Nov. 14, 2024
Sanford Health is making a big move into western South Dakota, becoming the parent company of Black Hills Surgical Hospital and Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center.
The medical centers currently are physician-owned and will transition to nonprofit status as they start operating as part of Sanford Health.
The deal is expected to close next week and includes associated facilities in Rapid City as well as Black Hills Surgery Center in Gillette, Wyoming, including urgent care locations, clinics and ambulatory surgery center.
“Patients will be more easily connected to Sanford Health’s full range of integrated health care, including specialty and subspecialty care, clinical trials, veterans precision medicine and more,” Sanford Health said in a statement, adding it will continue to partner with local independent physician groups to address the health care needs of communities.
“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,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, in a statement.
“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. 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.”
Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center was founded in 1976 and includes more than 18 board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists.
Black Hills Surgical Hospital has achieved nationally recognized care in a range of areas, including orthopedics, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, cardiology, pain management, sports medicine, occupational medicine, imaging and urgent care.
“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 Dr. Lew Papendick, 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.”
Upon completion of the deal next week, a regional board of community leaders will be established to govern the operations and strategy of the Western SD/Wyoming region with Dr. Papendick, a longtime physician and community leader serving as chair. Kyle Wiese will serve as regional president and CEO, and local physician leaders will represent the Western SD/Wyoming market within the Sanford Health organization.
The deal is Sanford’s second major merger effort of the year. Its combination with Wisconsin-based Marshfield Clinic Health System still is expected to close by the end of the year.
This partnership builds upon Sanford Health’s history of providing care in the region, including specialty outreach, AirMed transport and other services for Rapid City and western South Dakota. Sanford Health also 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. Sanford Health also provides long-term care to residents in the area through the Good Samaritan Society at St. Martin’s Campus, Home Health of the Black Hills, Echo Ridge Campus and New Underwood.
Note: This story will be updated, so check back throughout the day.
