Frequently
Asked Questions

Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) to create a combined system that is uniquely positioned to provide more people access to high-quality, equitable health care; accelerate population health and value-based care; and drive clinical innovation for the benefit of patients in rural and urban communities.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, operates in six states and is dedicated to transforming the health care experience by providing access to world-class health care in the communities we serve. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 47 medical centers, 47,000 employees, 2,800 Sanford Health physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at our website.

Fairview Health Services is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit health system driven to heal, discover and educate for longer, healthier lives. Founded in 1906, Fairview Health Services provides exceptional care to patients and communities as one of the most comprehensive and geographically accessible systems in Minnesota. The system includes 31,000 employees across 11 hospitals, more than 80 primary and specialty care clinics, 36 retail and specialty pharmacies, rehabilitation centers, a physician network, senior care housing and long-term care facilities, and medical transportation services.

Our aligned missions and deep commitment to health, healing and community position us well to transform the future of health care and positively impact the wellbeing of the patients, residents and communities we serve for decades to come. The combined system will extend the reach of high-quality care and services to more people across rural and urban communities across the Midwest, with 56 hospitals, approximately 600 care sites, an established health plan, a specialty pharmacy and pharmacy benefit manager, and growing Medicare Advantage options.

Together, we can do more for the patients, residents and communities we serve. As a combined system, we will expand access to complex and specialized care, utilize innovative technology and provide a broader range of virtual services, unlock greater research capabilities and transform the care delivery experience to ensure every patient receives the best care no matter where they live.

We believe that the time is right for Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services to partner because we know that our aligned missions and deep commitment to health, healing and community position us well to transform the future of health care and positively impact the wellbeing of the patients, residents and communities we serve for decades to come.

Fairview Health Services is recognized as one of the leading providers of healthcare in Minnesota and shares with Sanford Health a deep-rooted commitment to equitable care delivery and to addressing the social determinants of health. Our combination with Fairview Health Services will benefit patients through increased access to highly specialized medical care, including advanced diagnostics and treatments, complex surgeries and nationally ranked subspecialties, including cancer care.

Additionally, as a significant provider of innovative behavioral health services in the areas they serve, Fairview Health Services will bring to bear a full spectrum of programs to complement our capabilities in this area. Together, we will expand access to innovative behavioral health services and highly specialized medical care.

Sanford Health is the largest rural health system in the United States and shares with Fairview Health Services a deep-rooted commitment to equitable care delivery and to addressing the social determinants of health. With its broad virtual care capabilities and array of specialists, our combination with Sanford Health will expand access in rural and underserved areas to one of the world’s leading virtual care centers. Together, Fairview Health Services and Sanford Health will realize the promise of novel technology and leading-edge innovation, to include transformative virtual care initiatives, digital health and analytics and genomic medicine to advance the health of all communities.

The combined system is uniquely positioned to provide more people access to high-quality, equitable health care; accelerate population health and value-based care; and drive clinical innovation for the benefit of rural and urban communities. Together, we can do more to expand access to complex and specialized care, utilize innovative technology and provide a broader range of virtual services, unlock greater research capabilities and transform the care delivery experience to ensure every patient receives the best care no matter where they live. We look forward to coming together to do more as a combined system including expanding access to advanced diagnostics and treatments, complex surgeries and nationally ranked subspecialties, including cancer care.

Together, Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services will offer clinicians access to more resources, collaboration opportunities and robust peer networks to help advance careers and drive innovation, excellence and equity in health care.

As one organization, the combined system will provide employees with new opportunities for career growth, enhanced professional development, training and geographic mobility. Employees will have the opportunity to be part of one of the nation’s leading, nonprofit health care systems driving innovation, excellence and equity in health care with a deep commitment to meeting the needs of the underserved across our rural and urban communities.

Both organizations have a strong history of investing in and giving back to their communities in order to meet the needs of the underserved, and no changes are planned at this time. Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services share aligned missions and a deep-rooted commitment to equitable care delivery and to addressing the social determinants of health. We believe our collective mission extends beyond traditional health care settings, and we’re committed to improving health and wellbeing in partnership with the community through philanthropy, local investment and high-quality care to all we serve. Bringing our philanthropic and community outreach work together can extend the reach of our collective efforts – enabling us to have a greater impact through our people, programs and investments – and allow us to engage broader populations across rural and urban communities to promote health and wellness.