Avera Health

Avera, located in Sioux Falls, S.D., is the health ministry of the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters. The institution serves the people of eastern South Dakota and surrounding states with hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other health services at more than 100 locations. The organization has equipped its intensive care units with advanced equipment and has a team of specially trained physicians who specialize in caring for critically ill patients. It also has a staff of critical care nurses to constantly monitor patient conditions at numerous Avera sites through several computers and powerful, real-time cameras. Information such as patients' vital signs, medications, x-rays and test results are sent to the operations center via secure, high-speed data lines. Computers continuously analyze the information, helping the specialists recognize changes in patient conditions for early intervention through coordination with on-site physicians and nurses.