Meaning of Care.

Tyler Housh, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Medical Lab Scientist II
Methodist Fremont Health

Tell us more about yourself and your background.

I knew I wanted to go into health care after a close call I had in 2014 as a junior in high school. I was hospitalized at Methodist Hospital for sepsis from a tonsil infection (yes, my tonsils are gone now, thank goodness!). But I'm all about turning negatives into positives, so I like to say that without that close call, I wouldn't be where I am today.

During my senior year, I had the opportunity to enroll in a program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) that allowed me to take classes on campus. Because of my close call with sepsis, I picked a class titled "Infectious Diseases.” This seemingly mundane choice is actually what led me to pursue a degree in medical laboratory science. I graduated from Wayne State College and UNMC in 2019 with bachelor’s degrees in life science and medical laboratory science. After graduation, I dove headfirst into my career at Methodist Fremont Health, and I haven't looked back!

When I'm not running lab tests, I enjoy traveling, hiking, spending time outside, going to trivia nights with friends, going to concerts and staying caught up with all the latest movies and TV shows. My family moved to Bennington when I was 13, so I knew that after graduation I wanted to stay close to home but far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Omaha. In 2020, I moved to Blair with my partner and our dog, Ryder.

Why Methodist? What attracted you to the organization?

I like to say that my journey to Methodist Fremont Health actually began at Memorial Hospital of Dodge County. I was born at the very hospital where I now work! In college, I was enrolled in the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP), so I knew I was going to be practicing laboratory science in a smaller hospital. When the opportunity came for me to do my clinical practicum at Fremont, I couldn't pass it up!

Throughout my clinical rotations, I quickly realized that this hospital and the health system are special. Everyone I worked with in the hospital was friendly, knowledgeable, caring and passionate, and I immediately felt welcomed by the staff here. It was also plain to see that quality patient care was a top priority for all employees. Because of this culture, I knew that this hospital would be at the top of my list when it was time to apply for jobs.

What is it about Methodist that keeps you coming back?

I love coming to work every day because I get to see my coworkers living out our mission, vision and values, and that makes me strive to be a better team member. We all support each other through thick and thin, and we help build each other up. We have helped each other navigate personal tragedy with compassion and empathy, which builds strong bonds and even inspires us to continue providing the highest quality care for our patients. When I clock in every day, I don't feel like I'm another employee. I feel like I'm part of a family.

Working in the laboratory, sometimes it's difficult to see the direct impact of the care we provide because we don't typically see the patient face to face. However, we always keep this in the back of our minds: Every specimen comes from a real person, not just a name or a medical record number. Patients and our team of providers depend on our laboratory for accurate and timely results, and we always rise to the occasion.

When we live our values, we live out The Meaning of Care. We all work together as a team to ensure the highest quality patient experience. We respect each other and coworkers from other departments. We are constantly pushing ourselves and asking how we can improve the patient experience and the work experience for ourselves. At Methodist Fremont Health, I feel an organic connection to the community and the patients we serve, and I wouldn't want it any other way.