Sanford Health’s new chief transformation officer is preparing to integrate the organization’s health plan and provider operations, leveraging insights from his previous role leading the payer side. Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, who transitioned from president and CEO of Sanford Health Plan to the enterprise-wide position earlier this month, is overseeing technology, digital strategy, AI, data analytics, and the research arm at the Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based system.
Breaking Down Payer-Provider Barriers
Ibrahim said that traditional barriers between payer and provider have largely dissolved following Sanford Health Plan’s recent expansion through mergers with Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan. “We’ve now really moved towards shared governance and accountability with a core set of KPIs by which we’re measuring our success,” Ibrahim stated. The remaining challenge, he noted, centers on change management—engaging clinicians through governance and redesigning workflows to transition the organization responsibly between fee-for-service and value-based care models.
AI and Workflow Efficiency
Ibrahim identified artificial intelligence deployment as a key priority, highlighting existing successes in clinical decision support and back-office automation. According to Ibrahim, AI-embedded tools in revenue cycle and other operations saved the workforce over 25,000 hours in 2025, with projections to save over 45,000 hours throughout 2026. He outlined plans to target high-ROI areas including revenue cycle, care management, and nursing workflows through vertical process redesign over the next three to five years, beginning with revenue cycle.
New Governance Structure
Ibrahim serves as one of three chairs on a newly created value-based care committee, alongside Chief Operating Officer Matt Hocks and Chief Financial Officer Nick Olson. This committee operates at a system-wide level, focusing on value-based care across all payers rather than just Sanford Health Plan’s 400,000+ members. The initiative will evaluate Alternative Payment Models and newer CMS programs like ACCESS and ACO LEAD. Ibrahim projected returns and measurable improvements within 12 to 24 months, with significant transformation expected over the next five years.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newsweek.com/sanfords-new-cto-shares-early-plans-for-health-plan-provider-integration-access-health-11401697