Sanford Health Eyes More Growth in Ghana

Sanford Health has more than doubled its locations in Ghana in the past three months thanks to a public-private partnership with the national government in the African country.

Ghana Health Services recently transitioned 12 of its facilities in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana to Sanford World Clinics. These locations were operating under the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Program, which was designed to deliver primary health care services at convenient community locations. The existing clinics were refurbished by Sanford during the transition with facility enhancements, the addition of internet service, establishment of a reliable water source and installation of power backup options.

Sanford assumed responsibility for operations in these government-owned clinics, focusing on improvement of clinical practices, appropriate staffing and creating a reliable supply of medications and medical supplies. It also further expanded the care delivery system by installing an electronic medical records system along with implementing telehealth technology.

Sanford World Clinics currently has 17 operational sites in Ghana and a newly constructed facility scheduled to open in the Ashanti Region this summer. The George & Angelina Owusu Medical Campus will open as a primary level hospital, providing 24-hour outpatient services. The Owusu Medical Campus is the first primary hospital location for Sanford and will be its first facility established in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

The Sanford World Clinic care delivery system in Ghana relies on a hub-and-spoke model, using telemedicine technology to deploy care to the more rural clinic sites. Enhanced electronic medical records and networking capabilities allow for connectivity among Sanford’s clinics.

“The care delivery system we have implemented has proven incredibly effective in Ghana; when we can care for the whole family, everyone benefits,” said Jim Slack, vice president for Sanford World Clinics. “It is exciting to realize that many of the strategies we are using in Ghana, including telemedicine, are setting the stage for improved access to health care in the country.”

Growth in Ghana has also been accompanied by collaborations with other groups working to improve health care. Earlier this month, Sanford World Clinics announced a partnership with Global Health Corps (GHC) to develop professionals and implement best practices for health care in Ghana. Sanford plans to hire and place alumni from GHC’s fellowship program at Sanford World Clinic sites in Ghana.

Through its collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Health and other partnerships with groups like Global Health Corps, Sanford World Clinics could open as many 300 clinics in Africa in the next decade.

Sanford World Clinics launched in 2007 as an initiative to develop clinics around the United States and world in areas that lack adequate primary care services. Domestic sites include Duncan, Oklahoma; Oceanside, California; and Klamath Falls, Oregon. In addition to the 18 Ghana locations, international locations are also in Kunming, China, and Munich, Germany.

About Sanford Health 
Sanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas. It is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 43 hospitals and nearly 250 clinics in nine states and four countries. Sanford Health’s 27,000 employees, including 1,400 physicians, make it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford have allowed for several initiatives, including global children's clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. For more information, visit sanfordhealth.org.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (PRWEB) MARCH 03, 2016