The future of health care, including digital transformation in rural areas, physician recruitment and retention strategies, patient engagement practices and how to set nurses up for success will be key themes Sanford Health leaders discuss during a series of fireside chats, panels and roundtable discussions at the upcoming 13th annual Becker’s Meeting.
The four-day conference takes place April 3-6 in Chicago. Sanford Health’s Bill Gassen, president and CEO, Jeremy Cauwels, M.D., FACP, FHM, chief physician, Luis Garcia, M.D., FACS, MBA, FASMBS, president of clinic, Erica DeBoer, RN, MA, CCRN-K, CNL, chief nursing officer, and Jared Antczak, chief digital officer, will join executives from the nation’s top health systems.
Gassen will join a semi-keynote interview with Laura Dyrda, editor-in-chief at Becker’s Healthcare, to discuss Sanford Health’s system priorities, navigating current headwinds in the health care industry and reimagining how health care is delivered.
Gassen marked his appointment to president and CEO of Sanford Health in November 2020 by committing the organization to three pillars: patients, people and communities. This focus has positioned the system to shape the future of health care for generations to come.
“Sanford Health is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class care in America’s heartland,” said Gassen. “As CEO, I am committed to leading Sanford Health with one fundamental principle in mind: at the end of every decision is a patient. I am looking forward to sharing our vision with industry leaders from across the country at the annual Becker’s Meeting.”
“At the end of every decision is a patient,” says Sanford Health President & CEO Bill Gassen, who is speaking at the #BeckersHealthcare 13th annual meeting. Share on XSetting nurses up for success
DeBoer is one of four speakers on a panel discussion entitled: “The Nursing Workforce: Strategies to Win Talent and Maximize Engagement.” She will be joined by nursing leaders and executive vice presidents from Trinity Health, Providence and Atrium Health. The panel will be moderated by Kelly Gooch, senior editor and enterprise lead for Becker’s Healthcare.
DeBoer is also a panelist for a discussion on what incoming nurse leaders need to succeed. She will be joined by leaders from M Health Fairview, UChicago Medicine and Marshfield Clinic Health System. The panel will be moderated by Marcus Robertson, assistant editor at Becker’s Healthcare.
Sanford Health has several innovative nursing initiatives that are empowering nurses to do their most fulfilling work including using predictive analytics to manage clinical staffing, leveraging technology to support patients at the bedside and automating workflows to build a more resilient workforce and improve patient care.
“In addition to our initiatives, we make it a point to recognize our nurses and emphasize the positive impact they have on their patients,” said DeBoer. “We want to bring joy back to their work. We’re partnering with our front-line teams to make sure that we’re making their experience what they want it to be.”
Physician recruitment and retention
Dr. Garcia is one of five speakers on a panel discussion entitled: “The Future of Physician Employment Strategies: Primary Care and Specialists.” He will be joined by executive leaders from Aurora Health Care Medical Group, Harvard Medical Faculty, United Cardiology Partners, Inc., and North American Partners in Anesthesia. Robertson will also moderate this panel.
Dr. Garcia is also a panelist for a discussion entitled: “The Next Clinical Leaders: Expectations of Millennial and Gen Z Physicians.” Additional panelists include leaders from Kaiser Permanente, Optum WA and Physician Community and Physician Side Gigs. Paige Twenter, a reporter for Becker’s Healthcare, will moderate the panel.
Sanford Health has led efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout through resiliency groups, training, a clinician assistance program, counseling, a physician wellness council and comprehensive mental health resources to help employees take care of themselves physically and emotionally while caring for patients.
“We are developing the next generation of leaders in rural America while addressing new generational preferences and needs among clinicians,” said Dr. Garcia. “We are also focused on supporting clinician well-being and combating burnout. We are intentional on ensuring that our people are treated as human beings first and as clinicians second.”
Patient engagement
Dr. Cauwels will participate in a panel discussion entitled: “Take Patient Engagement to the Next Level.” Leaders from Advocate Condell Medical Center, Monogram Health, The University of Chicago Medicine and Providence will join Dr. Cauwels on the panel that is moderated by Dyrda.
“As we look to the future, we are focused on providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place no matter where people live or the health challenges they face, said Dr. Cauwels. “Soon, virtual engagement will be the first point of contact for many patients.”
Dr. Cauwels is also part of a four-person panel on the topic of “What the Next Generation of Clinical Leaders Need Today.” He will be joined by executives from the University of Arkansas Medical Services, Privia Health and Legacy Community Health. Alan Condon, editor-in-chief of Becker’s Healthcare, will moderate the discussion.
While almost 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, only about 10% of physicians practice in rural areas. Today, on average, one-third of the physicians who are trained with Sanford Health choose to stay and practice in the same community.
Digital transformation in rural areas
Antczak will participate in a keynote panel entitled: “Consumerism as a Health System Strategy in the Next 5 Years.” He will be joined by executives from Ascension, Broward Health and Providence. Brian Zimmerman, assistant vice president for client content and strategy at Becker’s Healthcare, will moderate the panel.
Antczak is also one of four speakers on a panel that focuses on how virtual care fits into top health systems’ growth strategies. Leaders from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Renown Medical Group and Emergency Medicine Faculty at Tulane/LSU will join him for the discussion that will be moderated by Laura Dyrda.
In the fall of 2021, Sanford Health announced a $350 million virtual care initiative. As part of the initiative, Sanford Health will focus on expanding access, improving the patient experience, advancing innovation through new research, attracting and training a new generation of clinicians and sharing learning opportunities through an education institute.
Sanford has already provided more than 600,000 virtual consults with patients over the last decade – amounting to roughly 20 million miles saved by patients who did not have to travel great distances on country roads or through harsh winter weather to get top-notch care.
“At Sanford Health, we care for more than one million patients across 250,000 miles. Our ultimate vision is to bring care as close to each individual patient as we possibly can, when they need it, not on our schedule,” said Antczak. “Virtual care options hold tremendous promise by increasing access, convenience, care coordination and continuity, improving patient outcomes and filling in gaps in provider coverage, particularly in underserved areas across Sanford Health’s footprint.”
Learn more
- Sanford Health recognized among Becker’s Best Workplaces
- Sanford Health Plan leaders discuss future of care delivery
- Virtual care brings specialists to rural, underserved areas
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Posted In Company News, Leadership in Health Care, News, Nursing and Nursing Support, Physicians and APPs, Rural Health, Virtual Care
