1 00:00:04,780 --> 00:00:06,270 This is the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, 2 00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:07,950 created by the team of Becker's Healthcare, 3 00:00:08,110 --> 00:00:11,150 a multimedia company devoted to the people who power us healthcare. 4 00:00:11,460 --> 00:00:15,430 Four new 15 minute episodes are released daily containing industry news analysis 5 00:00:15,430 --> 00:00:19,110 and thought leadership from powerful healthcare decision makers Support our show 6 00:00:19,250 --> 00:00:23,190 by leaving it a five star rating and review on Apple Podcast or other platforms 7 00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:23,700 you use. 8 00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:26,790 It's a chance to tell us what you like about the show and act on your feedback. 9 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:28,750 Thanks for listening. Now here's the episode. 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,690 This is Laura Dedo with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. 11 00:00:35,350 --> 00:00:37,570 I'm thrilled today to be joined by Bill Gassen, 12 00:00:37,570 --> 00:00:40,050 president and c e o of Sanford Health. Bill, 13 00:00:40,050 --> 00:00:41,850 it's a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. 14 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:44,250 Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. 15 00:00:45,310 --> 00:00:46,770 Now, I know we have a lot to talk about. 16 00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:50,570 There's so many exciting things happening at Sanford and really is just such a 17 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,770 important time in healthcare right now, and especially rural healthcare. 18 00:00:53,830 --> 00:00:55,570 But before we dive into my questions, 19 00:00:55,710 --> 00:00:58,210 can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your background? 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,090 Yeah, gladly. Uh, and again, thanks for the opportunity, uh, 21 00:01:02,090 --> 00:01:03,090 really appreciate the, 22 00:01:03,090 --> 00:01:06,930 the chance to spend a few minutes with you talking about matters of, uh, 23 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:10,410 significance and importance, uh, for Sanford Health. But, uh, as you referenced, 24 00:01:10,450 --> 00:01:13,490 I think across the country right now, as we find ourselves at, uh, 25 00:01:13,490 --> 00:01:16,930 significant inflection point within healthcare and, uh, 26 00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:20,050 as the President of Sanford Health, the largest, uh, 27 00:01:20,050 --> 00:01:22,770 rural health system in the country, uh, my promise, 28 00:01:23,030 --> 00:01:26,370 my commitment to those who I have the privilege of serving in this organization 29 00:01:26,430 --> 00:01:28,450 has the opportunity to serve, uh, 30 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:32,290 is that we are committed each and every day to ensure that one zip code does not 31 00:01:32,380 --> 00:01:37,250 limit the level of care that they receive. Um, as you know, 32 00:01:37,250 --> 00:01:38,050 well, uh, 33 00:01:38,050 --> 00:01:41,130 based on our prior conversations and what you hear from our colleagues around 34 00:01:41,130 --> 00:01:41,963 the country, 35 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,690 that those individuals who live in rural America face some really unique 36 00:01:45,930 --> 00:01:49,930 challenges. Uh, we know that there's, uh, a need for, uh, 37 00:01:49,930 --> 00:01:53,690 physicians in these communities. We know that they deal with limited resources, 38 00:01:54,150 --> 00:01:56,610 uh, that oftentimes, uh, un unfortunately, 39 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:00,250 they experience a higher rate of poverty and food insecurity as well as chronic 40 00:02:00,250 --> 00:02:03,210 disease. And so we really see it at Stanford Health, uh, 41 00:02:03,350 --> 00:02:07,570 as our calling and our unique privilege to be able to serve, uh, those living, 42 00:02:07,790 --> 00:02:10,730 uh, here in the upper Midwest, especially those living in rural America. 43 00:02:10,950 --> 00:02:15,010 And this, uh, mission is, is really personal to me. Uh, 44 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:19,890 I had the privilege of growing up, uh, in a home where my mother spent, uh, 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,330 more than four decades, uh, serving as an inpatient rn. And so I, uh, 46 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:26,530 had the opportunity to see my mother, 47 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,570 like so many of the talented caregivers who we have, uh, 48 00:02:29,570 --> 00:02:32,450 serving at Sanford Health and around the country that, you know, 49 00:02:32,450 --> 00:02:34,650 they're the caregivers, uh, on the front lines, 50 00:02:34,650 --> 00:02:36,170 taking care of our patients every day. 51 00:02:36,170 --> 00:02:40,210 And they're also the caregivers on the front lines at home, uh, caring for, uh, 52 00:02:40,210 --> 00:02:41,810 and helping to provide for their families. 53 00:02:41,810 --> 00:02:46,530 And so I am always been grateful for that experience with, uh, in my home. 54 00:02:47,070 --> 00:02:51,330 Uh, and then very similarly, uh, my father was very mission driven, uh, 55 00:02:51,330 --> 00:02:55,890 following his 24 year, uh, career in the United States Air Force. Uh, 56 00:02:55,990 --> 00:03:00,160 he then was integral in starting, uh, what is today South Dakota's, uh, 57 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,800 largest hunger relief organization feeding South Dakota. Uh, and so seeing him, 58 00:03:04,940 --> 00:03:08,000 uh, standing in the gap with his team each and every day, uh, 59 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,320 helping to try and, uh, address those food insecurity issues that we have. 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,960 And many of those communities that suffered most significantly are some of our 61 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,160 most rural communities in this part of the country. And, uh, then of course, uh, 62 00:03:20,350 --> 00:03:24,640 blessed, uh, my wife of now nearly 20 years, uh, when she's not, uh, 63 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:26,880 keeping me in line. And our five children, uh, 64 00:03:26,900 --> 00:03:30,800 serves as a physician's assistant, uh, with the, uh, veterans, uh, 65 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:31,380 administration. 66 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:34,760 And so she's been working at the VA Medical Center now for getting close to 67 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,080 almost 20 years as well. And so, uh, I counted a real privilege, uh, 68 00:03:39,180 --> 00:03:43,800 to have grown up in a home and to live in a home today where, uh, my family, 69 00:03:44,380 --> 00:03:49,240 uh, you know, has, has sought the calling, uh, to be able to meet people, uh, 70 00:03:49,310 --> 00:03:53,680 both from a healthcare perspective, uh, as well as those basic needs of, uh, 71 00:03:53,830 --> 00:03:57,760 food insecurity and working to address those each and every day. Uh, 72 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,440 so I've seen firsthand what it means to address those barriers, uh, 73 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:03,640 to access, uh, 74 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:07,040 to help address some of those challenges from a health disparities perspective. 75 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:10,560 And, uh, you know, again, as I, as I referenced before, 76 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:13,720 and we will always say it is a, it is a privilege, 77 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,280 it's an honor to be able to serve at an organization that has that as its 78 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:22,080 mission. And so at Sanford Health, uh, we believe very strongly, 79 00:04:22,540 --> 00:04:23,440 uh, in that mission. 80 00:04:23,540 --> 00:04:27,280 We believe at this organization that we really stand in the gap, uh, 81 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:31,040 making sure that individuals in this part of the country across the 82 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:36,080 250,000 square miles that we have the privilege of serving in that we believe 83 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,920 that, but for Sanford Health, but for the talented caregivers, 84 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:43,160 the incredible dedicated teammates that we have, uh, but for them, 85 00:04:43,470 --> 00:04:47,360 individuals in this part of the country wouldn't have access to care and not 86 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,720 just care, but world class care. And so, uh, I'm excited to be able to do that. 87 00:04:51,900 --> 00:04:52,180 Uh, 88 00:04:52,180 --> 00:04:56,920 I'm excited to be a part of a talented team that serves today 1.5 million 89 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,680 patients, over 200,000, uh, health plan members, uh, here in a, 90 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:02,800 in a special part of the country. 91 00:05:04,710 --> 00:05:06,320 Well, that's amazing to hear, 92 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:10,080 and really such an inspirational story of all the different, uh, 93 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,320 family members you have around you focused on healthcare and healthcare 94 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,600 delivery. And I know that coming together of, 95 00:05:16,660 --> 00:05:20,640 of services and being able to serve, um, the community, um, 96 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,400 with social determinants of health and all those kinds of things have really, 97 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:24,880 um, in the last several years, 98 00:05:25,310 --> 00:05:28,600 more and more integrated into the mission of health systems and healthcare 99 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,760 organizations. And so it seems like, you know, you just have such a fascinating, 100 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,640 unique perspective, um, based on your family and your upbringing, and now, 101 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:37,720 you know, continue to, 102 00:05:37,860 --> 00:05:41,520 to bring that into your role as the president and c e o of a major health 103 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:42,353 system. 104 00:05:43,190 --> 00:05:47,690 Uh, absolutely. I mean, I, uh, as I stated, you know, just discount myself, 105 00:05:47,690 --> 00:05:50,370 very, very fortunate to have been, uh, 106 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,370 exposed to and given the perspectives that I have, uh, 107 00:05:53,370 --> 00:05:57,480 throughout my life growing up, uh, and then now having that continue, uh, 108 00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:01,040 as my wife Jill and I have the opportunity and the privilege to raise our 109 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,720 children as well. And so, uh, to be a part of, uh, 110 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,960 a family that, uh, is sort of a mission verse oriented family, 111 00:06:08,980 --> 00:06:13,080 and then have an opportunity to be able to serve and live that out, uh, in my, 112 00:06:13,460 --> 00:06:17,080 uh, professional career, uh, I think is, is pretty special. 113 00:06:18,380 --> 00:06:21,560 That's amazing. And, you know, from your vantage point, I, 114 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,360 I can imagine you get to, um, 115 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:27,520 really see a lot of the great things that are going on within the community as 116 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,080 well as within Sanford Health. What are some of your top priorities right now, 117 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,240 especially given, um, you know, where things are headed in healthcare, 118 00:06:35,310 --> 00:06:38,520 some of the different challenges in, in macroeconomic trends, 119 00:06:38,790 --> 00:06:42,080 what are your top priorities as you think about being able to continue to serve 120 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,120 the community and continue to provide great care? 121 00:06:45,950 --> 00:06:49,000 Yeah, you know, Laura, that's, you bring up a good point. Uh, again, 122 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:54,000 one of the other special aspects of being able to serve at an organization like 123 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,680 Sanford Health, that is a, uh, 124 00:06:56,830 --> 00:06:59,760 5 0 1 C three community-based not-for-profit. 125 00:07:00,380 --> 00:07:04,240 We have not only the unique obligation to be able to provide and extend 126 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,720 world-class care to every one of our patients in these communities, uh, 127 00:07:08,180 --> 00:07:10,320 but because of the nature of our organization's, 128 00:07:10,350 --> 00:07:14,320 what we do and what our missions are, we do find ourselves, you know, 129 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,440 really at the forefront of all of the community opportunities and challenges. 130 00:07:18,460 --> 00:07:19,440 And so, uh, 131 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:23,600 it provides us with a very unique opportunity across the 300 communities where 132 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,800 Sanford Health is present today to really partner, uh, 133 00:07:26,870 --> 00:07:29,600 with government organizations, other not-for-profits, 134 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,960 other business leaders to see, you know, 135 00:07:32,570 --> 00:07:35,960 there are certain things that we believe we can address, uh, 136 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,760 very uniquely from a healthcare perspective, 137 00:07:38,140 --> 00:07:40,800 but there are so many of the other challenges and opportunities in these 138 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,920 communities that we need to partner with, whether it's, again, 139 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:44,160 addressing food insecurity, 140 00:07:44,350 --> 00:07:47,600 whether it's working with schools to make sure that we're providing the best 141 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,160 possible environment to see that, uh, 142 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,520 our young ones are educated and provided opportunities that they need to be 143 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,760 successful. And so we can't do it all ourselves. 144 00:07:56,820 --> 00:07:59,280 We need to have incredible partners to do that. And again, 145 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,800 I think that's one of the special parts of the calling, uh, 146 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,880 for those of us who have the opportunity to serve and not-for-profit healthcare. 147 00:08:05,420 --> 00:08:08,600 Uh, and at the same time, uh, these are large, 148 00:08:08,910 --> 00:08:13,160 complex organizations that, uh, are addressing large, 149 00:08:13,230 --> 00:08:14,440 complex challenges. 150 00:08:14,660 --> 00:08:18,400 And so when you think about our priorities right now from a healthcare delivery 151 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,480 perspective, it really is, uh, 152 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,440 like many across the country that one of those top priorities for us is 153 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,200 workforce. And, uh, as we know and has been widely publicized, 154 00:08:28,490 --> 00:08:31,800 we've seen a lot of challenges from a workforce perspective. Uh, 155 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:33,400 and it really starts and ends with this, 156 00:08:33,590 --> 00:08:37,640 that for anybody at any point in time in history to be able to serve in 157 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,360 healthcare, you have to really see it as a calling. Uh, 158 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,720 'cause it's difficult intellectually, 159 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:45,560 it's very difficult physically in many instances. 160 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:49,960 And it's absolutely taxing from an emotional perspective that's always been 161 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,680 there. Uh, and I believe it always will be, uh, as we continue to add, 162 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:57,240 uh, to the, to the work that we do, 163 00:08:57,540 --> 00:09:01,280 the innovations that are out there as we continue to augment our workforce 164 00:09:01,310 --> 00:09:05,040 through, uh, advancements in technology and digital, at the end of the day, 165 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,520 there's still always just gonna be a very personal, a very people intensive, uh, 166 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,600 quotient to what we do in healthcare. And again, 167 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,280 I think that makes it rewarding, but also makes it very challenging. 168 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:19,400 And so when we look across, uh, the workforce today, uh, 169 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:21,000 we know that there's, uh, 170 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,080 there's a deficit when it comes to the number of individuals who are there based 171 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,040 on the rising needs. We've seen the forecast. We know that in the years to come, 172 00:09:29,580 --> 00:09:31,240 uh, they'll forecast, uh, 173 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,280 as much of a hundred and twenty four, a hundred twenty 5,000, uh, 174 00:09:35,650 --> 00:09:37,880 physicians that will be a, a delta, uh, 175 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,280 that needs to be reached between where we're at, uh, 176 00:09:40,340 --> 00:09:41,960 now and where we'll need to be in the future. 177 00:09:42,620 --> 00:09:46,360 And some of the ways that we're looking to address that at Sanford Health, uh, 178 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,520 is a little bit of a grow our own. Uh, 179 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:52,480 we have been very fortunate through the incredible philanthropy, uh, 180 00:09:52,550 --> 00:09:56,000 from our namesake and benefactor, Mr. Sanford, uh, 181 00:09:56,180 --> 00:09:58,800 to be able to stand up and to fully fund, uh, 182 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,120 15 graduate medical education programs. 183 00:10:01,660 --> 00:10:06,000 We know from our experience to date that where those individuals, uh, do, uh, 184 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,960 come to for the residencies where they train at for their fellowships, 185 00:10:09,170 --> 00:10:11,080 oftentimes ends up being where they're staying. 186 00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:14,080 And so the privilege of training these individuals, 187 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:17,280 we see close to 40% of them end up staying with us. 188 00:10:17,340 --> 00:10:20,880 And we see that as a unique opportunity to not only build out, 189 00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:23,080 to train the workforce in the future, uh, 190 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,360 but then also to be able to bring in exposed, uh, those talented physicians to, 191 00:10:27,980 --> 00:10:31,240 uh, our organization and then uniquely the patients, uh, 192 00:10:31,260 --> 00:10:33,400 who we have the opportunity to be able to serve. 193 00:10:33,460 --> 00:10:36,120 And so that's one of the ways that we're addressing, uh, 194 00:10:36,270 --> 00:10:40,400 some of that workforce gap we're doing very similar when it comes to, uh, 195 00:10:40,540 --> 00:10:42,360 you know, nurse training programs, uh, 196 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,520 working to both with governmental and non-governmental organizations, 197 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,520 working with our colleges and universities to be able to train that workforce 198 00:10:50,620 --> 00:10:52,920 for the future. But importantly, 199 00:10:52,940 --> 00:10:57,160 we believe that it's not just how do we throw more bodies at these challenges 200 00:10:57,630 --> 00:11:00,920 that we really have to think differently about the work that we do. Uh, 201 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,520 at Sanford Health will we say, 202 00:11:02,530 --> 00:11:06,400 often what we do will never change standing in the gap, 203 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,400 providing world-class care for our patients, that will never change. 204 00:11:10,140 --> 00:11:13,840 How we do that is changing, and it must change as we go forward. 205 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:17,880 And so we're doing a lot of work right now in trying to figure out different 206 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,520 ways that we can change the workflows, modify how we do the work that we do, 207 00:11:22,060 --> 00:11:25,000 so that one, we can pull some of the redundancy, 208 00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:28,200 we can pull some of the mundane tasks out of the work that we do, 209 00:11:28,490 --> 00:11:32,760 which should in turn make it a more rewarding career for the individuals who 210 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,640 decide to serve in that capacity. And then at the same time, 211 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:40,040 we can drive up our efficiency and then help close the gap as it relates to some 212 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,720 of the delta that we have from a workforce perspective. Uh, and of course, 213 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,560 with all the advancements that we're seeing right now from a technological 214 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:47,393 perspective, 215 00:11:47,620 --> 00:11:51,520 we believe that that will help us continue to close that gap going forward. Uh, 216 00:11:51,540 --> 00:11:52,840 we won't be replacing our people. 217 00:11:53,260 --> 00:11:56,400 We hope that what we're actually gonna be able to do is help make the work that 218 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,200 they do more rewarding, more efficient. And at the end of the day, 219 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,640 the most important thing is that we will help to increase access, 220 00:12:02,790 --> 00:12:06,880 help to improve quality for each and every one of the patients who we have the 221 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,120 opportunity to serve and do that in a way that's more financially sustainable. 222 00:12:13,380 --> 00:12:15,560 Got it. That's, you know, fascinating to hear. And, 223 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:19,680 and thank you so much for laying out, um, that plan for us, because essentially, 224 00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:20,400 you know, 225 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,280 the issues you're talking about are certainly issues for health systems across 226 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,840 the country, whether it's looking at the workforce challenges or, um, 227 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,400 trying to make sure that, you know, 228 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,920 you're serving people who have not traditionally had access to care for a 229 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,240 variety of reasons. And so it's inspiring to see that, you know, 230 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,680 you've been able to create some of those partnerships and, 231 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:42,040 and programs that are really making a big difference. 232 00:12:42,780 --> 00:12:45,880 How do you see Stanford Health growing and evolving over the next two to three 233 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:46,713 years or so? 234 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,780 Uh, it's a great question. You know, 235 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:54,460 one of the things that we're very resolute about here at the organization is 236 00:12:54,460 --> 00:12:58,020 that as we continue to evolve and change, and as the, uh, 237 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:01,940 healthcare ecosystem continues to change and mature around us, 238 00:13:02,290 --> 00:13:06,980 what will never change for our organization is that strategic aspiration that 239 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,100 we want to, uh, stand, uh, 240 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,940 in the gap continue to be that premier rural health system in the United States. 241 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,380 And from our standpoint, what that means, again, as we've talked about today, 242 00:13:17,930 --> 00:13:21,300 it's really that focus and that commitment of making sure we do everything we 243 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:25,980 can to add the capabilities to, uh, augment the organization that we have today, 244 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,100 to ensure that we're extending that world-class life-saving care to every 245 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:31,900 individual regardless of where they live. 246 00:13:31,970 --> 00:13:35,100 Whether it's some of your most densely populated urban communities, 247 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,580 or whether it's some of the most, uh, sparsely populated, uh, 248 00:13:38,580 --> 00:13:40,940 rural communities that we have the opportunity to serve. 249 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,540 One of the ways that we believe that we're going to continue to evolve and 250 00:13:44,540 --> 00:13:49,380 change as an organization and be able to achieve that necessary goal of 251 00:13:49,530 --> 00:13:54,220 improving access, right, improving quality, and making sure that we, uh, 252 00:13:54,220 --> 00:13:59,060 drive to that financial sustainability is really by the addition of virtual 253 00:13:59,170 --> 00:14:02,900 care for our organization and extending that out beyond what it's been today. 254 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,100 Uh, we, again, have had a unique privilege, uh, 255 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:08,620 because of our benefactor and namesake, uh, 256 00:14:08,690 --> 00:14:13,620 that we have a $350 million philanthropic investment that's been made all 257 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:17,420 focused on the advancement through digital and virtual, uh, 258 00:14:17,420 --> 00:14:22,220 care for each one of our patients. And so right now, uh, and over the last year, 259 00:14:22,220 --> 00:14:24,580 we've continued to build out more of that infrastructure. 260 00:14:24,630 --> 00:14:26,020 We'll continue to do that in the future. 261 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,700 We have that we'll be opening up in late 24, a virtual care center. 262 00:14:30,710 --> 00:14:34,940 There will be sort of a ni a central nervous system from which we'll extend out, 263 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:35,500 uh, 264 00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:39,220 that virtual care that we'll provide that will allow us to extend specialty and 265 00:14:39,220 --> 00:14:43,460 subspecialty care into some of our most rural communities. And that, 266 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,620 in addition to that, it's also gonna serve as an innovation center. 267 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,660 That's where we will train, that's where we'll work, uh, to make sure that the, 268 00:14:51,060 --> 00:14:51,290 uh, 269 00:14:51,290 --> 00:14:55,720 healthcare genera or that the healthcare providers of the next generation will 270 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,600 have had exposure to and had deep training and understanding how to extend that 271 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:04,160 virtual care into, uh, the homes, uh, into smaller, 272 00:15:04,420 --> 00:15:07,960 uh, you know, clinics into smaller medical centers to make sure, again, 273 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,760 that we're extending out and spreading across, uh, the whole, uh, 274 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:12,880 breadth of the organization. 275 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,840 That type of deep specialty care that we believe is critically important. Uh, 276 00:15:16,940 --> 00:15:21,600 we wanna make sure that all that we have to offer is something that we're able 277 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,920 to extend into each and every one of the communities that we serve. 278 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,060 That's fantastic to hear, and certainly, you know, inspiring that, um, 279 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:35,020 you're able to have that type of capability with the virtual care center, 280 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,900 uh, to really breed innovation within the organization, uh, 281 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,300 as well as reach and connect with patients, and especially on, 282 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:43,133 on the rural setting. 283 00:15:43,220 --> 00:15:47,340 I can imagine having those virtual capabilities is helpful. Um, 284 00:15:47,890 --> 00:15:52,780 from your perspective, obviously the care providers, you know, having them, 285 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,060 um, be able to transition to virtual is one thing, 286 00:15:56,060 --> 00:15:58,380 but when you're working in extending into the community, 287 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,100 has there been a pretty good reception to, um, 288 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:06,100 the virtual technology side of it? Or, or you have, you had to, um, you know, 289 00:16:06,130 --> 00:16:10,500 educate patients and really get buy-in, I guess, for lack of a better word, um, 290 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,340 for this type of transition to be able to do more virtual care? 291 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,850 Yeah, that's a great question. Uh, you know, it's, it's one of the, uh, 292 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,450 I'll call it silver linings, which I'm always careful to state, uh, 293 00:16:22,450 --> 00:16:25,130 given all the challenges and the, uh, 294 00:16:26,050 --> 00:16:29,010 horrible difficulties that this country and this world suffered having come 295 00:16:29,010 --> 00:16:33,650 through the pandemic. Uh, but having had to go through that experience that, uh, 296 00:16:33,660 --> 00:16:36,490 we've seen not only from a healthcare perspective, but you know, 297 00:16:36,490 --> 00:16:40,610 really across almost all sectors of our economy, uh, and our society, 298 00:16:41,170 --> 00:16:45,930 a greater openness to engaging and interacting, whether it be commerce, 299 00:16:45,930 --> 00:16:49,650 whether it be healthcare, whether it be just those, uh, familial relationships, 300 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:53,970 uh, through virtual. And that is something that's helped us in that front. Uh, 301 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,330 also I think there's can be sometimes a misnomer a little bit too about those 302 00:16:57,330 --> 00:17:00,970 living in rural America that perhaps there's not a, a, 303 00:17:01,050 --> 00:17:04,810 a receptivity or an openness to, uh, you know, 304 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,690 digital transformation to virtual interaction, 305 00:17:08,190 --> 00:17:10,410 but because of the nature of where they live, uh, 306 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:12,730 not just from a healthcare perspective, uh, 307 00:17:12,750 --> 00:17:15,130 but we do find that a lot of these communities are, 308 00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:17,210 are not only open to embracing it now, 309 00:17:17,510 --> 00:17:21,090 but they've already been embracing it through a variety of different ways. Uh, 310 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:23,290 we've seen, especially here in America's heartland, 311 00:17:23,470 --> 00:17:27,770 the way that technology has made significant changes in our agricultural 312 00:17:28,050 --> 00:17:32,250 business, uh, the way in which we, uh, engage not only from, 313 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,130 I'll say sort of a, a domestic perspective, but also internationally as well. 314 00:17:36,830 --> 00:17:39,050 And so as we look ahead to the future, um, 315 00:17:39,270 --> 00:17:41,490 and as we go into these communities and extend that care, 316 00:17:41,950 --> 00:17:46,530 we are seeing that openness and that receptivity when it comes to engaging with 317 00:17:46,530 --> 00:17:49,680 their providers, uh, on that side, uh, from the patient's perspective, 318 00:17:50,060 --> 00:17:54,760 but then also, uh, our providers, uh, we see a great, uh, sort of, 319 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:58,880 I'll say level of excitement and receptivity when we extend these services into 320 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:00,440 these communities where, you know, 321 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,000 we find individuals that love the idea of saying that I'm going to be the 322 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,800 community provider. I'm gonna be the advanced practice provider. 323 00:18:06,940 --> 00:18:11,880 I'm gonna be the physician who is able to really satisfy my 324 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,720 desires to live in rural America and raise my family there, 325 00:18:15,020 --> 00:18:18,720 but then also still be able to practice my craft and be able to serve, uh, 326 00:18:18,740 --> 00:18:20,600 and practice medicine in those communities. 327 00:18:20,860 --> 00:18:23,480 But if you're all on your own and you're on an island out there and you don't 328 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:28,120 have the backing of a health system, that can sometimes be a, a scary situation. 329 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,800 It can also be challenging for individuals to just, uh, 330 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,960 strike that right work-life balance. 331 00:18:33,420 --> 00:18:37,560 But if you know that you've got the backup of an entire system that has, uh, 332 00:18:37,860 --> 00:18:42,280 the very, very fortunate, uh, situation to have nearly 2,800, 333 00:18:42,820 --> 00:18:44,160 uh, providers, uh, 334 00:18:44,190 --> 00:18:48,160 physician and advanced practice providers who are there as your backup, uh, 335 00:18:48,180 --> 00:18:51,040 and to be able to access, uh, at the click of a button, 336 00:18:51,270 --> 00:18:54,240 that really creates a lot of confidence, that creates a lot of continuity. 337 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:55,400 And at the end of the day, for us, 338 00:18:55,780 --> 00:18:58,880 we know that creates the best outcome for our patients. Uh, 339 00:18:58,940 --> 00:19:02,240 and if we can balance that better outcomes for our patients, 340 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:03,800 better access for our patients, 341 00:19:04,180 --> 00:19:07,880 and then provide the necessary support for our providers, uh, 342 00:19:07,940 --> 00:19:09,840 we think that we're getting closer, uh, 343 00:19:09,980 --> 00:19:13,040 to being able to hit all those goals that we need to as a health system. 344 00:19:14,950 --> 00:19:19,170 That's amazing to hear, and certainly great that, uh, there's been so much, um, 345 00:19:20,010 --> 00:19:24,890 I guess ability to, uh, receive the, the virtual care and, and, um, 346 00:19:25,430 --> 00:19:29,890 you know, enjoy having that opportunity available. Now, from your perspective, 347 00:19:30,390 --> 00:19:31,970 I'd just love to hear before we wrap up, 348 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:36,050 what is one change that you or your team has made in the last year or so that's 349 00:19:36,050 --> 00:19:38,330 yielded great results? Yeah. 350 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,820 And I don't know if the right timeframe Laura would say the last year, um, 351 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,420 I'm sure all of us in healthcare feel like we've sort of been dog years right 352 00:19:47,420 --> 00:19:48,253 now and, um, 353 00:19:48,770 --> 00:19:53,260 difficult to sort of distinguish from covid then into the financial challenges 354 00:19:53,260 --> 00:19:57,900 and crises that we saw through 2022 and the start of 23. But I'll say sometime, 355 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:58,480 uh, 356 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,460 in these last couple of years where I've had the opportunity and the privilege 357 00:20:01,460 --> 00:20:04,900 to serve in this role, perhaps maybe one of the most, uh, 358 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:07,220 significant things that, uh, 359 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,700 my team and I and the board of trustees at Sanford Health have had the 360 00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:13,940 opportunity and the ability to do was to really stop. Uh, 361 00:20:13,940 --> 00:20:16,940 we found ourselves not only in healthcare, but specifically at Sanford Health, 362 00:20:17,390 --> 00:20:21,140 going back to almost, uh, three years ago now, really at an inflection point, 363 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:21,920 uh, 364 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:25,620 as we went through a leadership transition and I and my team had the opportunity 365 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,860 to, uh, step into the roles that we're in today, 366 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:30,540 it was really that opportunity to, 367 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:34,460 to stop and pause and look at our organization to say, who are we, uh, 368 00:20:34,460 --> 00:20:36,620 and who do we want to be as we move forward? 369 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:41,220 And as we had the opportunity to do that and to reset the strategy for this 370 00:20:41,220 --> 00:20:45,780 organization, uh, we had the real privilege, uh, 371 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,640 to be able to stop and say that as we have examined where we've been, 372 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,080 where we've come, and what we do well to this organization, uh, 373 00:20:54,470 --> 00:20:59,000 that was that realization for us and that decision to come together to coalesce 374 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:00,133 around, uh, 375 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:04,000 a unified mission and strategy that we were gonna continue our pursuit to be 376 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:08,280 that premier role health system in the United States. That has been a, 377 00:21:08,940 --> 00:21:11,400 uh, a calling, uh, for this organization. 378 00:21:11,790 --> 00:21:15,000 It's been something that has allowed our organization, 379 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:19,280 all of our 45,000 incredible team members, caregivers, 380 00:21:19,460 --> 00:21:24,120 to come together as a rally cry to say, this is who we are, this is what we do. 381 00:21:24,150 --> 00:21:28,880 This is the special place that we have, uh, in the healthcare ecosystem. 382 00:21:29,580 --> 00:21:33,640 And, uh, with that sort of clear, uh, clarity for vision, uh, 383 00:21:33,710 --> 00:21:37,560 it's really allowed us to continue to examine the decisions that we make, 384 00:21:37,580 --> 00:21:40,040 the investments that we make to help move us forward. 385 00:21:40,260 --> 00:21:42,880 And so at the end of every decision for us at Sanford Health, 386 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:47,800 we know that there's a patient, and with that sort of is the, uh, 387 00:21:48,060 --> 00:21:51,000 the table stakes for every conversation that we have now, 388 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:51,960 we layer on top of that, 389 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:56,640 that strategic aspiration that all the decisions that we make have to be, uh, 390 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:01,120 leading us towards the, uh, achievement of that strategy, 391 00:22:01,210 --> 00:22:05,920 which is that we want to be that premier rural health system. Sure. That we're, 392 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:06,080 again, 393 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:10,960 continuing to extend world-class care to every single patient who we serve. Um, 394 00:22:11,340 --> 00:22:14,760 and I think that's probably been maybe one of the most significant changes for 395 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,360 us. If you think about over these last couple of years, uh, 396 00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:21,080 that's really provided, I think the necessary clarity to help, uh, 397 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:22,720 chart the future for this organization. 398 00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:26,360 Be Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. 399 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,400 This has been such a fun and interesting conversation, 400 00:22:28,460 --> 00:22:30,360 and I look forward to connecting with you again soon. 401 00:22:31,770 --> 00:22:32,860 Yeah, thank you so much, Laura. 402 00:22:32,860 --> 00:22:34,700 Really appreciate the opportunity to be with you today. 403 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,210 It's so important for leaders at the top of organizations to keep learning, 404 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:45,050 stay sharp, grow their networks, 405 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,650 help our audience better do this in a more simplified, personalized, 406 00:22:48,670 --> 00:22:52,610 and meaningful way. Becker's Healthcare has launched my B h c, 407 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,050 it's your trusted Becker's healthcare experience and more with content, 408 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:58,370 connections, events and learning opportunities. 409 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,930 Join the community free of charge at 410 00:23:01,670 --> 00:23:05,930 www.my.beckerhospitalreview.com and we'll see you there.