Good Samaritan Society Membership approves combining with Sanford

Fergus Falls Daily Journal (MN)

July 13--The journey to bring The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and Sanford together as a combined enterprise has cleared a major milestone. The society membership has overwhelmingly voted to approve the restated articles of incorporation resulting in both organizations being able to sign the new affiliation agreement, combining the two organizations as one, pending completion of the regulatory review process.

"One key observation I have of the challenges facing health-care delivery and how it has evolved during the past 50 years in my own hands-on-care delivery experience is simply this; change. We are, and have experienced significant change in every nook and cranny affecting our lives, and how we receive and deliver health care will also need to continue changing for us to meet the growing needs of a rapidly expanding senior population," Jim Wolf, administrator of Good Samaritan Society-Battle Lake, said. "The affiliation with Sanford has the potential to combine the best of both organizations and provide an efficient delivery of care across the lifespan for the people we serve. This combined organization can also leverage its size to help create stability in today's uncertain health care marketplace, serving more people and cultivating the sharing of best practices while still empowering employees and those receiving services."

The society has 19,000 employees in 24 states providing senior care services, while Sanford has 28,000 employees in nine states offering clinic, hospital and health insurance services. Both are headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sanford is one of the largest health-care systems in the nation, with 44 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and serving the Upper Midwest, with nearly 1,400 physicians, Sanford is dedicated to several initiatives, including global children's clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for Type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. Sanford has 28,000 employees, making it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford over the past decade have transformed how Sanford can improve the human condition. For information, visit sanfordhealth.org.

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is one of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations providing innovative senior care and services with more than 200 locations nationwide. The society offers post-acute, skilled nursing and home- and community-based services, as well as senior living and affordable housing communities. Founded in 1922, the mission is to share God's love in word and deed by providing shelter and supportive services to older persons and others in need, believing that "In Christ's love, everyone is someone." For more information, visit good-sam.com.

The two not-for-profit organizations have spent considerable time seeking to discover ways to better serve communities. Sanford and society leaders found each organization wants a more integrated, community-based health system with the opportunity to serve and care for individuals through the entire span of life.

"Our membership affirms what we believed at the onset of our discussions with Sanford," David J. Horazdovsky, president and CEO of the Good Samaritan Society said. "By bringing the expertise of the professionals at the society together with the health care experts at Sanford, not only will there be benefits for those we serve but also the organizations are stronger together."

"This forward-thinking plan will become a national model to serve communities with exceptional care and value through the full spectrum of one's life," Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sanford said. "Leaders at the Good Samaritan Society should be commended for their visionary strategies in joining with Sanford to create this cutting-edge opportunity."

Each organization's governing board has previously approved the affiliation. The membership vote clears the way to begin the regulatory review process. The membership is made up of mostly current society executives and location administrators and executive directors/managers, with a number of former society employees who have remained in the membership. The goal is to bring the organizations together by Jan. 1, 2019.

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