Sanford Virtual Care Center opens, reimagining care delivery

Sanford Virtual Care Center opens, reimagining care delivery

Nov. 19, 2024

Media contacts:
Angela Dejene / Paul Heinert
Sanford Health
218-280-0148 / [email protected]
605-366-2432 / [email protected]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A new state-of-the-art flagship center of Sanford Health's Virtual Care Initiative, the Sanford Virtual Care Center, opened Nov. 19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Virtual Care Center will serve as a premier training ground for the next generation of clinicians. It will also be home to the nation's first accelerator center focused on AI and emerging technologies for rural patients.

Physicians, nurses and staff will use groundbreaking virtual tools and technologies throughout the 60,000 square-foot building to advance health care through innovation, improve the patient experience and expand access, particularly in rural areas.

"A patient's care should never be determined by where they live, and the opening of the Sanford Virtual Care Center will ensure we continue to deliver on our promise of providing world-class, high-quality care to all," said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health. "Through the significant generosity of Denny Sanford, we will be able to improve the lives of patients across America's heartland for generations to come."

Made possible by a transformative $350 million gift from Denny Sanford in 2021, the Virtual Care Initiative is comprised of three core pillars: the Education Institute, the Innovation Center and Clinical Service Delivery.

• The Education Institute is a learning environment within the Virtual Care Center for caregivers to expand their knowledge in providing care virtually and developing new skills to ensure the highest quality care and patient experience. It will include simulation spaces where medical students, residents, clinicians and nurses can use augmented reality and virtual reality tools to train for the next generation of care delivery.
• The Innovation Center will be the first accelerator space in the nation that will specifically focus on AI tools and emerging technology designed to advance rural care delivery. Technology partners will collaborate with providers to co-develop new software, hardware and care delivery models in a virtual care environment. In addition, a patient and family experience room will allow patients to test new digital health tools and provide their feedback.
• In Clinical Service Delivery, both patients and caregivers will realize the flexibility and convenience of on-demand care delivery, dramatically enhancing and expanding Sanford Health's virtual options and transforming access to specialty care and specialists. This space will be home to a virtual primary care team, virtual nursing, virtual specialty providers and My Sanford Nurse, with room for future expansion. Care options will be easily accessible to those previously limited by a wide range of barriers such as location, transportation or mobility, allowing caregivers to provide the best care in the best place for patients. In making care more accessible, providers remain closely connected to patients throughout their life journey, resulting in an improved experience.

"The Virtual Care Center is more than just a state-of-the-art building: It is a symbol of our commitment to reimagining care delivery," said Dave Newman, M.D., chief medical officer of virtual care. "Virtual care is the single most important tool we have to address workforce shortages in rural areas. We are excited to train the next generation of clinicians in "webside manner" and meet patients where they're at by bringing care closer to them."

The Sanford Virtual Care Center also offers a direct connection to Sanford Health's satellite clinics, giving patients the option to get the care they need in person with more resources and expertise available virtually.

Sanford Health's adoption of virtual care dates back to 2011. In the last 14 years, clinicians have provided more than 850,000 virtual visits, saving patients valuable time and money as well as nearly 40 million miles.

"We thrive on solving challenges in health care and thinking creatively to develop new care options," said Susan Berry, vice president of operations, Sanford Virtual Care. "The Sanford Virtual Care Center is opening today - but it is built for the future, and we are excited about how our teams will be able to improve the lives of patients and change the way care is delivered."

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 1.4 million patients and nearly 200,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 45 hospitals, 211 clinic locations, more than 160 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers, 2,900 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 540 active clinical trials, and nine world clinic locations around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health's commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

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