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For the 30th consecutive year, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been recognized by Business Record readers as Best Health Insurance Company. This milestone demonstrates Wellmark's ongoing commitment to serving its more than two million members as a leading health insurance company headquartered in Iowa and South Dakota. It comes at a time when employers continue to manage increasing health care costs and employees are seeking clearer, more convenient ways to understand and use their coverage.

Tommy Ibrahim, M.D., MBA, MHA, executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Sanford Health, will join national healthcare and research leaders at the Newsweek AI Health Summit Sept. 23 in New York City.

A coalition of construction and industry leaders is coming together to champion workforce health through the 2026 Sioux Falls Hard Hats with Heart campaign. Led by Event Chair Megan Barkley with L. G. Everist, Inc. and an Executive Leadership Team of local business and community leaders, the initiative supports the American Heart Association's efforts to help workers build healthier habits, increase awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors and strengthen emergency preparedness across the industry.

Sanford Health is expanding access to care in Williston through the addition of new providers, specialty outreach care and enhanced access to primary care, pediatrics, cardiology and women's health services.

With the arrival of fall, CHI Health Good Samaritan is alerting the community of a 'silent epidemic' that threatens the independence of millions of older adults: accidental falls.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MercyOne Genesis and the MercyOne Genesis Foundation will host the 6th Annual Gather for the Cure on Sunday, October 18, at Scott County Park, Whispering Pines Indoor Shelter.

Essentia Health-Fargo is proud to welcome hospitalist Dr. Adhanom Beyene.

"I chose Essentia Health because I was impressed by the people I met, the collaborative environment and the organization's strong emphasis on patient-centered care and its core values," said Dr. Beyene. "I was looking for a place where I could grow as a hospitalist, work with a supportive team and provide compassionate, high-quality care to my patients."

The National Institutes of Health awarded $11,090,204 over five years to establish the South Dakota Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Research (SD-ACT), a statewide partnership among Avera Research Institute, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.

The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) is pleased to announce Brice Jager has joined the organization as vice president of cybersecurity, a newly created leadership role that reflects IHA's commitment to strengthening cybersecurity programs, services and support for Iowa hospitals and healthcare organizations.

Sanford Bismarck has donated three operating room (OR) beds to Bismarck State College (BSC), providing surgical technology students with hands-on learning opportunities in a realistic clinical setting and strengthening the future healthcare workforce in North Dakota.

It can cost you money not to review your Medicare Part D drug coverage annually. In one hour, a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor can complete a review and let you know if you can save money and make sure you have access to the medications you need.

Brookings Health System recently completed a $1.3 million upgrade to all three surgical suites at Brookings Hospital. By integrating the latest technology, Brookings Health continues to ensure patient safety while increasing staff efficiency during operating procedures.

Essentia Health-Fargo is excited to welcome emergency medicine physician Dr. Andre Morales.

Sanford Health is making it easier and more convenient for patients to access same-day care with the launch of Reserve My Spot, a new online scheduling option available through My Sanford Chart at select walk-in locations.

Sanford Bismarck and the Sanford Health Foundation unveiled the Sanford David D. Miller Surgery Center, recognizing the extraordinary generosity and lasting impact of longtime donor David Miller.

The Iowa Clinic has relocated its Plastic Surgery and Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery departments to a new location at 1121 Jordan Creek Parkway, Suite 180, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized five individuals and teams for their outstanding contributions to children, families and behavioral health services during the 2026 Behavioral Health & Children and Family Services Conference.

UnityPoint Health® – Trinity Heart Center has become the first health system in the Quad Cities to use a new FDA-approved technology to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common type of heart rhythm disorder.

A stroke can change life in an instant, affecting everything from walking and speaking to memory, mood and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Recovery often continues for months or even years as survivors of stroke work to regain independence and quality of life. A new guideline from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, emphasizes that every person who has a stroke should receive a personalized assessment and begin rehabilitation during their hospital stay once they are medically stable, supported by a team of specialists who can address physical, cognitive, communication and emotional challenges throughout recovery. The 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery was published today in the Association’s peer-reviewed scientific journal Stroke.

A 19-ton, 346-foot-tall crane will dominate the skyline on the west side of Mary Lanning Healthcare from Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, as part of a project to place new air handlers onto the MLH roof.

Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC), KRVN, and Plum Creek Market Place invite the community to attend PinkFest 2026 on Wednesday, September 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Plum Creek Market Place in Lexington. This free community event brings together education, entertainment, shopping, food, family activities, and fundraising to support local individuals and families affected by cancer.

We're just three weeks away from SDAHO's 2026 Annual Convention, September 16–18 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center! If you haven't registered yet, now is the time to do so, and join us as we celebrate A Century Strong: Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future.

Recruiting great employees is only the beginning. Keeping them engaged, supported and growing within your organization is just as important.

Nearly 63 million Americans—almost 1 in 4 U.S. adults—provide unpaid care to a family member or friend with a complex medical condition or disability. Caregivers of adults alone provide an estimated 49.5 billion hours of unpaid care each year, valued at more than $1 trillion.

Last month, from The SDAHO Vault we looked back at the first 25 years of the South Dakota Hospital Association, from its beginnings in 1926 through 1951. This month, we're opening the vault again and moving ahead 50 years — from 1952 to 2001.

New findings from the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative's Iowa Produce Prescription Program (IPPP) show participants increased their fruit and vegetable consumption, improved food security and reported high levels of program satisfaction, adding to a growing body of evidence supporting Food Is Medicine approaches.

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Children's Nebraska in its 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals rankings in the specialties of Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pediatric Orthopedics and Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has received the American College of Cardiology's NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2026 making 15 consecutive years receiving the honor. Rapid City Hospital is one of only 350 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor, with fewer maintaining Platinum-level performance for 15 consecutive years.

To help address Nebraska and Iowa's growing need for pharmacists, Clarkson College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy have created a new program that offers students a streamlined pathway to a career in pharmacy. It's called the Early Assurance Program.

Each year in the United States, at least 1.7 million adults develop sepsis, resulting in at least 350,000 deaths. To protect lives, CHI Health Good Samaritan and CHI Health St. Francis are raising awareness on how to identify and respond to this critical medical emergency.