Great Plains Health today announced a planned leadership transition in its Emergency Department, effective September 1, 2026, as Dr. James Smith steps down from his role as co-Medical Director.

As families settle into summer routines, Essentia Health is encouraging parents to take advantage of the season’s added flexibility by scheduling well-child/teen visits before school, sports and activities pick back up.

CHI Health Good Samaritan and CHI Health St. Francis have been awarded the highest accolade recognized for stroke care by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association. The region’s designated Primary Stroke Centers both received the prestigious Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus award, along with the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. These achievements highlight the hospitals’ ongoing dedication to providing swift, high-quality stroke care that reduces stroke damage, speeds recovery and improves overall outcomes.

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is proud to announce a new community health initiative at the Delaware County Fair. In a special partnership with A1 Storage, RMC is debuting “The Nook” – a private, dedicated comfort station for parents and their little ones designed to support families.

Columbus Cardiology Clinic is pleased to offer specialized care for individuals experiencing leg pain, swelling or other symptoms related to vascular disease. Led by cardiologist Dr. Sabu George, the clinic offers comprehensive evaluations and treatment options for a variety of vascular conditions.

Several Avera facilities have been recognized for their participation in the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Stroke post-acute care initiative to enhance guideline-based care for stroke patients, ultimately improving and prolonging lives.

People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer  than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face  a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s  presidential advisory on rural health. Altru Hospital Devils Lake is committed to changing that. 

Altru Hospital in Grand Forks has received the American Heart Association’s GetWith The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring  people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized,  research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability. 

The Sanford Health Hankinson Clinicis set to open on Wednesday, July 15. The clinic is located at 112 5th St. SW.

The children who receive care at MercyOne Genesis Bettendorf Pediatric Therapy (GOPEDS) will once again run their version of the Arconic Jr. Bix in the clinic’s parking lot on Thursday, July 16, at 5 p.m.

MercyOne Clinton Medical Center is proud to announce that Air Med services are now available in Clinton. To celebrate this significant expansion of emergency medical transportation services, MercyOne will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, at 10 a.m.

CHI Health St. Francis, in collaboration with CHI Health Clinic Heart Institute, is providing a free community education event focused on cardiovascular wellness. “Update on Hypertension Management” will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 in Conference Room 2/3 at the hospital.

The Essentia Health-South University Clinic is proud to welcome James Cronin, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner in sleep medicine.

Mary Lanning Healthcare recently received awards from the American Heart Association. These included recognition for outstanding stroke care — the 2026 Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Award and the 2026 Rural Stroke Gold Award — and Honor Roll status for stroke  patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes. 

Community Hospital is inviting area residents to wear pink and show their support for cancer awareness during the Pink Out Rodeo at the Red Willow County Fair on Saturday, July 25, beginning at 6 p.m. Community Hospital’s Cancer Awareness Committee has identified the Pink Out Rodeo as one of its community outreach events for 2026.

The South Dakota Health Care Workforce Resource Center continues to serve as a valuable resource for healthcare organizations seeking practical solutions to today’s workforce challenges.

The countdown is on! Registration is now open for the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations’ 100th Annual Convention, taking place September 16–18, 2026, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

24 facilities across South Dakota have received recognition for participation in the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Stroke post-acute care initiative to enhance guideline-based care for stroke patients, ultimately improving and prolonging lives.

Unity Medical Center has received three American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.

Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees met on Monday, June 29, 2026, in the Alliance Room. During the board meeting, leadership celebrated the June Employee of the Month, Registered Respiratory Therapist Toni Girard. They also welcomed new team members including ling requests….

UnityPoint Health (UPH) will proceed with its  previously announced decision to transition certain Revenue Cycle functions to Omega  Healthcare later this year. These changes are part of previously announced efforts to optimize  certain support functions, strengthen long-term financial sustainability, and ensure continued  access to local, high-quality patient care. As a community-based, not-for-profit health system,  resources generated through these efforts will be reinvested in patient care, team members,  and the communities UPH serves.  

People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. Spencer Hospital is committed to changing that.

Central Nebraska Children & Adolescent Clinic (CNC&AC) opened the doors to a new clinic space July 1 in the Mary Lanning Healthcare Medical Office Building.

Sanford Bismarck is offering sports physical events for student-athletes to complete their sports physicals for the 2026-27 school season. Student-athletes are required to get an annual sports physical when participating in school-sanctioned sports and must have their physicals completed before the first day of practice for their sport.

Your genes affect your body in numerous ways. But did you know they can also affect your overall breast cancer risk?

MercyOne Genesis Home Runs for Life honoree Haven Sottos, 10, of Long Grove, Iowa, will be honored during the Quad Cities River Bandits game Friday, July 10.

Avera's Melissa Goff, PharmD and Tom Johnson, PharmD, have been recognized by Becker's Hospital Review's 2026 list of chief pharmacy officers to know.