Newman Explains How Sanford Health Is Virtually Rewriting the Rural Health Playbook

Sanford Health, the nation’s largest rural health system, cares for more than two million patients spread across 300,000 square miles of the Upper Midwest. As Chief Medical Officer of Virtual Care, Dr. David Newman describes how the organization turned pandemic‑forced telehealth into a permanent, hybrid model that blends in‑person visits with seamless digital encounters. This shift moved virtual care from an experimental phase to the “plateau of productivity,” where patient demand drives adoption and the technology becomes a routine part of care delivery. The result is a more accessible, high‑quality experience for patients who once faced long drives to see specialists.

One of Sanford’s most striking successes is its direct‑to‑consumer behavioral health platform, which delivered 12,000 new mental‑health appointments in 2023—patients who likely would not have received care otherwise. Contrary to common assumptions about rural connectivity, 99 % of the patient base already has broadband and a smart device, allowing rapid scaling of virtual services. For the remaining 1 %, the system has engineered workarounds, even using a 1980s rotary‑dial phone to conduct verbal visits and refill prescriptions, proving that technology can be adapted to any zip code.

The health system runs primarily on Epic, but a recent merger with the Cerner‑based Marshall Clinic introduced a cross‑platform environment that forces careful vendor selection. Dr. Newman emphasizes that innovation must start with clinicians, citing an AI chronic‑kidney‑disease model that stalled until physicians were involved in workflow design. Effective change management now relies on over‑communication, multi‑channel outreach, and governance participation from nursing and physician leaders. By demanding that vendors bring ready‑to‑use solutions and by embedding clinicians early, Sanford Health keeps its virtual‑care engine both nimble and patient‑focused.