Sanford Health is a nonprofit, integrated health care delivery system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with additional offices in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota. Sanford manages multiple ground ambulance services across North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota with both fixed wing and rotorcraft air ambulances in Bemidji, Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo or Sioux Falls[5]

Sanford Health
Company typeNon-Profit, Private Corporation
IndustryHealth care
FoundedSioux Falls, South Dakota,
1894; 130 years ago (1894)
Headquarters,
United States Edit this on Wikidata
Number of locations
556[1]
Area served
Montana Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, California, Mexico, Ghana, Costa Rica, China, Canada and Germany[2]
Key people
Number of employees
47,000+ (2021)[1]
Websitewww.sanfordhealth.org
Footnotes / references
Key People[4]

History

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Sanford Health has its roots in the Dakotas at the beginning of the 20th century, with its original location the Sioux Falls Hospital opening in Sioux Falls in 1894 and future merger partner St. Luke's Hospital opening in Fargo in 1908. Over the next 80 years, both hospitals grew in size and influence, becoming integrated hospital-clinic systems known as Sioux Valley Health System and MeritCare Health System. The Sioux Valley Health System was renamed Sanford Health in 2007 after T. Denny Sanford's $400 million gift to the organization.[6][7] On November 2, 2009, Sanford took over MeritCare.[8][9][10] Additional mergers with North Country Regional Health in Bemidji, Minnesota,[11] and Medcenter One Health Systems in Bismarck, North Dakota followed in 2011 and 2012.[12]

MeritCare History

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Originally founded in 1905 as the Lutheran Hospital Association, in February 1908 the association opened the St Lukes Hospital along with the St. Luke’s School of Nursing, led by Sister Osa Oppedahl of the Deaconesses from the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Chicago.[13]

In 1909, the hospital had its first expansion planned, which was completed in 1918 doubling the size of St. Lukes Hospital.

In April 1919, the hospitals board approved the opening of a small specialty clinic where doctors worked in a team setting in a similiar fashion to the Mayo Clinic. In 1921, the Fargo Clinic opened. In 1922, St Lukes Hospital achieved accreddidation from The American College of Surgeons and in 1925 the hospital established its emergency room.

In 1949, the Lutheran Hospital Association was renamed the St. Lukes Hospital Association.

In 1985, St. Lukes hospital, its subsidiaries, and the clinic all add MeritCare to their names. and would fully merge their entities together in 1993 becoming the Meritcare Health System that would merge with Sanford[14]

Medcenter One Health Systems

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Medcenter One Health Systems was a nonprofit American health care provider headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota with clinic locations in Jamestown, Bismarck,Dickinson and Minot.Medcenter One was founded as the Quain & Ramstad or Q&R Clinic by Eric P. Quain and Dr. Niles O. Ramstad The Q&R Clinic changed names to the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital in 1907 and then to Bismarck Hospital in 1955, finally becoming Medcenter One in 1984.[15] Medcenter One offered nine clinics, three long-term care facilities, and multiple hospital affiliations, with its primary campus designated as a Level II trauma center. It was bought and merged into Sanford Health in 2012.[12][16][17]

Profile by Sanford

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In 2013, Sanford Health founded Profile by Sanford, focused on a science-based approach to weight loss and management with an emphasis on health coaching; a line of meal-replacement shakes, bars and foods. In the following decade, it grew to 150 locations nationwide with 70 franchisee owners. In January 2022, Sanford reported the sale of Profile to Ten Oaks a North Carolina based family office investment firm.[18]

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

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In 2017, talks began to form an affiliation agreement between Sanford and the Good Samaritan Society. After discussions and the formation of synergy teams that strategized how the organizations could combine, final votes were taken by both parties to the agreement. On April 26, 2018, the Society Board of Directors voted that the Society Membership approve the affiliation agreement. On June 21, the Sanford Board of Trustees voted to approve the affiliation agreement. On June 26, the Society Membership voted to approve the affiliation agreement. A press conference was held later that day, during which Sanford Health President and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft and Society President and CEO David Horazdovsky signed the affiliation agreement. It was announced that the affiliation would go into regulatory review with an expected approval date of January 1, 2019. If approved, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society would change its name to The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society of Sanford Health. Sanford Health would retain its name. The affiliation agreement met the regulatory review requirements earlier than expected, with an announcement on August 17, 2018. The merger was completed on January 1, 2019.[19]

Intermountain Healthcare

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In October 2020, Intermountain Healthcare and Sanford Health signed an intent to merge.[20] The merger would make Sanford Health a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare with the resulting system consisting of 70 hospitals with 89,000 employees.[21] In early December, the merger was postponed indefinitely after Bill Gassen abruptly replaced Sanford Health CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft after he made anti-mask statements.[22][23]

COVID-19 and Sanford CEO Krabbenhoft

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In November 2020, Krabbenhoft said he would not wear a face mask despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as he claimed he already had the disease.[24] His statement drew criticism and was seen by many as a slap in the face to frontline healthcare workers. Krabbenhoft also said the pandemic was not a crisis during which South Dakota's hospitalizations related to the disease were at all-time highs. On November 24, 2020, the board announced that Krabbenhoft would leave the organization to be replaced by Bill Gassen.[25]

Fairview Health

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In November 2022, Fairview Health and Sanford Health announced their merger intentions.[26] On July 27, 2023, the two healthcare systems announced they were abandoning merger discussions, citing lack of stakeholder support.[27] This was the second failed merger attempt between Fairview and Sanford in 10 years.[28]

Marshfield Clinic Health Systems

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In July 2024, Sanford Health announced that it had signed a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding to combine its complementary assets and capabilities and create an integrated health system with nearly 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,300 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies, and nationally recognized research institutions. The merger would have Marshfield become a Sanford Health subsidiary and change the facilities' names over time. In late October 2024, the two companies officially announced they were proceeding with the merger plans. [29][30][31]

Children's hospital

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The new Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sanford Children's Hospital is a freestanding acute care children's hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is affiliated with the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. The hospital features all private rooms that consist of 118 pediatric beds. It provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens, and young adults aged 0–21 throughout the region.[32] The hospital has a rooftop helipad and is an ACS verified level II pediatric trauma center, the only one in the state.[33] It features a regional pediatric intensive-care unit and an American Academy of Pediatrics verified level III neonatal intensive care unit.[34]

World Clinics

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The Sanford World Clinic initiative, which focuses primarily on international pediatric healthcare, began in 2007. Sanford Children's Clinic Duncan in Oklahoma became the first World Clinic that year.[35]

As of 2017, Sanford operated clinics in China, Ghana, Germany, and Canada.[36]

In January 2018, it was announced that Sanford would establish World Clinics in Costa Rica, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Vietnam and expand its presence in China and Ghana.[37]

Facilities

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Trauma centers

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Sanford Health has many emergency trauma centers across the Midwest along with the only two Level 1 Trauma Centers in the Dakotas.

 
View of the northern face of Sanford Medical Center Fargo

In 2009, Sanford committed to building a new hospital in Fargo A groundbreaking followed in 2012. During Construction, it was the second-largest healthcare project in the nation as it was being built.[38]

During the construction Sanford notably outsourced construction of patient restrooms to Ohio where they were then shipped to Fargo[38] The Medical Center used roughly 6.5 football fields worth of pre-cast concrete with Gage Brothers Concrete in Sioux Falls being given the contract[39][38]

In April 2018, Sanford Health's Fargo medical center was designated as a Level I Adult Trauma Center and a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center,[40] the only Level I facility between Minneapolis, Seattle, Omaha, and Denver, and the only one in the Dakotas at the time.

Sanford Health planned for a secondary cardiac specialty facility to be built adjacent to the Sanford Medical Center Fargo; however, construction was halted due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.[41]

In September 2023, Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls was designated as the only Level I Trauma Center, along with a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in South Dakota.

Sports facilities

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The Sanford Fieldhouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, houses 85,000 square feet of indoor sports fields. There are also batting cages, indoor tracks, and other workout equipment.[42] The Sanford Pentagon, also in Sioux Falls, houses nine basketball courts.[43] Both these buildings were designed with sustainability and building efficiency in mind. Sanford Health worked with JLG Architects on them.

The Sanford Health Activity Center is one of Sanford Health's major sports facilities in the Fargo region. North Dakota State University opened the $50 million Sanford Health Athletic Complex in November 2016. An extension and renovation of the former Bison Sports Arena, construction began in April 2014 and lasted 2 ½ years

The SHAC (pronounced "shack") houses the NDSU athletic department offices, equipment room, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and the Bison Ticket Office. There is an academic center, student-athlete lounge, and a fueling station within the weight room that offers nutritious snacks for before and after workouts[44]

 
Sign outside Sanford Athletic Park in Fargo

Sanford also has the Sanford Health Athletic Park campus, housing the Fargo Scheels Arena, as well as a Family wellness center, which is from a partnership of Sanford Health and the Local YMCA

Ambulance & Air Transport

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Sanford EMS Unit 6784 arriving at the Mary Brigh Building in Rochester MN

Sanford Health manages ground ambulances for the Fargo/West Fargo North Dakota, and Moorehead, Minnesota regions, along with

  1. Inwood, Iowa
  2. Bagley, Minnesota
  3. Canby, Minnesota
  4. Luverne, Minnesota
  5. Thief River Falls, Minnesota
  6. Wheaton, Minnesota
  7. Worthington, Minnesota
  8. Canton South Dakota[45]

Sanford Ambulance Fargo is the only Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) accredited ambulance service in the state of North Dakota; they have held this accolade since 2003[46]

Sanford Ambulance Fargo responds to 32,000 calls for service annually[47]

 
Sanford Ambulance unit 6784 and Jamestown Ambulance unit 6357

Sanford Ambulance Fargo, previously known as F-M Ambulance, began operations in 1959 with a single Cadillac hearse converted into a makeshift ambulance service in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Eventually, it grew to two ambulances on duty during the day, one overnight in Fargo, North Dakota, and one during the day and overnight in Moorhead, Minnesota. F-M ambulance ownership over the years has changed, going from a private owner to being owned partially by Meritcare, Dakota Hospital and Innovis Hospital, which was bought by Essentia Health. Over time, these hospitals were either bought out or sold their shares in the ambulance, leading to full ownership by MeritCare and, eventually, Sanford Health.

In 1982, F-M ambulance began training paramedics; this education program, now known as Sanford Health EMS Education (SHEMSE), has grown to be the largest EMS education department in the region, providing training for rescue squads, ambulance services, fire departments, nurses, and doctors.[48]

Sanford AirMed

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Blue and White helicopter landing

Sanford Health's Air medical wing, Sanford Airmed, has bases in Fargo, Bismarck, and Dickinson, North Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota. Sanford Airmeds' fleet comprises the fixed-wing Beechcraft B200 Super King Air and the Airbus H145.

 
Airmed Fixed Wing Aircraft

Before the MeritCare merger in 2009, the Sioux Falls teams were known as Sioux Valley Intensive Air, and the Fargo teams were known as MeritCare LifeFlight.[49][50]

Sponsorships

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Sanford is a major sponsor of the Summit League, an NCAA Division I athletic conference whose membership now includes all of the four largest universities in the Dakotas plus one in Nebraska. At the company's invitation, the conference moved its headquarters in 2018 to a Sanford-owned office complex in Sioux Falls. Also in that year, regional media reported that Sanford-tied boosters of Augustana University, also located in Sioux Falls, were making a serious attempt to move the school's athletic program from NCAA Division II to the Summit League.[51][52]

The company is a former name sponsor of the Sanford MMA team (now Kill Cliff FC).[53] Sanford is still a sponsor of the FC with a clinic adjacent to the Deerfield Beach gym and the team would open up a small gym at Sanford's compound in South Dakota[54]

In Sioux Falls, Sanford Health and First Premier Bank are named sponsors of the Denny Sanford Premier Arena—the building seats up to 12,000 for concerts. The four-level facility consists of the event level, main concourse level, suite level, and upper concourse level. There are 22 suites and 18 loge boxes.[55]

Non-Healthcare Ventures

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In 2015, Sanford Health subsidiary Sanford Frontiers purchased the Sioux Falls-based Maverick Air Center.[56]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sanford Health "About Us"". Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sanford Health "About Us"". Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Executive Leadership". www.sanfordhealth.org. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sanford Health-MeritCare Leaders". Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "AirMed". Sanford Airmed. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Gift". Retrieved February 3, 2007.
  7. ^ Lindsay Hamilton; ABC News. "Man Gives Away $400 Million to Hospitals". ABC News. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  8. ^ "Sanford and MeritCare Create A New Health System". Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  9. ^ Patrick Springer; The Fargo Forum. "Sanford Health and MeritCare Complete Merger". Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  10. ^ "Sanford and MeritCare Create a New Health System". Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  11. ^ "Two Health Systems Unite in Bemidji". Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Medcenter One, Sanford Health Complete Merger, Sioux Falls Business Magazine, 5 July 2012
  13. ^ "St. Luke's Hospital | Fargo History". NDSU Library. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "MeritCare Health System". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  15. ^ "Bismarck Healthcare". Bisman Cafe. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Sanford Health News". July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Friese, Paul. The Story of Quain & Ramstad Clinic, Bismarck, North Dakota, 1900-1972. p. 158. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Schwan, Jodi (January 13, 2022). "Sanford Sells Profile Business". Sioux falls Business. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Sanford, Good Sam finalize the merger. Sanford now worth $7.5 billion, employs 50,000". Argus Leader. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  20. ^ "Intermountain Healthcare, Sanford Health intend to merge". Sanford Health News. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  21. ^ Ellison, Ayla (October 26, 2020). "Intermountain, Sanford to merge into 70-hospital system". Becker's Hospital Review. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  22. ^ Gamble, Molly (December 5, 2020). "Sanford, Intermountain halt merger talks". Becker's Hospital Review. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  23. ^ "Sanford Health suspends merger talks with Intermountain". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  24. ^ Samira Said. "Hospital CEO says he had Covid and doesn't need a mask". CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  25. ^ "Sanford Health and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft agree to part ways". Sanford Health News. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  26. ^ "Sanford and Fairview Health announce intent to combine". Sanford Health News. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  27. ^ Snowbeck, Christopher (July 27, 2023). "Fairview, Sanford terminate proposed megamerger". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "Fairview, Sanford call off health systems merger". MPR News. July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Heinert, Paul (July 10, 2024). "Sanford, Marshfield Clinic announce intent to combine". Sanford Health. Sanford Health News. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  30. ^ "Marshfield Merger".
  31. ^ Minemeyer, Paige (October 23, 2024). "Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic Health System officially ink merger agreement". Fierce Healthcare. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  32. ^ "Pediatrics (Children's Health) | Sanford Health | SD, ND, MN, OK". www.sanfordhealth.org. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  33. ^ "Trauma Centers". American College of Surgeons. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  34. ^ "NICUSearch". AAP.org. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  35. ^ "Sanford Children's Clinic Duncan now open". August 17, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  36. ^ "Sanford World Clinic - Providing Health and Healing Around The World". sanfordworldclinic.org. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  37. ^ Heinert, Paul (January 23, 2018). "Sanford Health increases global presence in 7 countries". Sanford Health News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  38. ^ a b c Schwan, Jodi (June 19, 2017). "Sanford's record-setting Fargo hospital ready to open". Sioux Falls Business. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  39. ^ "Sanford Fargo Medical Center". Gage Brothers. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  40. ^ "Sanford Health Fargo verified a Level I Adult Trauma Center". www.sanfordhealth.org. August 16, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  41. ^ Springer, Patrick (August 22, 2022). "Pandemic delays construction of new Sanford Fargo heart center". InForum. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Sanford Fieldhouse". JLG Architects. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014.
  43. ^ "JLG Architects". Jlgarchitects.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  44. ^ "Facilities". Go Bison. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  45. ^ "Ambulance Services". Sanford Health. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  46. ^ "Sanford Ambulance". Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  47. ^ "F-M Ambulance Service Inc - GuideStar Profile". Guide Star. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  48. ^ "60 Years of History". May 3, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  49. ^ FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/sanfordairmed/posts/throwback-to-2006-sanford-airmed-in-fargo-formerly-meritcare-lifeflight-in-a-bel/2379641585470829/?_rdr. Retrieved October 1, 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. ^ FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/sanfordairmed/photos/throwback-thursdaylets-go-back-to-1977-intensive-air-was-started-through-sioux-v/2393804614054526/?_rdr. Retrieved October 1, 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. ^ Gaskins, John (May 23, 2018). "Summit League Chief: Sanford-tied Augustana boosters lobbying for move to Div. I". Sioux Falls, SD: KELO-TV. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  52. ^ Kolpack, Jeff (July 28, 2018). "Kolpack: All vital signs pointing to Augustana joining Summit League". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  53. ^ Carlson, Ollie (December 13, 2019). "Hard Knocks 365 rebrands to Sanford MMA with sponsorship from Sanford Health". thebodylockmma.com. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  54. ^ Raimondi, Marc (July 2022). "'More financial power': Top gym Sanford MMA, rebranded to Kill Cliff FC". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  55. ^ "About | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center". Denny Sanford Premier Center. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  56. ^ Schwan, Jodi. "Sanford Frontiers buys Maverick Air Center". Argus Leader. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

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