Rural or Urban: How Avera Connects You to the Care You Need

Five states. More than 300 locations. Covering 72,000 square miles. Avera proves to be a significant entity in the upper U.S. for people’s health through technological advancements, collaboration and expertise.

And whether you live in the busy hum of Sioux Falls or a rural setting, Avera is always looking for ways to make health care accessible. “Taking care of our communities and surrounding settings is the foundation of Avera’s work,” said Lindsay Weber, President and CEO of Avera St. Benedict Health Care Center in Parkston, SD. “The Benedictine and Presentation Sisters came to Dakota Territory and utilized their courage, tenacity and creativity to make rural health care successful.”

How does Avera do that in your community?

Avera’s system is rooted in six regional hospitals, 31 community and rural hospitals and 200 clinic locations. Across a footprint of which only 0.1% is urban, these buildings are the foundation to ensure you have access to primary care, preventive care and specialty care should you need it.

Though Avera is committed to continued growth throughout our footprint, we’re also looking to connect with people where they are. Here are other ways we connect to patients when they need care close to home:

Telemedicine

Telemedicine enables you to digitally connect with experts for specialty consults and other needs that may be based at a regional facility. Depending on the specialty, you can have a scheduled appointment at your local clinic via telemedicine with a specialist who works at a Sioux Falls facility. Telemedicine also supports hospital services including emergency, critical care, pharmacy and more, and can even provide care following a hospital visit.

What it looks like:

• Radiation and chemotherapy available in regional hospitals facilitated with a cancer care specialist via a virtual connection to ensure the procedure goes well.
• Meeting with a provider for a checkup at a location in Kennebec, SD.

Outreach Care

Physicians and advanced practice providers go to rural clinics to serve patients in specialties such as orthopedics, podiatry, cancer, heart and vascular care, kidney care, and more. These visits allow you to have an in-person visit with your provider, whether it’s a routine checkup or for treatments and office procedures. Another perk is you don’t have to take time or spend the money to travel to another location.

What it looks like:

• An orthopedic specialist travels to a community like Miller or Dell Rapids, SD, a couple times a month to check with patients after joint surgery or to plan for upcoming surgeries.

Home Health and Hospice Care

In addition to bringing services to rural communities, Avera strives to bring care right into where you call home through home health and hospice services. This means that whether you live in a private residence, assisted living or long-term care center, skilled health professionals of Avera@Home come to where you live to administer a variety of physician-directed care.

This is offered through in-person visits within driving distance of 28 locations and virtually with home monitoring technology.

What it looks like:

• Therapists visit you after your surgery to guide you through your physical, occupational or speech therapy.
• A registered nurse helps you manage medications at end of life.

24/7 Emergency Departments

Health emergencies happen around the clock — that’s why Avera hospitals around the region offer 24/7 emergency departments with trained staff. You also have access to emergency specialists via telehealth and emergency air transport to a larger facility.

Careflight Emergency Air Transport

Avera provides emergency aircraft to transfer people from rural care settings or accident scenes to larger trauma centers. Our Careflight aircrafts are stationed at three locations including Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and Pierre, SD, so we have access to rural areas. Crews are specially trained to work with patients in the sky.

Because one flight can cost thousands of dollars, Avera offers a Careflight membership for $49 per year that provides full coverage for emergency air transport.

What it looks like:

• A man needs stroke care within 60 minutes but lives outside of town. Careflight is called and the nearest station in Aberdeen arrives within 20 minutes to start life-saving treatment.

24/7 Hotlines and Online Platforms

You don’t always need an appointment. Sometimes you need a quick question answered or support. We offer many quick ways to talk with our providers.

• Farm and Rural Stress Hotline – To discuss a mental health problem and where to get help, call 800-691-4336. You’ll be connected to more in-depth care.
• Avera Cancer Institute Navigation Center – Call 888-422-1410 and get answers about cancer diagnosis, medicine, side effects, appointments, community resources and more. This service is free to anyone.
• Avera Medical Call Center – Call 877-282-8372 when you have general questions about Avera services or if you are unsure of what level of care is most appropriate for your need.
• AveraChart ­– Message your provider with questions through our electronic medical record. It's easy to sign up.

What it looks like:

• A cancer patient is having side effects of chemotherapy and is unsure what to do. The Navigation Center provides recommendations to soothe symptoms.
• It’s a Saturday morning and a new mother in Gregory, SD, is unsure if she needs to go to the emergency room due her child’s rash. She calls the Medical Call Center and they refer her to acute care.

Learn more about Avera's commitment to rural health care