Sanford, MeritCare Merger Creates Giant Health System in the Dakotas

MeritCare President/CEO Roger Gilbertson, MD, who is retiring in the coming weeks, says "together Sanford and MeritCare will bring the full potential of an integrated care system to the benefit of patients, communities, employees, and physicians. It will add value for patients, be proactive in healthcare reform, attract talent, including physicians, nurses, health professionals, and others, who will significantly advance the sophistication and comprehensiveness of services offered, and promote economic development in our communities."

Bruce Morgan, a principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP, says the merger will give both health systems an economy of scale. "It will have the ability to increase its level of efficiency and healthcare delivery for a very broad population in large contiguous service areas, and expand research activities and education programs for further improvement," Morgan says.

Sanford Health and MeritCare will each have seven representatives on the board of trustees. Organizational structures will be similar in the two regions with regional leaders assigned to respective medical centers, clinics, and networks. Development and research programs will have leadership in both regions.