Sanford Health, Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center and Black Hills Surgical Hospital announced Thursday they are merging to expand comprehensive health care to patients in western South Dakota and across the region.
The merger is expected to be finalized next week, according to a news release from Sanford Health. Sanford Health will be the parent organization of the Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center, the Black Hills Surgical Hospital, the group’s associated facilities in Rapid City and Black Hills Surgery Center in Gillette, Wyoming, including urgent care locations, clinics and ambulatory surgery center.
These locations will transition to nonprofit status and begin operating as part of Sanford Health. The merger will allow patients to connect more easily with Sanford Health’s full range of integrated health care, including specialty and subspecialty care, clinical trials, veterans precision medicine and more, the company said.
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“We sought out a partner who shares our unwavering commitment to exceptional, high-quality care and a vision for bringing innovation and the most advanced medicine to those we serve,” said Lew Papendick, M.D., chair of Black Hills Surgical Hospital, LLP. “We’re inspired by Sanford Health’s commitment to being the premier rural health system in the United States and excited to help move that forward in western South Dakota and Wyoming on behalf of our patients.”
“We could not be more excited to welcome this extraordinary team of caregivers to Sanford Health and to growing longstanding partnerships with local independent physician groups to provide the best possible care for our patients when they need it,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health.
Sanford said the merger builds on its “decades of providing care in the region, “including AirMed transport and other vital services for Rapid City and western South Dakota.
Sanford Health operates a specialty reference laboratory in Rapid City and has provided specialty outreach for families in the area for more than two decades. Outreach services include specialty pediatrics, reproductive endocrinology, fertility and genetic counseling and maternal fetal medicine.
Additionally, Sanford Health provides long-term care to residents through the Good Samaritan Society at St. Martin’s Campus, Home Health of the Black Hills, Echo Ridge Campus, and New Underwood.
Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center has been western South Dakota’s “premier” physician-owned orthopedic practice for more than 50 years, the release said. Black Hills Surgical Hospital is known for its nationally recognized care in orthopedics, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, cardiology, pain management, sports medicine, occupational medicine, imaging and urgent care.
“We’re helping to augment and fill care gaps that may exist. We want to be seen as a strong partner that’s got a mission and vision to improve health care in the region,” Gassen said.
A regional board of community leaders will be established to govern the operations and strategy of the western South Dakota/Wyoming region. Papendick, a longtime physician and community leader, will serve as the board chair. Kyle Wiese will serve as regional president and CEO. Wiese currently is CEO of Black Hills Surgical Hospital, and he is CEO and general counsel for Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center.
“We have a commitment that we’re going to continue to invest and grow in Rapid City, but we want to do that in a very strategic way working closely with physician leaders … and the good partnerships they have with independent physicians,” Gassen said.
“As a mission-driven nonprofit health system, our sole purpose is to care for the local community, and every dollar we earn is reinvested back into patient care. We are committed to engaging with local stakeholders to ensure we’re meeting community needs today and well into the future,” Gassen said. “We look forward to establishing a more permanent presence in the region and continuing to work with others to expand comprehensive health care services to patients in western South Dakota, including Rapid City and the surrounding area.”
The employees at the Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center and Black Hills Surgical Hospital will become part of the broader Sanford family, Gassen said.
Co-branding will occur over the coming months to reflect the combined organization, Gassen said.
“We want to lean into the strong name and reputation that comes with the Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center and Black Hills Surgical Hospital. We know that’s well known in the region and synonymous with high quality care,” Gassen said.
Gassen said Sanford Health has wanted to be a larger part of health care in the region, and this merger is an opportunity to expand and find new opportunities to provide health care in western South Dakota and Wyoming.