Sanford Health

The Sanford Health Military and Veteran Scholarship honors those who have furthered their own progress and enriched the lives of others, especially in service, academics and community involvement. The scholarship is administered by the Sanford Health Department of Veterans and Military Services and was created in 2018 as part of the health system's efforts to serve veterans and military personnel through patient care, employment opportunities and community outreach. The application period for this year's scholarship runs until September 30. Read more: https://bit.ly/3xH7P7H

Thank you to HealthLeaders and Eric Wicklund for highlighting Sanford Health’s innovative OB virtual care and remote patient monitoring program and the impact it’s making on patients in rural northern Minnesota. Johnna Nynas, MD, OB-GYN, who was recently recognized by CNN as a Champion for Change, shared her insights: “What we were seeing is fewer patients getting the minimum recommended number of visits or starting their prenatal care very late,” she says. “And there’s not a lot of other hospitals [that deliver babies nearby], so when patients choose not to come to Sanford for their women’s healthcare, they’re not going to another hospital system. They’re just not getting care, and that’s unacceptable.” Nynas helped launch the RMOMS program in 2021, allowing Sanford Health OB providers to bring prenatal and postpartum care to those patients. “They can get their care from wherever they are,” she added. The program also connects women with community resources through a network of programs. Dr. Nynas emphasized the importance of collaboration with partners in addressing maternal health challenges and social determinants of health. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/efu56VqA

Thank you to NEJM Catalyst for the opportunity to discuss rural health care innovation and the issues we’re focused on solving every day here at Sanford Health. “Whether it’s because of the weather, whether it’s because of distance, or whether it’s because this simply isn’t the day that it’s going to work best for you to make that trip, we can connect you virtually if that’s the best choice for you that day.” — Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, chief medical officer at Sanford Health, in conversation with Dr. Thomas Lee, MD, editor-in-chief at NEJM Catalyst. Read the full conversation below: https://lnkd.in/e6itjsuf

Our extraordinary nurses consistently demonstrate unwavering commitment, surpassing the call of duty not only in delivering exceptional clinical care to patients and their families but also going above and beyond with their comforting touch and compassion. At the heart of acknowledging and honoring these exceptional nurses is the prestigious DAISY Award, a beacon of recognition. Each month, hundreds of our nurses are nominated by patients, families and coworkers who have been touched by their exceptional care, and each nomination is a testament to the dedication and compassion they exhibit. Congratulations to our recent DAISY Honorees!

Nick Olson, CFO, recently spoke with HealthLeaders about how systems of all stripes can achieve financial success without sacrificing quality, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture that gives equal weight to financial performance, quality, patient care and employee experience. "These things don't have to be mutually exclusive," Olson explains. "When there's a constant drum beat of each of those four areas being important ... that's when we start to see real traction in all areas." He’s also focused on keeping the endgame in mind. "Operational and financial discipline is in our DNA,” Olson says. “We set targets, we hold each other accountable, we execute against our plans, and when our plans are successful, we hit those targets. It allows us to expand access for patients and allows us to invest into new services, and those are things that everybody can rally behind." Read more here: https://bit.ly/3xSOz78

In case you missed it, Brad Reimer, CIO at Sanford Health, discusses how emerging technologies can help bridge the health care gap in rural areas, and the economic impacts of virtual care on patients' lives. The conversation with This Week Health also highlights the integration of genomic data into patient care and the delicate balance of adopting new technologies within budget constraints. This insightful discussion sheds light on the future of health care delivery in rural settings and the strategic vision required to drive meaningful change. Listen to the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eF9TH9H9

As a child, Sade Chester experienced a lengthy hospital stay. After receiving loving care from nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), she decided she wanted to be a nurse. As a 16-year-old high school student, Sade began working as a CNA at Good Samaritan Society – Windom and was quickly recognized for her kindness and commitment to residents. Now, as a CNA and trained medication aide (TMA), she gives residents their medications and helps them with bathing, walking and eating. “A lot of residents don’t necessarily have big families, or they don’t see them often, so we truly are who they have," said Sade. "We are who they see day in and day out, and that is just such a rewarding thing to me." Read more about Sade and her journey to her LPN degree: https://bit.ly/4bmLABT

Sanford Bemidji Medical Center has recently been named to the Becker's Healthcare list of "100 Great Community Hospitals" for the second year in a row. "At Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, we strive to foster a culture of excellence and compassion, ensuring all of our patients receive the highest standard of health care every day," said Karla Eischens, president and CEO of Sanford Health Bemidji. "This recognition reaffirms our mission to serve with integrity and reinforces our promise to continue improving the health and well-being of our community." Becker's Healthcare selected hospitals that have positively impacted local economies, made innovative changes and more. Over the past decade, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center has invested more than $100 million to increase access to care.

Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, chief medical officer, joined NPR's Weekend Edition for a conversation about COVID vaccination rates in nursing homes. The CDC reports that only 4 out of 10 nursing home residents have received their updated COVID shot since last fall, but the Dakotas have been an outlier -- with a much higher uptake. Dr. Cauwels shared how the number of residents in some Sanford and Good Samaritan Society long-term care facilities who have been vaccinated since October tops 60 or even 70%. To achieve this, Sanford has leveraged the fact that many of its nursing home patients have primary care clinicians also employed by the health system, who can help encourage patients to get vaccinated. “You really can restore some of that hope and faith in medicine in general by being consistent, by being caring and by being thoughtful for the folks that are sitting in front of you that day,” he said. Listen to the conversation here: https://n.pr/3zBn7eA

This month's cover story for Provider Magazine discusses the Good Samaritan Society's long-term comprehensive strategy for strengthening the nursing workforce including recruitment of internationally trained nurses. DeAndra Sandgren, chief nursing officer, emphasized our intentionality in supporting these new nurses during their transition and integrating them into the communities they’re serving. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4eHksA7