Stronger Communities for All
Community Commitment Report – Sioux Falls Market
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A letter from market president, Paul Hanson
At Sanford Health, 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 the U.S., Sanford Health is committed to supporting our patients, residents and communities in ways that extend beyond the walls of our clinics, hospitals and facilities. It is in this spirit that I am honored to share with you Sanford Health’s Sioux Falls Market Community Commitment Report.
This report was developed to illustrate how the Sioux Falls Market of Sanford Health is using leading-edge approaches to deliver affordable, equitable and high-quality care to everyone who comes through our doors. Furthermore, the information that follows demonstrates the many ways in which we work together with our communities to identify and implement solutions to the social and economic barriers that keep people from living their healthiest lives.
As a nonprofit health care organization, Sanford Health Sioux Falls is deeply rooted in the communities we serve across our entire regional footprint, both suburban and rural. I am proud to share that we have expanded access not only to essential primary care clinics, but also to indemand specialties, including children’s, women’s, digestive and cancer care, as well as orthopedics and sports medicine. Our outreach services are another point of pride, as they allow us to bring care to underserved communities where access is paramount.
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With appreciation,
These are just a few examples of how we are advancing access to care and improving health outcomes in our region and beyond. I encourage you to continue reading to learn more about how we’re helping to improve public health and strengthen our communities.
The work we do is possible thanks to the commitment of our Sanford Health employees and community partners. I am grateful to work alongside them for the betterment and health of our communities throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Paul Hanson President and CEO Sanford Health, Sioux Falls Market
OUR COMMITMENT
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Health serves more than 1.4 million patients and nearly 200,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. As the nation’s largest nonprofit rural health care system, Sanford Health is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of those we serve. We are proud to provide comprehensive services, support and investments to respond to the current and future needs of our communities with high-quality care, enhanced public health services and reduced health disparities.
Regional Numbers
Medical centers: 24
Surgical centers: 1
Clinic locations: 87
Senior living centers: 69
Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls Key Recognitions:
• Level I Adult Trauma Center
• Level II Pediatric Trauma Center
• CMS 4-star hospital
• Five-time Magnet designation for nursing excellence
• Forbes “America’s Best-In-State Employers”
• U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospital in South Dakota”
• Newsweek “America’s Best Cancer Hospitals”
In 2022, Sanford Health invested nearly $276 million in communities in the Sioux Falls region to provide essential services and programs to improve access and positively impact health and well-being.
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, food or housing insecurity, and chronic disease, which often lead to poorer health outcomes. At Sanford Health, two-thirds of our patients live in rural areas. That’s why our care extends beyond our medical centers and clinics. We are active in the communities we serve and invest substantial resources to drive more opportunities and better health for all.
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 economic well-being, transportation, children and youth, the aging population, safety, access to services, and mental and behavioral health.
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 access care.
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.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Sanford Health offers financial assistance for 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.
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 after a bill has been sent to collections, 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 resources that address basic needs such as housing, food, transportation and child care. After entering their zip code, a patient can see free or reduced-cost programs nearby. This resource is available to anyone in need.
In 2023, users of the Sanford Find Help platform increased by 10% with top search topics related to food, housing, health and financial needs.
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.
PROVIDING NEEDED AID TO PATIENTS LOCALLY
Sanford Health helps patients in need through the Providing Needed Aid to Patients Locally (PNAPL) Foundation Fund. The fund aims to help patients experiencing financial hardships meet their basic needs when no other funding or charitable options are available. Funding is used to help establish patient self-management and access to necessary items to streamline a plan of care. Examples of items purchased through the fund include blood pressure cuffs, scales, pulse oximeters, pill boxes, medication co-pays, wheelchairs, canes, shower chairs, dressing supplies and transportation to and from appointments.
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 $58,000 in prescription assistance to patients in the Sioux Falls Market.
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.
TRAUMA CARE
Sanford Health patients have access to expert trauma care across a broad region of the upper Midwest, including South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls is the state’s only Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. A Level I Trauma Center provides the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients and has a full range of specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day.
AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES
In rural, sparsely populated areas, air ambulance services are crucial for patients who need immediate care. Sanford Health operates a fleet of AirMed helicopters and four airplanes from Sioux Falls.
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 arrest trauma, burns, stroke, sepsis and more, and they specialize in providing adult, pediatric, neonatal and maternal care.
More than 30,000 patients have safely flown with Sanford AirMed over the last two decades. Sanford Health’s fleet of helicopters and airplanes travels more than 250,000 miles a year to ensure patients have efficient and safe access to specialty care across the Sioux Falls region.
VACCINATION POP-UP CLINICS
In 2023, Sanford Health and The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society were awarded a grant from USAging to provide 22,000 COVID-19 or influenza vaccinations for adults ages 60 or older or those with disabilities at vaccination pop-up clinics in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. In addition to providing vaccine administration, transportation and appointment scheduling, some of the pop-up vaccine clinics partnered with Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market to offer groceries.
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 to address 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 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.
Sanford Health has plans to open five more satellite clinics across our health system that will have on-site staff with virtual support. We are also building the Sanford Virtual Care Center, which is slated to open at the end of 2024 in Sioux Falls. The center will serve as a premier training ground to attract, retain and prepare medical students, residents and nurses for this next generation of care delivery.
VIRTUAL INFUSIONS
Sanford Vermillion Medical Center led the Rural Virtual Infusion Project to help rural patients overcome socioeconomic barriers to cancer treatment with telehealth tools. As a result of the pilot program, more than 125 patients received local care, saving them 65,000 trip miles, 1,800 travel hours and an estimated $71,000.
Virtual infusions continue to be offered in Vermillion, South Dakota, as well as several other sites including Orange City, Iowa; Ortonville, Minnesota; and Worthington, Minnesota.
ENHANCED CANCER TREATMENT
In 2020, Sanford Worthington Cancer Center invested $3.4 million in a TrueBeam linear accelerator to enhance cancer treatment. The linear accelerator provides patients in the region with the latest radiation technology – improving accuracy, cutting treatment times and mitigating side effects.
SANFORD CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Since 2009, the Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls has been the region’s only freestanding children’s hospital. It has 146 beds with private family suites in the Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – the region’s only Level IV NICU. Sanford Children’s Hospital uses a team approach to care for children, with pediatric specialists in 35 different areas and specially trained pediatric nurses, therapists, social workers, child life specialists and more. All of our pediatric specialists have access to the latest technology and equipment, including video EEG monitoring for brain activity and low-dose X-rays.
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. In the last three years, the size of our behavioral health clinic has quadrupled in size.
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 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 discharge 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.
Over 60 integrated health therapists work either in-person or virtually with primary care teams in over 65 clinics across our system.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanford Health and the University of North Dakota partnered to launch the initial phase of the Behavioral Health Bridge, a website filled with mental health resources. The website makes it easy for community members and health care providers to find information about common mental health concerns and resources for supporting or treating them. Now, years later, Sanford Health continues to leverage the Behavioral Health Bridge to help promote awareness and support those who may be struggling.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS
To help reinforce healthy behaviors in vulnerable populations, Sanford Health in Chamberlain, South Dakota, has implemented a points-based health hygiene program that provides diapers, bedding sets, nursing pillows, infant swings, bathtubs and other items to pregnant, low-income patients. The items are meant to incentivize healthy choices about prenatal care, nutrition, drinking and smoking.
Between January 2019 and December 2022, over 300 women participated in the health hygiene program.
THE LINK
The Link, a community triage center in downtown Sioux Falls, is available for individuals facing a nonviolent behavioral health crisis or substance or alcohol abuse. They can access immediate treatment and referral to further support services. The facility is a collaboration between the City of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, Sanford Health and another local health system. In its inaugural year, The Link facilitated over 4,000 triage encounters and aided more than 1,400 individuals on their journey toward recovery.
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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.
Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S., leading to the development of chronic health conditions earlier in life. The Sanford Fit program is designed to get kids to think differently about their choices in a fun and engaging way. It focuses on four key elements: food, move, mood and recharge. Through partnerships with state governments, WebMD, Discovery Channel and more, Sanford Fit provides free online resources to instill sustainable, healthy habits and empower children, families and communities to make healthy lifestyle choices.
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 communities. Sanford Research, a multisite biomedical research institute headquartered in Sioux Falls, 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; Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota; and Bemidji, Ortonville, Thief River Falls and Worthington, Minnesota. The sites collaborate to advance cancer research and care across the Midwest.
Sanford Health is proud to be a part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), which gives our patients access to state-of-the-art 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. Sanford Worthington Cancer Center, located in Worthington, Minnesota, a town with a population of 13,000, is a designated NCORP site. To date, Sanford Worthington Cancer Center has opened 27 clinical trials with over 200 enrollments.
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’s pediatric oncology program in Sioux Falls is part of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), an NCI supported clinical trials group that’s the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.
The Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls is a participating hospital in the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious Neonatal Research Network The network brings together the top neonatal facilities in the country to improve the short- and long-term health of babies. Because Sanford Children’s Hospital is one of only 15 sites across the country, our critically ill newborn patients have exclusive access to cutting-edge clinical trials.
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 10,000 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 230 nonprofit organizations serving communities in the Sioux Falls 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 full-time team members to commit up to eight paid hours per year to 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 organizations.
Good Samaritan Society employees and locations also participate in community outreach efforts. These can include sponsorships of local programs like 4-H or Meals on Wheels, the donation of facility space for local civic groups and free health fairs for seniors. In 2023, Society staff, locations and residents logged 252 community benefit activities.
UNITED WAY
Sanford Health has long partnered with United Way to support the important work they do to positively impact local children, vulnerable adults and people in crisis. Each year, Sanford Health hosts a significant employee giving campaign across six locations in South Dakota and Minnesota. Our employees contribute thousands of dollars to United Way efforts annually.
ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY
The Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls operates a wellness pantry called Kids’ Kitchen. It provides food and essentials to patients in need. The Kids’ Kitchen distributes over 5,000 pounds of food weekly.
SANFORD HEALTH CO-OP
The Sanford Health Co-Op provides free health appointments to patients 18 and older who are uninsured or have Medicare, Medicaid or Sanford Health Plan insurance. The program helps community members navigate the health care system and access blood pressure checks, medication reviews, mobility evaluations, social support and nutrition education, as well as physical and occupational therapies. With three locations in and around Sioux Falls, the Sanford Health Co-Op has registered nurses, a pharmacist, a dietitian, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist.
FALL PREVENTION
As part of the South Dakota Fall Prevention Coalition, Sanford Health offers a variety of evidencebased fall prevention programs to which providers can refer at-risk patients. These classes are free, including S.A.I.L., a strength, balance and fitness class designed for adults 65+, and Stand Strong, which are fall prevention and education screening events.
FAITH COMMUNITY NURSING CENTER
The Faith Community Nursing Center at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls has been fostering community health for 25 years. The center offers a Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course that trains nurses in holistic care. These nurses go on to support diverse populations in churches, community centers and shelters. Collaborating with various organizations, they address community health needs, such as foot care, health screenings and fall prevention.
In addition, faith community nurses also support the Stepping into Good Health (SIGH) project. SIGH works with Falls Community Health to ensure under-insured and uninsured Sioux Falls community members find an open door to health care services like:
• Foot care
• Health education and screenings
• Advance care planning
• Spiritual care
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 CHILD Services in South Dakota, 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.
For over 20 years, Sanford Health has been a proud sponsor of the Teddy Bear Den in Sioux Falls, a nonprofit organization that offers financial assistance to pregnant community members with limited income. Patients are enrolled in the program through a health care provider’s referral. Once enrolled, participants earn points for making positive choices like visiting the doctor, taking prenatal classes and leading healthy lifestyles. From there, they use those points to purchase necessary items for their child from the Teddy Bear Den.
Sanford Health fully funds and operates Child’s Voice, a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center in Sioux Falls that provides multidisciplinary medical evaluations for children who may be victims of abuse and neglect. The services help reduce trauma for the child and non-offending family members and strives to improve long-term outcomes. Many of the victims and families Child’s Voice serves have very few resources. About 80% of them are on South Dakota Medicaid or without insurance. There are no copays for services at Child’s Voice, and the family is not billed the remaining balance insurance does not cover.
The Sanford Health Foundation provided $1.4 million to community benefit programs in 2023, including financial support for Child’s Voice.
PROJECT CAR
Sanford Health donates $10,000 to Project CAR annually. The organization provides rides to people in Sioux Falls who are physically or financially unable to get to medical appointments on their own. Any person who struggles with reliable transportation is eligible for a ride to any appointment with a health care professional. In 2023, Project CAR provided 1,951 rides to Sanford Health facilities.
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 the 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 sports 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 health literacy.
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
Health guides assist patients in navigating the health care system, particularly those facing socioeconomic barriers or disparities. They can help patients access community resources, apply for financial or prescription assistance, and facilitate communication with their care team.
In 2021, Sanford Health started working with a group of individuals identified as “rising risk” who had one or two well-managed chronic conditions and co-occurring psychosocial risk factors. By offering personalized support and guidance, health guides help individuals overcome obstacles to care, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate medical attention.
Across our health system, health guide interventions have led to a 66% reduction in emergency department visits, 57% reduction in hospital admissions, 36% improvement in blood pressure readings, 50% improvement in depression screenings and 76% improvement in A1C levels.
Similarly, Sanford Health’s 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 NATIVE AMERICAN PATIENTS
At Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center, members of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe host smudging ceremonies . Our Native American community advocates focus on providing comfort and building trust with Native American patients. With an understanding of cultural nuances and historical contexts, a Native American community advocate serves as a bridge between patients and health care providers. By offering culturally appropriate care and support, we are working to address the disparities in health care access and outcomes faced by Indigenous people.
Sanford Health serves 26 Tribal Nations, several of which are located within the poorest counties in the U.S.
PROVIDING COMMUNITY CARE
In Worthington, Minnesota, Our Lady of Guadalupe Free Clinic operates out of a Sanford-owned facility and provides free health care for the uninsured . Registered nurses from the Sanford Health Co-Op travel to the clinic once per week to serve patients with chronic and acute conditions who would otherwise be unable to receive much-needed medical care.
LANGUAGELINE SOLUTIONS INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Sanford Health is contracted with LanguageLine for both interpretation and translation services. During appointments, LanguageLine offers patients free, real-time access to an interpreter.
TRANSPORTATION AND LODGING FOR CANCER PATIENTS
Sanford Health was awarded a $60,000 lodging grant and a transportation grant from the American Cancer Society to help alleviate some of the financial burdens patients face during cancer treatment.
FRESH START SURGICAL GIFTS
Sanford Children’s, in collaboration with medical charity Fresh Start Surgical Gifts , provides free reconstructive surgery to qualifying children. Eligible patients must be under 18 years old with a condition caused by birth defects, an accident, abuse or disease that requires plastic or reconstructive surgery. They must be uninsured, underinsured or face significant financial hardship in paying for treatment, regardless of citizenship status.
In partnership with the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Sanford Health hosted an event in 2023 to provide free hand surgeries to uninsured patients. The event offered consultations, surgical procedures and follow-up care to patients without health insurance.
INCLUSIVE OFFERINGS
Sanford Wellness Center in Sioux Falls offers adaptive aquatics for children with special needs. An individualized approach to swimming lessons allows children of all abilities to learn how to be comfortable and safe in the water. The facility also offers adaptive personal fitness, which pairs a student with a personal trainer for cardio and strength training.
SENIOR COMPANIONS
The Good Samaritan Society sponsors Senior Companions of South Dakota , an in-home service that matches volunteers with older adults and anyone 21 and older who needs assistance to keep living independently. These volunteers help reduce client loneliness, isolation and stress levels, while preventing or delaying long-term care placement.
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.
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.
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.
In addition, Sanford PROMISE, the outreach arm of Sanford Research, inspires learners to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and the innovators of tomorrow. The program connects communities in the Sioux Falls Region with cutting-edge biomedical, behavioral and clinical research. Through community engagement and rural outreach, Sanford PROMISE promotes science literacy and contributes to STEM workforce development.
Sanford Health partners with various schools to offer financial assistance to students pursuing careers in high-growth roles like medical assistant, dialysis technician, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and medical laboratory technician. For some roles, financial aid is offered in exchange for a student’s work commitment to Sanford Health.
Through the Classrooms to Careers program, Sanford Health career development consultants work with high school students to explore careers and reduce barriers to continuing education. The purpose of the program is to empower students to envision their futures and make postsecondary education a reality for many who could become first-generation college learners. The program includes college coursework paid for by Sanford Health, individual career advising and tutoring, career exploratory time and leadership development. The program is a partnership with the Sioux Falls School District and Southeast Technical College.
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. Students at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine train at Sanford Health’s two flagship medical centers in Sioux Falls and Fargo.
NURSING TRANSITION PROGRAMS
Through innovative opportunities like the Academy of Clinical Essentials, the Sanford Student Nurse Internship Program and CRNA program support, nursing students at partner institutions get clinical experience under the guidance of experienced preceptors, enhancing their skills and developing their confidence.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
Each year, Sanford Health sponsors students through the Build Dakota scholarship, which covers tuition, program fees and necessary supplies for students pursuing technical education in many high-demand fields, including health care. Scholarship recipients must be full-time students, complete their program on time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and work three years in their field after graduation. In total, Sanford Health has sponsored 218 students.
Each year, Sanford Health also offers scholarships for 11 volunteers to pursue careers in the medical field. Volunteering exposes recipients to what it is like to work in a health care setting.
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
The U.S. faces a projected physician shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, with the biggest gaps in primary care, behavioral health and rural communities. There are 30 specialists per 100,000 people in rural communities compared to 263 specialists per 100,000 people in urban areas. The shortage of health care providers in rural areas exacerbates rural health disparities.
Sanford Health has invested in an unprecedented expansion in our graduate medical education programs to bring clinical expertise, resources and subspecialties to the rural upper Midwest. In partnership with universities, Sanford Health will fully fund 15 additional residency and fellowship programs, training more than 300 residents and fellows a year. Expanding the number of medical residency training programs in rural areas is key to filling gaps in care because many doctors –including more than half of family medicine physicians – stay within 100 miles of where they train. Today, on average, one-third of the physicians who are trained here stay with Sanford Health.
MEDX
The Sanford MedX program introduces high school juniors and seniors to roles at Sanford USD Medical Center one evening a month during the academic year or during three afternoons in the summer. Sanford MedX sessions include hands-on activities, presentations and tours for a behindthe-scenes glimpse of a variety of health care careers.
HEALTHCARE SIMULATION CENTER
In 2023, Sanford Health partnered with Southeast Technical College, another local health system, Forward Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota to fund the Southeast Technical College Healthcare Simulation Center. The project will greatly expand the college’s health care programs and expand the state’s capacity to train more highly skilled health care professionals.
MITCHELL TECH PLATINUM EMPLOYER
Sanford Health was recognized in 2023 as a Platinum Employer by Mitchell Technical College for hiring the greatest number of new graduates into their first-destination careers from the college’s three most recent graduating classes.
FORWARD SIOUX FALLS
Forward Sioux Falls is an economic development campaign focused on growing jobs, businesses and quality of life for people in the greater Sioux Falls area. Sanford Health invested $1.25 million over five years in Forward Sioux Falls. The campaign’s goals include business retention, expansion and attraction, talent and workforce development, and marketing.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO SIOUX FALLS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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.
