North Memorial and South Dakota-based Sanford Health merging

May 8, 2026 - 17:29

Three years after a proposed deal with Fairview fell through, South Dakota-based Sanford Health is moving forward with a merger with Robbinsdale-based North Memorial Health. The two health systems announced the plan on Tuesday, stating they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to combine operations.

The merger would create a large regional network spanning Minnesota and the Dakotas. Sanford Health, headquartered in Sioux Falls, operates 47 hospitals and more than 200 clinics across the Upper Midwest. North Memorial runs a Level I trauma center in Robbinsdale, a hospital in Maple Grove, and a network of clinics and emergency rooms in the Twin Cities metro area.

Leaders from both organizations said the goal is to improve access to specialty care, reduce administrative costs, and invest in new technology. They also emphasized that the merger would not result in immediate layoffs or closure of any facilities. Patients should see no disruption in services during the transition.

The deal is subject to regulatory review and final approval from both boards. A formal agreement is expected in the coming months. If completed, the combined system would employ more than 50,000 people and serve patients across a wide rural and urban footprint.

This is not Sanford's first attempt at expansion into Minnesota. In 2022, a proposed merger with Fairview Health Services was called off after months of negotiations, partly due to concerns over market concentration and governance. North Memorial had also explored partnerships in recent years, including a brief affiliation with Allina Health.

The two systems said they share a commitment to community-based care and will work to ensure the merger benefits patients in both urban and rural settings.