OREANDA-NEWS.   Sanford Health, the largest rural, not-for-profit health care system in the United States, and GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today announced a 10-year comprehensive service agreement that will enable Sanford to focus on its expanding healthcare capabilities while GE Healthcare drives efficient, standardized operations across Sanford’s growing network. GE Healthcare will work with Sanford to deliver USD 44.6 million in operational savings over the full term of the contract by optimizing clinical assets and increasing efficiencies.

Sanford has more than doubled in size since a 2007 merger with Fargo-based MeritCare, and plans to invest significantly over the next decade to expand care for cancer, heart disease and orthopedics. GE Healthcare and Sanford Health, which includes 39 hospitals and 225 clinic locations, will work together to increase productivity through the integration of multiple biomedical engineering and radiology departments, several fleets of clinical equipment and workflow for all staff, with the goal of achieving a right-sized fleet across the network.

“We believe the best and least expensive way to care for patients is to centralize clinics and hospitals to share equipment and expertise,” said Randy Bury, Sanford’s Chief Administrative Officer. “With the dynamic growth we are experiencing, we know there are opportunities to better integrate our departments, optimize workflow across our locations, standardize operations and ensure we have the right amount of technology for patient care. Through this iconic partnership, we believe GE Healthcare will help us achieve our operational outcome goals and pursue expansion efficiently. We also feel they are the right cultural fit for our organization.”

GE Healthcare will deliver annual operational savings through optimized maintenance, mobile asset optimization and lifecycle planning. GE Healthcare will also help Sanford achieve its quality and safety outcome goals by increasing asset utilization, avoiding unplanned downtime and enhancing the cleanliness and distribution of assets.