Sanford Black Hills unveils advanced imaging technology
| June 23, 2026 |
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RAPID CITY, S.D. — Patients at Sanford Black Hills now have access to the most advanced CT imaging technology in South Dakota – a first-of-its-kind photon CT scanner in the state and at Sanford Health, delivering sharper images, richer detail and lower radiation, helping care teams make more confident decisions and giving patients more answers in a single scan.
The Sanford Health Black Hills Imaging Center is implementing the NAEOTOM Alpha® with Quantum Technology, the latest generation of photon‑counting CT imaging – advancing how care is delivered across multiple specialties at Sanford Black Hills. While it plays a critical role in cardiovascular care, the system also strengthens diagnostic capabilities in emergency care, oncology, pulmonary and everyday imaging.
“This investment reflects Sanford Health’s commitment to bringing leading-edge, patient-center care close to home,” said Kyle Wiese, president & CEO, Sanford Black Hills. “This is a major step forward in cardiovascular care for our region, and we are proud to provide this advanced technology to our patients.”
Previously, Sanford Health Black Hills Imaging Center used conventional CT technology, which reconstructs images indirectly and produces lower-resolution images. Photon-counting CT uses a QuantaMax detector that directly measures each X-ray photon and captures its energy, producing images with high spatial resolution and reduced noise. The system provides spectral information in every scan, improving tissue characterization and diagnostic consistency.
Clinical benefits include enhanced imaging for cardiovascular care along with improved detection and monitoring across oncology, pulmonary and emergency conditions. The device supports safer frequent follow-up imaging due to lower radiation doses, benefiting patients with chronic or long-term conditions.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with 60 locations in three states and nearly 190 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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