SIOUX FALLS, S.D. and MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Marshfield Clinic Health System, a physician-led integrated health system serving rural Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, announced a nonbinding agreement to form an integrated health system dedicated in the rural Midwest with a July 10 press release.
The merger would combine nearly 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,300 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies and nationally recognized research institutions, according to the press release. Each system would maintain their respective health plans into an integrated system with shared governance that serves more than 425,000 members.
Sanford Health would be the parent company under the agreement and Marshfield Clinic Health System would maintain regional leadership with its flagship medical campus in Marshfield, a regional board of directors, a regional physician executive council and regional brand presence.
“Partnering with Sanford Health presents an incredible opportunity for our organizations to unify and establish the premier rural health system in the nation,” said Brian Hoerneman, M.D., 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 endeavor.”
The partnership would bring two physician-driven organizations, Marshfield Clinic Health System and Sanford, the country’s largest rural medical provider with the intent to advance national leadership in physician-led integrated care, according to the press release. The objectives also include becoming a leader in research with an emphasis on underrepresented populations.
The agreement noted that the combined nonprofit system would enable vital investment in the care of patients and communities across the rural Midwest in order to better meet the health care needs of the present and into the future. Over the last decade, Sanford Health has invested more than $1.5 billion in communities across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa including expanded access to specialty care and state-of-the-art facilities.
“We are who we are today because of combinations with care delivery organizations in rural communities across America’s heartland,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health. “These opportunities have allowed us to follow through on our promise to deliver world-class health care to every patient we serve no matter their zip code, and we are eager to continue building on this track record with Marshfield Clinic Health System.”
According to the press release, the agreement would improve patient outcomes through broader population health initiatives, programs and care delivery models, along with the promise of virtual care, digital health, data analytics, AI and genomic medicine to advance the health of communities.
The breadth and depth of research capabilities would increase access to nearly 1,000 active clinical trials and clinical studies and combine research expertise to bring new treatments and cures to patients, according to the press release. The agreement would provide opportunities for greater investment in clinical needs, directly supporting patients, providers and communities, along with health professional training and support and research through shared initiatives and collaboration.
According to Marshfield Clinic Health System Board Chair George Brown, M.D., the partnership marks a new chapter in our organization.
“We look forward to serving our patients as the nationwide leader in rural health care,” he said.
Lauris Molbert, chair of the Sanford Health Board of Trustees, the partnership is a “win-win” for patients and communities, and for organizations with a tradition of innovation, physician leadership and dedicated caregivers.
“This combination will strengthen local, patient-centered nonprofit health care for generations to come,” said.
The agreement is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to regulatory processes and closing conditions, according to the press release.
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