When the World Changes, Opportunities for Growth Come Forward

Nothing will ever be the same. The idea of returning to pre-COVID-19 conditions seems less plausible every day. Nearly every business model has had to transform seemingly overnight, and hospitals and health systems are at center stage in the real-time drama that will change the way we promote, deliver, finance, and engage in healthcare for years to come.This is the next normal, the starting point for the future. Planning for Avera Health's future has taken on a new level of excitement. Emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, we are finding opportunities. We are learning how to do our work differently and better. We are exploring new partnerships and areas of business that will add to our mission work. We are focusing on the patient-consumer experience. We are shaping a new future. The notion of a new future terrifies some people-they would rather hold on to the past. At Avera, we see this as our chance to create a future to our specifications. All we have to do is let go of yesterday and dream about what tomorrow can be.Our first action was to reassess our five-year strategic plan, unveiled shortly before the pandemic. We initially thought that the plan had been stymied. What we discovered is that it has actually been accelerated. Our organization has become more agile, focused, and sustainable. Growth has been redefined as deepening our relationship with patients to increase lifetime loyalty and creating efficiencies to bend the cost curve for patients and allow Avera to expand services and service areas. This strategy puts people first, makes healthcare more affordable, and modernizes the doctor-patient relationship.