Community Commitment Report – Bismarck Region
Building Stronger Communities for All
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Letter from Todd Schaffer, Sanford Health Bismarck President & CEO
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At Sanford Health in Bismarck, North Dakota, we believe that everyone, everywhere should have access to world-class health care close to home. As the largest nonprofit provider of rural health care in our region, Sanford Health is committed to supporting our patients, residents and communities in ways that extend beyond the walls of our health care facilities. To share part of that story, I am pleased to present Sanford Health’s Bismarck Region Community Commitment Report.
This report was developed to illustrate how we’re using innovative approaches to deliver affordable, high-quality care to everyone who comes through our doors. The report shows the many ways we collaborate with our communities to find solutions to the social and economic obstacles many people across our region face. We pride ourselves on our number of outreach services to underserved communities, keeping convenient care both close to home and less financially burdensome for those who may normally need to travel long distances for appointments.
I am proud to share that in 2024, we will expand our hospital bed capacity, add a new walk-in clinic in south Bismarck and enhance care in Williston by providing women’s, family medicine and specialty care at a newly acquired clinic location.
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These are just a few examples of how we are advancing access to care and improving health outcomes. I encourage you to continue reading to learn more about how Sanford Health is helping to improve public health and strengthen our local communities.
The work we are doing is possible thanks to the dedication of our Sanford Health family and community partners. I am grateful to work alongside them for the betterment and health of our communities throughout western North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota.
With gratitude,
Todd Schaffer, MD President and CEO Sanford Health, Bismarck Region
OUR COMMITMENT
Since 2012, Sanford Health has invested $350 million in central and western North Dakota to increase access to primary and specialty care, support the communities we serve and enhance our workforce. This includes investments in infrastructure and the addition of new specialties and services like trauma surgery, maternal-fetal medicine, interventional radiology, cardiology, pediatrics, and air ambulance transport. As a result, Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck has become the region’s largest hospital, housing 248 licensed and staffed beds.
RURAL CARE CHALLENGES
People living in rural America face unique challenges. They are more likely to have fewer resources to access care and to experience higher rates of poverty, chronic disease, as well as food and housing insecurity. These challenges often lead to poorer health outcomes. Two-thirds of our patients live in rural areas. That’s why our care extends beyond our medical centers and clinics.
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Every three years, Sanford Health conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to learn more about the health and well-being of the populations we serve. The CHNA allows us to identify and address unmet health needs through local partnerships and initiatives.
The responses from past surveys have led to the development of new community health initiatives, offerings and programs in areas such as children’s care, mental health, rural health care access and health equity. The most recent CHNA survey published in 2022 found challenges related to health care access and mental health resources. Since the findings were published, Sanford Health Bismarck has implemented several strategies and programs to help address these community concerns.
Regional Numbers
Medical centers: 1
Surgical centers: 3
Clinic locations: 25
Senior living facilities: 5
Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck Key Recognitions
• CMS 4-star hospital
• Four-time Magnet designation for nursing excellence
• US News & World Report “Top Heart Center in North Dakota”
• Newsweek “North Dakota’s Best Hospital”
• Level II Trauma Center
• Primary Plus Stroke Center
In 2022, Sanford Health invested over $27 million to provide essential services and financial aid to nearly 9,000 patients in the Bismarck region.
CARE FOR ALL
Sanford Health is proud to provide care to anyone who comes to us in need, regardless of their ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization, we provide a robust community care program to help our patients who are uninsured or experiencing financial hardship so they can access care in hospitals and clinics across our health system. Sanford Health never denies medically necessary care to patients with medical debt.
Sanford Health offers financial assistance to patients who need medically necessary services or emergency care. This assistance, which can range from a balance reduction to complete forgiveness, is provided to patients demonstrating financial need. Sanford Health’s financial assistance program provides discounted and free services to all patients who qualify. Over 90% of patients who request financial assistance receive it.
Patients can download an application online, contact a patient account representative or visit a registration representative at a clinic or hospital. To reduce language and literacy barriers, our financial assistance application has been simplified to a two-page document and translated into the top languages spoken by the populations we serve, including Chinese, German, Hindi, Korean, Laotian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Translated financial assistance applications are available from our website or by calling the Patient Financial Services office.
We have also implemented a presumptive community care policy. Instead of waiting for a patient to come to us, we proactively evaluate some of the patient’s demographic information and other factors to determine if they might need financial assistance.
CONNECTING PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Sanford Health has a database that helps patients find and access community resources. The website sanford.findhelp.com compiles information to help address basic needs such as housing, food, transportation and child care. After entering their ZIP code, a patient can see free or reducedcost programs nearby. While the resource is available to anyone in need, Sanford Health patients receive a link in their after-visit summary, their My Sanford Chart account or via sanfordhealth.org.
Clinicians and nurses can also navigate the site on behalf of a patient, referring them directly to an organization for assistance. To ensure equitable access, the site is translated into multiple languages and allows staff to print, text or email information to a patient.
In 2023, users to the Sanford Find Help platform increased by 10%, with top search topics related to food, housing, health and financial needs.
The Sanford Health Foundation’s direct patient assistance funds help patients experiencing financial hardship meet their treatment-related needs when no other funding or charitable options are available. Funding is used for expenses related to medical care like travel, prescriptions, specialized equipment, wigs, therapies and more.
In 2023, the Sanford Health Foundation provided $300,000 in direct financial patient assistance in the Bismarck region.
PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
A medical diagnosis can often cause a financial burden, and an inability to afford medication can prevent someone from fully recovering both physically and financially. Sanford Health’s prescription assistance program offers tiered assistance based on income level to help patients afford their medication. If a patient indicates they can’t afford their medication, clinicians can presumptively qualify them. Patients who meet program guidelines are eligible for six months of prescription assistance.
In 2023, Sanford Health provided over $67,000 in prescription assistance to patients in the Bismarck region.
EXPANDED ACCESS
Rural populations are more likely to travel long distances to access health care, particularly specialty services. This can be a significant burden. Many patients may face barriers paying for fuel or hotels, taking time off from work or finding child care.
Our integrated health system is uniquely positioned to improve the overall health of populations through new, innovative care delivery models. Open 24/7, 365 days a year, we are available whenever and wherever our patients need us. Our specialists from Bismarck travel to more than 10 rural locations in central and western North Dakota and northern South Dakota.
HOSPITAL EXPANSION
Since 2012, Sanford Health has expanded services in Bismarck to include:
• Robotic surgery
• Neonatology
• Trauma surgery
• 24/7 clinician intensive care coverage
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Air ambulance transport
• Interventional radiology
• Structural heart program
• Endocrinology
• Electrophysiology
• Pediatric cardiology
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Hand surgery
• Neuropsychology
• Genetic counseling
• Dermatology
• Palliative care
• Sanford Sports programming
In 2023, we began an expansion project to add 36 hospital beds to the Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck. The project is expected to be completed in 2025 and will increase our capacity to care for patients.
AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES
In rural, sparsely populated areas, air ambulance services are crucial for patients who need immediate care. Sanford Health operates an AirMed helicopter in Bismarck and an airplane in Dickinson.
With medical experts on board, these aircraft transport patients from emergency scenes or other health care locations for lifesaving care. Sanford AirMed crews can stabilize patients suffering from cardiac disease, trauma, burns, stroke, sepsis and more, and the team specializes in providing adult, pediatric, neonatal and maternal care.
Since the first Sanford AirMed flight in 2013, the Bismarck crew has executed nearly 4,700 flights to and from hospitals and emergency scenes across the region.
VIRTUAL CARE
In 2021, Sanford Health launched a landmark $350 million virtual care initiative to fundamentally transform how we deliver care by expanding access, improving the patient experience, advancing innovation through new research, and attracting and training a new generation of clinicians.
Virtual care is one of the most powerful tools we have when it comes to addressing the shortage of primary care doctors and specialists in the rural U.S. With technology, patients can immediately access care, monitor their health and connect with a trusted provider or specialist from home or a nearby satellite clinic.
Over the last decade, Sanford Health has provided more than 760,000 virtual consults, amounting to over 29 million fewer miles of driving for patients. Many of these patients would have had to travel long distances on country roads or through harsh winter weather to access high-quality care.
DIALYSIS SERVICES
We operate several low-volume dialysis facilities in partnership with two tribal nations – the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe – both of which are in very rural or isolated areas. Sanford Health sends out three employees from Bismarck each day to provide critical dialysis care.
INFUSION AND OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTERS
There are two outpatient surgery centers in Bismarck and one in Dickinson.
The Sanford Broadway Same Day Surgery Center in Bismarck opened in 2021. The center offers a convenient, state-of-the-art space for adult and pediatric patients to receive surgical care and return home the same day. The facility is more than 22,000 square feet and includes 18 preoperative and recovery rooms and six surgical suites, offering patients total surgical care under one roof. The facility is currently being expanded.
In Bismarck, infusions are offered within various clinics and in the Sanford Medical Center. In Dickinson, the infusion center is located within Sanford West Dickinson Clinic. Infusion services include antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, intravenous (IV) therapy for dehydration, and iron or medication infusions.
COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM
The Sanford Health community paramedic program serves communities within 70 miles of the Bismarck-Mandan area. Community paramedics partner with patients to help them achieve their health and wellness goals at home. By helping a patient stay connected with their care team, a community paramedic can ensure their treatment plan is being followed and the patient is developing the skills they need to care for themselves independently or with minimal support. This effort can help reduce hospital readmissions. Community paramedics help with blood draws, assist with central line care, help identify services to meet care needs, monitor chronic conditions, perform home safety evaluations, administer in-home infusions, and provide education, wound care and routine urology care.
CHILD LIFE PROGRAM
Child life specialists are instrumental resources. They provide real-time guidance and support for caretakers in a one-on-one setting with age-appropriate education and resources fully funded by philanthropy and at no cost to the patients. This leads to decreased stress and fosters trust and continued communication with health care professionals.
In 2023, over 1,700 patients participated in the Child Life Program.
FAMILY WELLNESS
As a partnership between Sanford Health and the Missouri Valley Family YMCA, the Family Wellness facility in Bismarck-Mandan opened in 2017. With more than 40,000 square feet, the facility includes a gym, track, wellness center, fitness studios, group classes, personal training, child care, physical therapy and massage.
THE BISMARCK CANCER CENTER
The Bismarck Cancer Center originated in the basement of MedCenter One. In 1999, that hospital, which would later become Sanford Health, and CHI St. Alexius Health came together to create what’s now known as the Bismarck Cancer Center.
The Bismarck Cancer Center is a radiation treatment facility that serves central North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota. We offer cutting-edge care to over 1,000 patients annually and provide over 14,000 visits each year. Through the support of the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation, the facility takes a holistic approach to healing, providing support services designed to care for the body, mind, and spirit.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Increased access to behavioral health care is a vital part of Sanford Health’s effort to address community health needs. Sanford Health provides comprehensive behavioral health services across our footprint, ranging from psychological evaluations and substance use disorder programs to inschool child programs and a nationally recognized eating disorder program.
As a rural health care system, we understand the unique barriers our communities face in accessing behavioral health care, and we are addressing these issues on multiple fronts to ensure every patient has access to the expert care and support they need, when they need it.
VIRTUAL VISITS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
As an extension of our virtual care initiative, Sanford Health recently launched an option for patients to self-schedule a virtual behavioral health appointment. These appointments do not require a referral from a primary care provider and are available to patients ages 10 years and older. Offering patients the ability to directly schedule virtual behavioral health visits can reduce stigma and help ensure timely and convenient care.
Sanford Health’s emergency departments are connected with virtual psychiatrists to ensure patients with emergent behavioral health concerns are triaged quickly. In an emergency, a psychiatrist sees a patient virtually, consults with the on-site provider and recommends next steps, including transfer to an in-patient behavioral health unit if necessary or a discharge to home with a safety plan in place.
To further increase access to behavioral health care, integrated health therapists (IHTs) are embedded into primary care clinics and oncology departments across Sanford Health. If a patient expresses a need or a provider identifies a patient who would benefit from further assessment, the IHT is ready to have a conversation with them immediately, simplifying the process for patients and ensuring they leave their current appointment with a follow-up plan.
Sanford Health in Bismarck has partnered with the Heartview Foundation to bridge the gap between emergency services for overdose victims and treatment for opioid addiction. Through the program, the Heartview Foundation hired staff to provide peer support and buprenorphine until patients can begin using services at a treatment facility or, if it’s safe, to fully transition back to life in the community.
Three integrated health therapists work side-by-side with primary care teams in both Dickinson and Minot.
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Sanford Health partners with more than 10 schools in Bismarck, Williston and Dickinson, North Dakota, for the Multiple Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) program. Through the program, students have access to three different tiers of behavioral health support. The first two are provided by school staff, and students who need the highest level of care are moved to the third tier and seen at school by a Sanford Health behavioral health clinician.
MTSS program outcomes include a 70% decrease in referrals to office discipline, juvenile courts and arrests.
HEALTHY TRANSITIONS PROGRAM
Healthy Transitions is a federally funded, Dickinson-based program for young people who are having behavioral health struggles and need extra support and guidance. The Healthy Transitions program provides a way for youth and young adults to get the help they need to prepare for the future. To qualify for the program, individuals must be between 16 and 25 years old, have a mental health diagnosis and concerns about their future, struggle with some sort of life instability, and be willing to work with a care team.
SPECIALIZED BEHAVIORAL CARE
Patients at the Sanford Northern Sky Clinic in Bismarck have access to specialized behavioral care including neuropsychology assessments for those with neurocognitive, behavioral and psychiatric disorders. Patients can also receive perinatal psychology care at Sanford Obstetrics & Gynecology and psychosocial oncology care at the Sanford Cancer Center.
Sanford Sports athletic trainers attend a Behavioral Health Education Awareness and Response Development (BeHEARD) course to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in supporting youth with a wide range of behavioral health concerns. BeHEARD is an interactive virtual course created by experts in behavioral health, educational design and evaluation. BeHEARD
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Clinical trials are key to advancing the science of medicine and helping patients quickly benefit from new discoveries. However, clinical trial recruitment has historically been focused in larger urban areas. Sanford Health is committed to pursuing cures and improving treatments for communities in the rural U.S.
ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS CLOSE TO HOME
Giving patients access to early-phase clinical trials close to home greatly improves their care and advances research to bring new treatments – and hope – to our patients. Sanford Research, a multisite biomedical research institute headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is involved in over 300 clinical trials that aim to improve the prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship of a wide range of diseases, from diabetes, cystic fibrosis and COVID-19 to eating disorders and cancers.
Sanford Research offers cancer clinical trials in seven locations: Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota; and Bemidji, Ortonville, Worthington and Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The sites collaborate to advance cancer research and care across the Midwest.
COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Sanford Health is proud to be part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), which gives our patients access to state-ofthe-art cancer clinical trials in or near their communities. There are only 46 NCORP sites throughout the country. Our program typically has between 80 to 100 clinical trials open across most cancer types.
Additionally, Sanford Health is a participant in the NCI’s Connect for Cancer Prevention study. This nationwide study looks to identify how certain factors like geographical location or occupation may lead to a cancer diagnosis in healthy individuals later in life. It uniquely focuses on individuals before they have any indication of cancer. Individuals in the Midwest are often exposed to potentially harmful carcinogens that are unique to rural populations. This study will help us better understand those risk factors. Sanford Health is one of nine health care systems enrolled.
10% of Sanford Health oncology patients are enrolled in clinical trials at our two largest sites, which is higher than the national average.
PEDIATRICS AND RARE DISEASE RESOURCES
Sanford Health’s Population Level Estimate of type 1 Diabetes risk Genes in children (PLEDGE) study works to screen and identify children at risk of developing type 1 diabetes or celiac disease. First launched in 2020, the program provides education, ongoing monitoring and appropriate early intervention to prevent serious illness for children with risk markers. We offer the study in over 126 clinics and have screened over 8,500 patients to date.
Sanford Research launched the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford (CoRDS) platform to further connect rare disease patients and researchers. CoRDS provides a secure online space for patients with rare diseases to share their experiences and medical histories. They can also find support, connect with others facing similar challenges and contribute to scientific advancements.
The platform enables researchers to access a diverse pool of patient data, accelerating rare disease collaboration, research and treatment development. This initiative underscores Sanford Health’s commitment to improving the lives of those affected by rare diseases.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Poverty and other social barriers, such as a lack of access to healthy foods, stable housing, transportation, education and employment, are particularly acute in rural areas. At Sanford Health, we are active in the communities we serve and invest substantial resources to drive more opportunities and better health for all.
In 2022, Sanford Health provided significant financial support to over 60 nonprofit organizations serving communities in the Bismarck region.
Sanford Health is proud to offer all employees paid volunteer time off. We understand the critical role our employees play in our communities, and we encourage our fulltime team members to commit at least eight paid hours per year to 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 organizations.
ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY
Since 2019, Sanford Health in Bismarck has sponsored the Sanford Cares program , supplying backpacks with grocery vouchers and other essential items to Title I schools in the Bismarck-Mandan area. In 2023, 700 second graders received these backpacks just before the holidays.
being active in the communities we serve
BACKPACK PROGRAM
We support the United Way Backpack Program , which provides food for students in elementary, middle and high schools across Bismarck-Mandan who would otherwise go hungry over the weekends. Missouri Slope Areawide United Way recruits and coordinates local businesses that sponsor and pack bags containing a weekend’s worth of food, then deliver the backpacks to schools, where counselors discreetly provide them to students in need. Children are able to go home on Friday afternoon confident they won’t be worrying about hunger.
CPR ANYTIME KITS
As part of a partnership with the American Heart Association, nearly 50 CPR training kits are being delivered to select schools and communities in central and western North Dakota to raise CPR awareness and save lives. The kit includes a manikin and resources to ensure as many people as possible are trained in CPR.
BPS MINI-GRANT PROGRAM
Starting in the fall of 2024, Sanford Health in Bismarck will sponsor a grant to increase physical wellness within the classroom, allowing teachers to purchase additional classroom supplies that support and promote physical wellness. All 25 Bismarck Public Schools are eligible to participate in the program including 18 elementary, three middle schools and four high schools.
DOC TALK
Sanford Health in Bismarck hosts a free community education series where clinicians present and answer questions on a wide variety of health-related topics. In 2023, Doc Talk events featured a cardiologist, an orthopedic surgeon and an internal medicine physician. More than 200 members of the community attended these events in Bismarck and Dickinson.
CHILDREN’S RESOURCES
To prevent child abuse in our communities, Sanford Health offers assessments for children who may have experienced neglect or abuse, as well as programs for adults who may be at risk of becoming abusive. At SAFE Kids Bismarck , dedicated staff implement evidence-based programs to keep kids safe. Programs include car seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.
SANFORD SPORTS
Sanford Sports , the athletics arm of Sanford Health, offers a diverse set of sports-related services and programs. Sanford Sports gives back to communities through initiatives focused on promoting health, wellness and sports participation. A range of programs and events are designed to engage community members of all ages, abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds, including youth sports leagues, fitness classes and sport camps. Sanford Sports also partners with local schools, community organizations and nonprofits to provide resources and support for physical activity and healthy living initiatives.
HEALTH EQUITY
Sanford Health is focused on making care more equitable by addressing the social determinants of health and working upstream to improve them. This work includes removing barriers to access such as lack of transportation, provider shortages and health disparities, including food and housing insecurity, poverty and a lack of health education.
ADDRESSING BIAS IN HEALTH CARE
Sanford Health has identified closing minority health care disparities as a priority. Bias in health care can lead to inequalities in treatment and outcomes. We are actively educating providers on ways to support every patient, particularly those with marginalized identities. Through multiple education opportunities and ongoing professional development, our health care providers are learning to recognize and mitigate biases, ultimately improving care for all patients.
RESOURCES FOR A DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATION
Community health workers offer personalized support that helps patients navigate the health care system and address social factors that affect health outcomes. They connect patients with various resources like translation support and stable housing.
Sanford Health’s Equity in Education Scholarship program serves underrepresented and traditionally underserved populations seeking higher education. The scholarship is available to first-generation Americans, first-generation college students and non-traditional students who are at least 25 years old. Award recipients demonstrate exceptional character and leadership in furthering their own progress and in enriching the lives of others, especially in service, academics, and community involvement and impact. The scholarship opportunity is important to Sanford Health because it fosters a culture where diversity in skill, background and lived experiences is not only accepted but also recognized as a key strength and celebrated.
RESOURCES FOR CANCER PATIENTS
The Sanford Health Foundation in Bismarck provides funding for wigs, caps and head coverings for patients undergoing cancer treatment through the Edith Sanford Breast Cancer. In addition, Sanford Health in Bismarck was awarded $8,500 to provide 98 patients and their families gift cards for gas to travel to appointments and treatment. Since October of 2023, Sanford Health has also financially supported 104 hotel and lodging reservations for patients and their families.
In 2023, 40 wigs and 11 caps or head coverings were provided to patients undergoing cancer treatment.
SANFORD SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We believe every child should have the opportunity to train at our Sanford Sports facility. Because of generous donors, the Sanford Sports scholarship program in Bismarck helps local young athletes of all ages play on the field, court, ice or track for free. Sanford Sports takes pride in helping student athletes improve their performance and prioritize skills they can use for a lifetime.
PROVIDING SHOES TO PODIATRY PATIENTS
Sanford Health in Bismarck provides quality, lightly used shoes to patients with foot issues who cannot afford new ones. There are collection bins at Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Little Lights Pediatric Therapy in Bismarck. Shoes that do not meet the criteria for the clinic are donated to organizations including Ministry on the Margins and Heaven Helpers Closet (701).
In 2023, 444 pairs of shoes were collected during a Shoe Wars event at Sanford Health locations.
PARTNERSHIP WITH GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK
Nutrition is the fundamental building block to good health. Not having access to nutritious food can lead to the development of chronic illnesses and often aggravates the severity of existing conditions. Food insecurity is also linked to developmental challenges in children. It can lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. Food-insecure households are more likely to struggle with psychological and behavioral health issues.
Sanford Health partners with the Great Plains Food Bank on a Wellness Pantry program that provides food free of charge to patients at the Sanford Fifth & Broadway and Sanford Seventh & Thayer clinics in Bismarck. Eligibility is determined based on social determinants of health. The Great Plains Food Bank stocks the Wellness Pantry biweekly.
Our Wellness Pantry program provided 3,561 pounds of food to 145 patients.
INCLUSIVE OFFERINGS
Sanford Strong, a program in Bismarcks, North Dakota , provides an opportunity for high school and college athletes with complex medical backgrounds to participate in inclusive sports teams, including wiffle ball, football and bowling. Athletes of all abilities and ages are welcome to participate, including patients who have experienced a serious medical event such as a stroke, spinal cord injury or cancer diagnosis.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The future health of our communities rests on our ability to attract and develop highly trained clinicians and employees. Sanford Health has prioritized breakthrough initiatives to support the caregivers we need today and cultivate the workforce we know we will need tomorrow.
In 2023, Sanford Health in Bismarck hosted 833 students and offered 106,932 hours of clinical experiences for students studying radiology, exercise science, sonography, dietetics, therapies, medical lab science, pharmacy, phlebotomy, social work, speech language pathology, nursing and more.
PARTNERSHIP WITH SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Sanford Health facilities serve as clinical and non-clinical training sites for thousands of students every year. We work locally with high school students on career exploration and partner with secondary academic institutions to provide students with learning experiences that are second to none. By introducing young people to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs and activities, we hope to inspire future generations of health care professionals who will care for our communities well into the future.
HEALTH CARE NEIGHBORHOOD
In Bismarck, Sanford Health has sponsored the Bismarck Public School’s Health Care Neighborhood, which offers technical education courses on medical careers, certified nursing assistance and more. This program started in 2023.
ASPIRE BY SANFORD
Through Aspire by Sanford , kindergarten through 12th grade students have opportunities to explore careers in health care and develop the skills necessary for success in the workforce. With handson learning experiences and mentorship opportunities, the program seeks to inspire the next generation of health care professionals to enter the workforce.
With our community education programs Medx, HOPE Camp and MedAdventure Camp, Sanford Health reached over 4,000 students in Bismarck in 2023.
PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Across Sanford Health communities, we partner with accredited secondary educational institutions to provide students with clinical and research training sites. The institutions we collaborate with include the University of North Dakota, Bismarck State College, the University of Mary and North Dakota State University School of Nursing.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
Each year, Sanford Health also offers scholarship opportunities for 11 volunteers to pursue careers in the medical field. Volunteering exposes recipients to what it is like working in a health care setting and prepares them for a career in health care.
In Bismarck, those interested in a career as an emergency medical technician can receive handson training from Sanford Health emergency medical responders, advanced emergency medical technicians, paramedics and community paramedics. Students learn about airway management, oxygen use, vital signs, monitors, basic medications, tourniquets, splinting and operating an ambulance. They earn college credit from the North Dakota State College of Science and Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
NORTH DAKOTA’S GATEWAY TO SCIENCE EXHIBIT
Sanford Health sponsors a laparoscopy exhibit at North Dakota’s Gateway to Science museum. The exhibit features a simulated surgery where visitors perform a delicate task using laparoscopic surgical instruments. A monitor nearby features a surgeon describing how she uses robotic technologies to make very delicate surgeries possible, even from a distance.
INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED NURSE PROGRAM
Staffing shortages in nursing are widespread throughout the U.S., making innovative solutions necessary to address the challenges of hiring enough nurses. To help alleviate workforce shortages, Sanford Health has begun welcoming internationally trained and qualified nurses from the Philippines, Kenya, India, Nigeria, New Zealand and other countries. The nurses we hire through this program sign three-year commitments. Our recruiting partner reports that 92% of these nurses stay with the organization after their initial commitment. In the Bismarck region, we have welcomed 101 nurses and anticipate welcoming 62 more in 2024.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE BISMARCK-MANDAN COMMUNITY
Making our communities stronger and healthier is at the core of everything we do at Sanford Health. As the nation’s premier rural health care system, we’re committed to reducing access barriers, improving public health and strengthening community resilience.
To learn more about our community involvement, please visit sanfordhealth.org/about/community-commitment.
As caregivers, we believe that it is not only our duty but also our calling to partner with our communities to help find solutions to the social and economic barriers that hold people back from living their best, healthiest lives.
