From Silos to Skyscrapers: Health Leaders Discuss Rural Healthcare in Chicago

For many people living in rural America, quiet, wide-open spaces with fewer homes and businesses allow for a more tranquil lifestyle. However, it can also mean fewer health care resources and more barriers to care.

At the same time, the future of health care – digital transformation, patient engagement, physician recruitment and retention strategies, and how to set caregivers up for success – are topics of interest for the entire health care industry. As the largest rural health care system in the United States, Sanford Health leaders recently offered their perspective to these discussions during the Becker's Healthcare 13th Annual Meeting.

"At the end of every decision we make, there's a patient."

As president and CEO of the largest rural health system in the United States, Bill Gassen has a unique point of view. Since November 2020, he has had a front row seat to the challenges and opportunities of rural health care.

Gassen said, "Whether you're serving in rural America or whether you're serving in some of our most densely populated urban communities, we're still facing many of those same changes."

So how do we turn those challenges into opportunities? Patient engagement and digital transformation.

Shifting the patient experience from "the doctor will see you now" to "the patient will see you now."

In a world of one-click orders and two-day shipping, convenience is key to a positive experience. By providing easy access and focusing on the needs and preferences of patients, we stay connected to them throughout their life. The result? Higher quality of care where and when they need it.

At the Becker's Annual Meeting, Dr. Jeremy Cauwels , chief physician at Sanford Health, participated in panels entitled "Take Patient Engagement to the Next Level" and "What the Next Generation of Clinician Leaders Need Today."

Better access doesn't just mean more appointment slots; it also means the ability to treat people virtually. According to Dr. Cauwels, being "patient centered allows the patient to drive what they want, what they need and how they want the experience to go."

This transformation means seeing patients in the way that makes them most comfortable and fits with their busy schedules. For some, that may be virtually from the comfort of their home or while waiting in the carpool line. For others, that might be in person at a clinic.

Using member engagement to influence health outcomes

Coinciding with the 13th Annual Becker's Healthcare Meeting, health insurance leaders and experts from across the country also met to engage in conversations about the future of the health insurance industry at the Becker's Payers Issues Roundtable.

John Snyder , president and CEO of Sanford Health Plan , participated in several panels focused on the ways the health plan is advocating for members and promoting behavior change to improve their health conditions.

Emily Griese, PhD , vice president of operations and population health at Sanford Health Plan, also discussed ways the health plan is working to break down barriers to care with virtual solutions to help members live healthier lives.

"In coordination with Sanford, we were able to stand up a virtual preventative care clinic where we had some of our highest risk members come to us through virtual means," said Griese. "It's unique in that those members may not have ever sought care. We targeted individuals who were not seeing a provider and didn't have that connection with the health care system."

From patient to consumer

Jared Antczak , chief digital officer at Sanford Health, spent his time at the Becker's Annual Meeting discussing digital health strategy. He pointed out that thinking of those we serve as consumers and not just patients allows for a more holistic view of their health care journey.

"Patient experience [normally] focuses on the pre-visit, visit and post-visit experience. If we start thinking about the people we serve as consumers, we start becoming relevant in people's lives even in between the times that they are sick. To me, that's where health care becomes a lot more powerful to people."

What do "grow our own" and "brilliance at the bedside" mean for nurses and clinicians?

Erica DeBoer , chief nursing officer at Sanford Health, spoke about strategies to recruit talent and maximize engagement in the nursing workforce, as well as what incoming nurse leaders need to succeed. Dr. Luis Garcia MD, FACS, MBA, FACHE , president of Sanford clinic, spoke on similar topics: the future of physician employment strategies and the expectations of Millennial and Gen Z physicians.

Sanford Health has invested in technology to automate nurse workflows, which in turn builds a more resilient workforce and improves patient care.

By focusing on "brilliance at the bedside," we are "allowing our nurses to focus on their most fulfilling work of caring for patients instead of administrative tasks," said DeBoer.

Dr. Garcia stressed the importance of prioritizing physician retention through legacy and education, creating the next wave of leaders and making sure to keep them through flexibility and a dynamic approach.

While leading efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout through resiliency groups, comprehensive resources and more, "we are intentional in ensuring that our people are treated as human beings first and as clinicians second," said Dr. Garcia.

"We are developing the next generation of leaders in rural America while addressing new generational preferences."

Additional Reading

Dr. Jeremy Cauwel's Perspective: Convenience is Key: Making the choices easy for our patients

Dr. Luis Garcia's Perspective: Identifying and fostering clinician leadership within your organization

Erica DeBoer's Perspective: Brilliance at the bedside: Engaging frontline nurses to improve patient outcomes

Jared Antczak's Perspective: Improving the consumer health experience through digital transformation