Health Leaders Media
ERIC WICKLUND
AUGUST 24, 2022
Site Editor
Joaquim Cardoso MSc.
Health Transformation — Center of Excellence
Health Transformation — Journal
August 30, 2022
The South Dakota-based health system has broken gound on a 60,000 square-foot virtual care center, part of a $350 million initiative launched in 2021 to extend telehealth and digital health services across the Upper Midwest.
The program will include five ‘satellite clinics’ located in rural and underserved communities.
Sanford Health is going all-in on telehealth and digital health, with a new virtual care center and five “satellite clinics” aimed at expanding access to care and resources across the Midwest.
The Sioux Falls, SD-based health system, billed as the largest rural health system in the country, covers roughly 250,000 square miles across several states with
- a network of 47 medical centers,
- 224 clinics,
- 158 skilled and nursing rehab facilities and hundreds of other healthcare sites.
Officials announced the ground-breaking for the Sanford Virtual Care Center during this week’s “ Future of Rural Healthcare” conference.
“This flagship center will be the premier training ground to prepare medical students, residents and nurses for the next generation of care delivery,” Brad Schipper, the health system’s president of virtual care, said in a press release.
“The innovation that takes place in this building will help us deliver on our promise to patients by leveraging the best of technology to provide high-quality, safe care with an emphasis on convenience and affordability.”
The 60,000 square-foot facility, expected to open in 2024, will house clinician workspaces equipped with telemedicine and digital health technology and feature services that include on-demand virtual primary, behavioral health and urgent care.
It will also house “innovation, education, and research initiatives to advance digital healthcare and workforce solutions for the future.”
The 60,000 square-foot facility, expected to open in 2024, will house clinician workspaces equipped with telemedicine and digital health technology and feature services that include on-demand virtual primary, behavioral health and urgent care.
The announcement is the latest step in a $350 million virtual care initiative launched in 2021 and aimed at improving access to care for rural and underserved populations, which comprise a considerable part of Sanford Health’s coverage area.
The program will include the development of five clinics, also equipped with the latest in virtual care technology, in locations where in-person healthcare services “are otherwise unavailable or diminishing.”
The program aims to make the Upper Midwest a hotbed for telehealth and digital health innovation and outreach.
Avera Health, a multi-state healthcare organization also based in Sioux Falls, launched its own telehealth education center in 2019, alongside a national telehealth certificate program, and then sold its Avera eCare telehealth business last year to a private capital firm, which has renamed the business as Avel eCare.
Another big player in the region is Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare, which has an extensive telehealth and digital health network.
Sanford Health and Intermountain had discussed joining forces in a merger in 2020, but ended those talks that same year.
Eric Wicklund is the Innovation and Technology Editor for HealthLeaders.
Originally published at https://www.healthleadersmedia.com.
Names mentioned
Brad Schipper, the health system’s president of virtual care
RELATED ARTICLE
Sanford Health receives $350M for virtual care center to support rural health
Fierce Health Care
By Anastassia Gliadkovskaya
Sep 8, 2021
Sanford Health, one of the largest U.S. health systems, announced today a $350 million donation to launch a new virtual care center that aims to support rural healthcare in the Midwest.
The virtual care center will serve patients in Sanford Health’s network, and will also be the home base of several innovation, education and research initiatives aimed at advancing digital healthcare.
“It is crucial we continue to break new ground in how we bring the best of today’s digital world directly to our patients, with seamless, convenient and world-class care for the communities we serve,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, in a statement.
“The virtual care initiative will accomplish this and deliver medical services to communities, patients and long-term care residents around the globe when and where they’re most needed.”
Since March, South Dakota billionaire Denny Sanford has committed a total of $650 million to the health system, bringing his lifetime giving thus far to Sanford to approximately $1.5 billion, according to the health provider.
He has vowed to “die broke” and has given to the state government and lawmakers, as well as universities and children’s charities.
Since March, South Dakota billionaire Denny Sanford has committed a total of $650 million to the health system, bringing his lifetime giving thus far to Sanford to approximately $1.5 billion, according to the health provider.
He has vowed to “die broke” and has given to the state government and lawmakers, as well as universities and children’s charities.
“I am committed to seeing this initiative become a reality,” Sanford said in a statement. “I continue to give to Sanford Health because I believe that supporting the people and communities in the regions they serve is the best investment I can make.”
Sanford’s latest donation comes about a year since media outlets reported that he was under investigation for possible possession of child pornography.
In August of this year, the South Dakota Supreme Court reportedly weighed whether to unseal documents related to that investigation.
Gassen told South Dakota Public Broadcasting back in March that it took the reports of the investigation seriously, but was “satisfied that they were not substantiated.”
Gassen himself was appointed CEO last December after the sudden departure of Sanford Health’s previous CEO in November over his refusal to wear a mask.
Sanford Health had been in talks to merge with Intermountain Healthcare, but those discussions have since come to a halt.
Originally published at: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com
Names mentioned
South Dakota billionaire Denny Sanford
Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health
Brad Schipper, the health system’s president of virtual care
