SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Sanford Health and the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society have agreed to merge.
Good Sam members on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to approve the merger. It is now pending regulatory approval.
Sanford and Good Sam are two of Sioux Falls largest employers. The Society has 19,000 employees in 24 states. Sanford 28,000 employees in nine states.
“Our membership affirms what we believed at the onset of our discussions with Sanford,” says Society CEO David Horazdovsky, “By bringing the expertise of the professionals at the Society together with the health care experts at Sanford, not only will there be benefits for those we serve but also the organizations are stronger together.”
Sanford President and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft sees the big merger leading the way.
“This forward-thinking plan will become a national model to serve communities with exceptional care and value through the full spectrum of one’s life,” says Krabbenhoft, “Leaders at the Good Samaritan Society should be commended for their visionary strategies in joining with Sanford to create this cutting-edge opportunity.”
The goal is to bring the organizations together by the first of next year.