Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has taken a strong interest in the new Sanford Health. 

Gingrich leads an organization in Washington, D.C. called Center for Health Transformation. It'll act as sort of a consultant for Sanford as it begins molding its new vision. 

Sanford Health has a 400 million dollar gift, thanks to philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. Now Newt Gingrich will help the hospital fulfill its dream of becoming one of the premier health care facilities in the world. 

"There aren't many times in your career somebody walks in and says we've been given this enormous opportunity to think through the future of the health system," said Gingrich. 

Gingrich spent the past day and a half touring the Sanford Hospital and meeting its staff. And now that it's has become the latest member of Center for Health Transformation, an organization with 90 other institutions and health care facilities, he wants Sanford to tap into those resources. 

"The first thing we've said to them there are a number of places they should go that are best of class, people who are first rate, bench mark against them and learn from them," said Gingrich at a press conference at Business Aviation.
 
When the hospital made its announcement it was transforming from Sioux Valley into Sanford Health back in February, one of its initiatives was to identify one health issue on which to focus research. It has yet to make that decision. 

"We'll be looking to individuals outside the health care industry and practices for what is applicable to our goals as we become the new Sanford," said Becky Nelson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operation's Officer of Sanford Health. 

Gingrich's initial advice? 

"I have a very clear bias, more into technology, more wireless, more awareness of scientific change, more focus on responsive in areas of preventive health care, wellness and early intervention, all of those things we had good conversations on, very responsive in all of them," said Gingrich. 

The next step for Sanford staff will be to put together a top ten list of goals and then bounce them off the Center for Health Transformation.