Focus on patients drives innovation, growth at Avera Heart Hospital

This piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

For 25 years, Avera Heart Hospital has followed a singular vision to provide the best possible heart and vascular care in the nation, right here at home.

“Today, we lead the region in innovation and excellence,” said Mick Gibbs, Avera Heart Hospital president and CEO. “At the Avera Heart Hospital, we don’t treat conditions — we pioneer the treatments of tomorrow, bringing hope through groundbreaking innovation.”

McKennan Hospital launched cardiac services and open heart surgeries in 1988 and a decade later planned for the first specialty heart and vascular hospital in the state and region. The Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota, which opened in 2001, is a joint venture between North Central Heart and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.

Patient-centered care and innovation are hallmarks of this vision. “We continue to inspire one another,” Gibbs said. “No one on our team is more important than anyone else. We work together as one to touch the lives of each patient.”

Innovations in heart and vascular care

Avera has a long list of innovations in heart and vascular care:

• Planet Heart screenings introduced in 2008 and currently at 25 locations.
• First in the region to offer the Watchman Device to patients.
• First in the world to perform a Pounce™ thrombectomy in 2021.
• First to offer pulse field ablation technology to treat atrial fibrillation in the Dakotas and Nebraska in 2024.
• First to implement the TriClip device in the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska in 2024.
• First EVOQUE Valve implanted in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa or Nebraska in 2025.
• First drug-coated balloon used in Sioux Falls in 2025.
• First in the U.S. to combine cardiovascular screening (Planet Heart) and genetic testing.

The hospital and its expert team serve patients with complete cardiac, electrophysiologic, thoracic and vascular care, including everything from prevention and diagnostic imaging to interventional cardiology and complex surgical procedures. A 24/7 emergency department specializes in cardiovascular events such as heart attack and chest pain.

Vascular specialists offer carotid artery stenting, abdominal aortic aneurysm fixes, treatment of peripheral arterial disease and other leg and extremity stenting, including for wound care and limb preservation.

The hospital supports patients in services ranging from critical care to cardiac catheterization, laboratory, cardiac rehab and specialized imaging.

Currently under construction is a 35,000-square-foot addition to house high-end diagnostic imaging services, including cardiac MRI, PET CT, SPECT scan, nuclear stress testing and echo/vascular sonography.

Another recent remodeling and expansion project added 40 percent more clinic exam space, capacity for outpatient surgery, a sixth catheterization lab and updated patient rooms.

Outreach serves a large footprint

Each month, North Central Heart physicians and advanced practice providers travel to 30 outreach sites, including in the Sioux City and Dakota Dunes area. Many of these sites are visited multiple times per month, totaling an average of 95 in-person consultation days.

In addition, the team interprets cardiac diagnostic studies for more than 60 facilities. From echocardiograms and stress testing to ECGs, North Central Heart provides remote study interpretation, ensuring that patients in smaller communities receive the same care they would in Sioux Falls.

“This combination of in-person presence and remote diagnostic support allows patients to receive high-level cardiovascular care where they live while strengthening partnerships with rural providers,” said Tom Babb, CEO of North Central Heart. “For us, outreach is not extra work — it’s a core commitment to equitable, accessible cardiac care for every community we serve.”

Research drives treatment options

Avera Heart Hospital has received numerous quality recognitions, including national top 100 lists and as a five-star facility.

“We’ve always sought to elevate cardiac and vascular services – to do that one thing very well,” said Cheryl Osmond, Avera Heart Hospital vice president of clinical services. “We are proud of our work but also proud of the collaborative cardiac care we provide.”

Osmond was among the first employees of the hospital in 2000. She said of all the leading-edge procedures, innovative technology and talented medical staff, one thing stands out.

“Our employees make us great,” she said. “In our employee surveys, we ask ‘Would you recommend us for yourself or your family?’ – the most common response is yes.”

Learn more about Avera’s innovation at Avera.org/Balance.