Sanford Health, the nation's largest nonprofit rural healthcare system, launched Profile by Sanford weight loss clinics in October 2012 in Sioux Falls, SD. Since then, clinics have opened in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Sanford Health hopes to have 100+ locations operating in most of the United States within the next three to five years. Profile by Sanford is not particularly innovative; it focuses on three core areas: nutrition, activity, and lifestyle. Every member receives an individualized plan with each of those core areas.
Understanding Sanford Health
Sanford Health is a prominent healthcare provider, particularly in the rural United States. It offers classes and support groups at many locations. Recognizing the prevalence of obesity, especially in rural areas where an estimated 40% of the population is affected, Sanford Health proactively addresses this issue.
Profile by Sanford: A Retail Approach to Weight Loss
Profile by Sanford represents a new dynamic in healthcare. A nonprofit health system has developed a nonprofit subsidiary to challenge well-established, well-run, for-profit players for a piece of the hyper-competitive $60 billion weight-loss industry. This initiative is significant because it addresses the acute problem of overweight and obesity in rural areas, where Sanford Health sees the dire consequences firsthand. Additionally, a successful weight-loss program builds brand value and customer loyalty, providing an excellent route for traditional providers to enter retail healthcare. These store-front operations do not require a lot of capital investment or high-salaried personnel and promote their brand beyond the walls of the hospitals.
Retail in a Clinical Setting
Sanford takes an approach that is a combination of retail in a clinical setting, locating mostly in more retail environments, primarily neighborhood-type settings near the grocery store, for convenient access for members.
Cost and Value
There is a $300 annual membership fee, and new members are given a scale that measures weight, body fat percentage, bone density, and hydration. The "meal replacement products" cost $40 to $80 a week.
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No health plans cover Profiles. However, the annual membership fee is cut in half if clients are referred by physicians. In addition, Profiles cultivates employer partner programs that allow employees to purchase meal replacement products at a 20% discount. "The majority of our members are activated through employer partner programs," Malloy says.
Measuring Success
Having operated for a little more than 18 months, Profiles has grown from 50 members to more than 5,000 members. Many members stick with the program not just for one year but stay engaged in a second year after they'd lost the weight in what they call their sustained phase.
Available Services
Sanford Weight Loss Clinic offers a range of services tailored to individual needs. These include:
- Individualized Plans: Every member receives an individualized plan with each of those core areas: nutrition, activity, and lifestyle.
- Obesity Medicine: Sanford Weight Management Center is able to prescribe FDA-approved medication for weight loss to help patients lose weight safely and effectively and not only lose the weight but keep it off.
Success Stories
Marty Vodochodsky signed up for the program and made an appointment with Abdulwahab. Vodochodsky said not to be afraid to start. Vodochodsky is actually the weight he was in college. One patient was ecstatic the minute she was able to walk into the standard-size women’s department and buy the standard-size clothes. One patient is off cholesterol medication and blood pressure medication.
Addressing Disabilities and Promoting Well-being
The Center for Disabilities, located in Sioux Falls, SD, is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to advocating for increased self-determination, independence, and a satisfying quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. Established in 1971, the center offers a wide range of programs and services, including community education, clinical services, interdisciplinary training, technical assistance, research, information dissemination, and policy advocacy work. Their mission is to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities across South Dakota, the region, and the nation, with a focus on promoting independence, productivity, and community inclusion. As part of the University Centers for Excellence in Development Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDS) network, the Center for Disabilities is committed to providing interdisciplinary training and services through their Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. This program aims to enhance the health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities by preparing trainees from diverse professional disciplines to assume leadership roles in their respective fields.
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