Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the US, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Marshfield Clinic Health System, an integrated physician-led health system serving rural areas of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, announced today a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to combine their complementary assets and capabilities and create an integrated health system dedicated to advancing world-class care in the rural Midwest.
Both organizations share a rich history of providing exceptional rural health care to the patients and communities they collectively serve.
“We are excited to combine our common goal to lead the way for the future, drive innovation and solve the most pressing challenges facing rural healthcare,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health. “We are who we are today because of the combinations with organizations providing care in rural communities throughout America’s heartland. These opportunities have allowed us to deliver on our promise to deliver world-class health care to every patient we serve, regardless of their ZIP code, and we are eager to continue building on this history with Marshfield Clinic Health System.”
The partnership will bring together two strong physician-led organizations, each with a reputation for excellence in quality, safety and patient experience. Together, the combined organization will advance national leadership in physician-led integrated care; lead the way in research with an emphasis on underrepresented populations; promote healthy operational performance; and put patients, people and communities at the forefront.
Emphasis on affordability, access to care
The combined nonprofit system will enable vital investments in the care of patients and communities across the rural Midwest to meet health care needs today and into the future. Over the past decade, Sanford Health has invested more than $1.5 billion in communities throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, including expanded access to specialty care and state-of-the-art facilities.
“Partnering with Sanford Health presents a tremendous opportunity for our organizations to unify and create the nation’s leading rural health system,” said Brian Hoerneman, MD, interim CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System. “Together, we will ensure sustainable access to exceptional care for our communities for years to come. With a shared mission to serve, a mutual emphasis on research and education, and a strong tradition of physician leadership, Sanford Health is the ideal partner for this effort.”
According to Marshfield Clinic Health System Board Chairman George Brown, MD: “The partnership marks a new chapter in our organization and we look forward to serving our patients as a nationwide leader in rural health care.”
Lauris Molbert, chairman of the Sanford Health Board of Trustees, added: “This partnership is a win-win for the patients and communities we serve, and for our organizations that have had a long tradition of innovation, physician and caregiver leadership. dedicated. This combination will strengthen local, patient-centered, not-for-profit health care for generations to come.”
Combined health system to include research, health plans
The non-profit combination will:
- Improving patient outcomes through broader population health initiatives, value-based care programs and innovative new care delivery models;
- Leverage the full promise of technology, including virtual care, digital health, data analytics, AI and genomic medicine to advance the health of communities;
- Expand the breadth and depth of research capabilities, including increasing access to nearly 1,000 active clinical trials and clinical studies and combining research expertise to bring new treatments and cures to patients;
- Expand capabilities that allow greater investment in clinical needs, directly supporting patients, providers and communities;
- Strengthen the capacity to train, educate and support future doctors and caregivers through joint initiatives, including graduate medical education programs and strong partnerships with educational institutions in both regions; AND
- Create new opportunities for research and collaboration, strong peer networks, and enhanced professional development and training.
The combined system will bring together approximately 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,300 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies and nationally recognized research institutions.
Leveraging each organization’s respective health plan, Sanford Health Plan and Safety Health Plan, will allow the fully integrated system to serve more than 425,000 members, maximizing the benefits it can deliver to patients and members through governance common.
After the combination is finalized, the parent company’s name will be Sanford Health, with the system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Marshfield Clinic Health System will be a region within Sanford Health and will maintain regional leadership with its main medical campus in Marshfield, Wisconsin, a regional board of directors, a regional physician executive council and regional brand presence. Sanford Health President and CEO Bill Gassen will serve as president and CEO of the combined system. Marshfield Clinic Health System Interim CEO Brian Hoerneman, MD, will serve as president and regional CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System.
The combination is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to regulatory processes and closing conditions. There are no immediate changes for employees or those each system serves. Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System remain two separate, independent organizations until closing.
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 in 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 45 hospitals, 211 clinic locations, more than 160 Good Samaritan senior 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.
About Marshfield Clinic Health System
Marshfield Clinic Health System is an integrated health system whose mission is to enrich lives through accessible and affordable compassionate health care. The Health System serves Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with more than 1,400 providers spanning 170 specialties, health plans, and research and education programs. Primary operations include more than 60 Marshfield Clinic locations, 11 hospitals, Marshfield Children’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Safety Health Plan and Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation.
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