Sanford Bemidji Medical Center is a 118-bed hospital that serves as the region’s largest hospital and a rural healthcare hub for northern Minnesota, with Sanford Health having invested more than $100 million to expand access to specialty care in the area including behavioral health, cardiology, orthopedics, pulmonology and oncology, collectively serving more than 176,000 people. In 2025, the Minnesota Hospital Association awarded Sanford Bemidji five awards including the “High Reliability Organization Award,” “Community Collaboration in Addressing Social Determinants of Health Award,” “Quality & Safety Improvement Award,” “Editorial Excellence Award” and “Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace Award.” The hospital received the Healthgrades “Patient Safety Excellence Award” in 2026, maintained its 4-star CMS rating in 2025, and was named one of “America’s Best Maternity Hospitals” for 2025 by Newsweek and Statista. In January 2026, the hospital launched a 24/7 naloxone distribution program in partnership with Sanford Bagley (Minn.) Medical Center, distributing more than 120 kits in the first quarter alone, contributing to zero reported overdose deaths in the Beltrami County region during that period. Since 2023, 9,800 clients have used the hospital’s virtual behavioral health program, with more than 8,800 having never accessed behavioral health services before. Sanford Bemidji annually provides more than $1 million to local nonprofit partners and supports more than 40 programs addressing social determinants of health.
