Avera Health could receive up to $100 million dollars over five years from Indian Health Service to offer provider education and extend its Avera eCare telemedicine to serve 130,000 Native Americans in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

A 42 year old Parkston, South Dakota area man is having dinner with friends when he suddenly develops the classic signs of a stroke. He becomes week, half of his face droops, and he loses the ability to talk. His wife rushes him to the nearest hospital, Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston, where his friend, family physician Jason Wickersham, MD, is waiting.