Innovation is driving progress in healthcare, from groundbreaking surgical techniques to new ways of enhancing patient experiences. At Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC), we embrace innovation to provide the best possible care close to home. Whether it’s introducing same-day knee replacement surgery, investing in advanced imaging technology or working toward national recognition for excellence, JRMC is committed to improving healthcare for our community.
In this article, originally published byPrairie Business, explore how organizations across the region—including JRMC, Sanford Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota—are leveraging innovation to transform patient care and shape the future of healthcare.
By Carrie McDermott
Every innovation starts with an idea, and at Sanford Health, those ideas come from employees – physicians, nurses, researchers and other team members. The health system prioritizes innovation so highly that it’s been named by Fortune to its list of America’s Most Innovative Companies for the second consecutive year. Of the 200 companies honored on the list, 44 are in health care and 21 are health systems.
Katie Pohlson, vice president of innovation at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, says the organization’s innovation and commercialization program has been around since about 2012.
“A lot of the ideas that come into commercialization start with a physician identifying a problem, disclosing an idea, getting it patented, and then working throughout that process. We’re finally at that stage where many of our ideas are finally coming to the marketplace and they’re getting FDA approval,” she said.
Because they don’t have the internal capability to manufacture new or improved products, Sanford Health collaborates with industry partners to take an idea from prototype to market assessment to pilot testing and finally, commercialization.
In November 2024, Sanford Health opened its Innovation Institute within its Virtual Care Center in Sioux Falls, where it’s packed with resources to enable innovation. An employee can modify or build their invention in the maker lab and test it out in the patient and clinic flex room, which is set up like a standard patient room found in a clinic or hospital. The tests can be recorded and educational videos can be created to show how to use the modified product or illustrate a new workflow.
“We have so many ideas coming from employees. We wanted to be able to test those things out before we deploy them,” Pohlson said. “When we think about innovation, we have eight strategic priorities. We try to diversify our innovation projects among those eight priorities and focus on those with the biggest impact that can be spread across our system.”
JAMESTOWN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) is advancing healthcare services with innovation and improved patient care. Dr. Roxanne Keene, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon and one of the first female surgeons in North Dakota, recently joined the team and introduced same-day knee replacement surgery. This procedure benefits patients and eliminates the need to travel long distances for care.
Dr. Roxanne Keene, JRMC orthopedic surgeon
“Introducing this service is a significant step for us as an organization,” said Michael Delfs, president and CEO of JRMC. “By offering same-day knee replacement, we are attracting a new demographic of patients — those who previously traveled to Fargo for similar treatments — expanding the reach of our services.”
Trisha Jungels, chief nursing officer and vice president at JRMC, emphasized the role of minimally invasive techniques in reducing trauma to soft tissues during the procedure.
“We are also enhancing pain management with the use of nerve blocks, which has allowed many patients to experience up to 50 hours of pain relief post-surgery. This level of pain management enables patients to be mobile soon after surgery, including walking with a walker and climbing stairs, which is encouraged for recovery,” she said.
The advanced pain management approach aligns with broader efforts to reduce opioid use in healthcare. Delfs added, “The ability to offer pain relief for up to 50 hours without opioids aligns with our commitment to providing high-quality patient care, and it’s an approach not yet adopted by all hospitals.”
Dr. Keene has brought a new level of energy and confidence to the JRMC team, Jungels noted. The introduction of same-day knee replacement began with rigorous preparation, including mock surgeries and training sessions
to ensure seamless teamwork.
“Dr. Keene’s leadership has instilled confidence in our team, reaffirming that we can continue to deliver excellent care and improve outcomes for our community,” Jungels said.
Trisha Jungels, JRMC chief nursing officer
In addition to the surgical advancements, JRMC is working toward earning the prestigious Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which will make it the first hospital in North Dakota to receive this recognition. This designation highlights the hospital’s commitment to fostering a healthy workplace for staff, which supports recruitment and retention.
Further enhancing its offerings, JRMC added a second hyperbaric oxygen chamber in March and recently upgraded to a state-of-the-art MRI machine. This new equipment provides clearer images, faster scan times, and a more comfortable experience for patients.
“We are embracing innovation because it is what our patients need and expect from us,” said Delfs.
Mike Delfs, JRMC president and CEO
BCBSND
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is the largest health insurance provider in the state, and leading the way in innovation for this sector.
CEO Dan Conrad said as the largest health insurer in the state, it’s incumbent on them to look for ways to make the health care system better and more affordable. Two ways BCBSND is doing that are with key initiatives such as the new VitellaCare Clinics and a new app called BCBSND.me.
VitellaCare advanced primary care clinics, managed by Crossover Health, aim to simplify health care, ensure affordability, and elevate well-being by providing integrated, team-based primary care with a new reimbursement model focused on quality. The clinics are currently located in Grand Forks and Minot, with plans for a third coming to West Fargo in 2025.
“We hope it’s a better experience for our customers and we hope it’s an experience that gets in front of those more expensive chronic conditions,” Conrad said.
The lack of primary care access in North Dakota created an opportunity to offer something different for residents. What sets their model apart is not just the enhanced care experience, but also a new reimbursement system focused on the quality of care and overall health of members, rather than the quantity of services provided, he said. By combining this new approach with better care, they hope to gather data that shows the model’s effectiveness, encouraging other providers to follow suit.
The new BCBSND.me app launched in January and features a dashboard of all sorts of health-related topics. It has alerts to keep members healthy and can connect to an Apple Watch or other devices.
“It helps prompt you on things that you might not be thinking of with your health care, such as, why don’t you make an appointment with VitellaCare, or why don’t you make an appointment with your primary care provider,” Conrad said. “It gets folks thinking about that and makes it easier for them to manage their understanding of their health care and to manage their health care. We’re pretty excited, and the response has been stronger than we expected.”
