Sanford to address importance of telehealth at webinar

 

Feb. 26, 2024

 

Contact:
Paul Heinert
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / Paul.Heinert@sanfordhealth.org

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Sanford Health virtual care leaders will address how telehealth policies play a critical role in supporting rural health facilities during a webinar organized by the American Telemedicine Association and co-hosted by the National Rural Health Association.

“Revitalizing Rural Healthcare Using Technology: Addressing Telehealth Policy and Workforce Challenges” is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. CT on Feb. 28. The hour-long session is ideal for health care professionals, policymakers and anyone interested in rural health sustainability.

The webinar is free to attend. To register, click here, or visit: https://bit.ly/3V1sqNt

David Newman, M.D., medical officer of virtual care at Sanford Health, will be joined for the webinar by Zil Joyce Dixon Romero, state government affairs manager for the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and Brock Slabach, chief operations officer for the NRHA.

Newman, Romero and Slabach will explore the various factors leading to rural clinic closures, emphasizing that while the reasons are complex, solutions are attainable. This webinar aims to provide attendees with valuable insights into effective telehealth policies and practices that can bolster the viability of rural health care organizations. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of navigating the delicate balance between embracing technological advancements and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health care services in rural areas.

“I firmly believe telehealth is the future of medicine,” said Newman. “Sanford Health is committed to digital equity – we are partnering with patients to meet them where they are to serve them best.”

In addition to his role as medical officer of virtual care, Newman practices endocrinology at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. He also serves as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Services.

Sanford Health’s transformative 60,000 square-foot Sanford Virtual Care Center is scheduled to open later this year. The facility, located in Sioux Falls, will feature dedicated clinician workspaces equipped with the latest telemedicine technology to offer a variety of service lines, including on-demand urgent care, behavioral health care and primary care. The building will also house innovation, education and research initiatives to advance digital health care and workforce solutions for the future.

 

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 serves more than one million patients and 201,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 46 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, 186 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers and world clinics in nine countries around the globe. 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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