Avera Recognizes the Power of Rural on National Rural Health Day

On Nov. 20, Avera recognizes the “power of rural,” the theme for this year’s observance of National Rural Health Day.

“For Avera, the power of rural is delivering top quality care with compassion to a population of more than 1 million people across a vast 72,000-square-mile footprint,” said Rachael Sherard, Senior Vice President, Chief Rural Health Officer at Avera. “Our integrated system is designed for the delivery of rural health care, with locations in more than 100 communities. Of Avera’s hospitals, 78% are critical access hospitals, meaning they have 25 beds or less and serve a rural location.”

Hospitals, clinics, home care, hospice, long-term care, research, wellness offerings and health insurance all work collaboratively for a seamless patient experience, no matter where across the footprint Avera patients reside.

“Avera’s commitment to rural health is clear. We understand rural health and we seek to be essential in the communities we serve, not only in health care delivery, but as an employer and a community resource,” said James Dover, FACHE, President and CEO of Avera Health.

Avera’s rural locations are designed to deliver vital services close to home. This includes primary care clinics; 24/7 emergency departments; and hospitals that deliver care such as surgery, outpatient procedures like colonoscopy, women’s care, therapy, infusions and cardiac rehabilitation.

“Providing health care to patients and families living in rural America presents significant challenges and comes with unique rewards,” Dover said. “The physician who chooses a rural life typically cares for an underserved and aging population. At the same time, rural clinicians feel deeply connected to their patients and their communities.”

Health care is often a major employer in the community, giving residents a vibrant place to work where they can care for their friends and neighbors.

When they need a higher level of care, patients have access to all system resources through a variety of means:

• Virtual care: Specialty consults are available via telemedicine in a number of specialties. Rural providers receive virtual support in emergency medicine, hospitalist, critical care and more. Avera’s Remote Patient Monitoring supported over 1,200 patients.
• Outreach: Avera specialists provide regularly scheduled in-person visits to rural health care sites, such as orthopedics, oncology and general surgery. Avera reaches out to rural locations with vital services such as mobile mammography and MRI.
• Home care: Avera@Home offers home health and hospice care through 28 locations. In the past year, Avera@Home team members traveled over 1.8 million miles to deliver care and equipment.
• Cancer care: Avera Cancer Institute is one institute with six regional centers and 27 outreach sites. Care protocols are standardized according to evidence-based practices, with clinical trials available at multiple sites.
• Air transport: Careflight is available 24/7 to help ensure residents have access to lifesaving care. Rotor-wing and fixed-wing aircraft are stationed at bases in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Pierre, SD. This year, Careflight will exceed 3,200 transports.

Since 2011, National Rural Health Day, founded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the unique health care challenges and remarkable strength of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

“Rural is in our DNA. It’s core to who we are and our mission,” Sherard said. “We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the unwavering commitment of rural health care providers, organizations and community leaders who work every day to improve the lives of others.”

Learn why Avera is committed to rural health at Avera.org/RuralHealth