Sanford Health to Open Pediatric Clinic in Yunnan

KUNMING, China — Sanford Health, a nonprofit integrated health care delivery system based in Sioux Falls, N.D., announced they are working to develop a pediatric clinic in Kunming, China.

The project is part of Sanford Health’s World Clinic Initiative, which was initially developed in 2007 to build pediatric clinics in the U.S. and throughout the world in areas that lack sufficient primary care services. However, as the initiative continued, Sanford extended the health services provided by the initiative to accommodate families rather than solely children.

The organization will partner with YMCI Calmette Medical Investment and Management Company, a state-owned company of the Yunnan Provincial government. The companies identified a significant need in Kunming, as the population has grown to more than 6 million.

“Kunming, particularly the area surrounding the pediatric clinic, is experiencing significant growth with tremendous numbers of young families. With this growth comes the increased need for health care,” said Li Li, MD, YMCI Calmette’s general manager. “We look forward to working with Sanford to provide care to children of this rapidly expanding region of China.”

The two-story, 18,000-square-foot Sanford World Clinic in Kunming will have the capacity to hold up to 10 primary care physicians, according to Sanford Health. YMC Calmette will own the clinic while Sanford Health will manage the day-to-day operations and medical services.

“The decision to expand into China stems from our goal to expand health care services to areas of need, especially where children need health care. This clinic also allows us to better understand how health care is delivered and financed around the world,” said Dave Link, Sanford’s senior executive vice president. “We are confident that we can assist YMCI Calmette achieve its mission to deliver the best care in the region, and we look forward to this collaboration.”

YMCI Calmette is also developing a 1,100-bed hospital in northern Kunming, which will include a consolidated and expanded outpatient pediatric clinic in collaboration with Sanford Health. The hospital and the pediatric clinic are projected to open in spring 2014.

Sanford World Clinics has opened domestic facilities in Oklahoma, California and Oregon, and four international clinics in Ghana.