HRH explores affiliation with Avera Health

The Board of Directors at Hawarden Regional Healthcare has signed a letter of intent to begin the process of evaluating an affiliation with Avera Health.

Hawarden Regional Healthcare had a longstanding relationship with MercyOne health system. The recent announcement of MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center being purchased by Unity Point Health caused the board to explore their options with other health systems that are more local and have aligned values.

The board and senior leadership team is taking the next 90 days to perform due diligence, which is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2025.

“It is the mission of Hawarden Regional Healthcare is to provide the highest quality health care to the people and communities we serve. We are taking this time to evaluate if a partnership with Avera will further that mission. We will continue to be a city-owned hospital with local control and determine if Avera is the right fit,” said Board President Matt Hummel.

“We are evaluating how an Avera relationship could add value to Hawarden, assisting us to provide even better care to our patients, maintaining a high level of satisfaction with employees and attracting and retaining quality providers.” said Jayson Pullman, Chief Executive Officer of Hawarden Regional Healthcare.

Avera representatives will be making numerous visits to the facility to identify how they may share their resources with Hawarden. Leaders from Hawarden will also be visiting Avera Health in Sioux Falls to understand the full potential that an affiliation could produce.

Avera Health covers a geographic footprint of 72,000 square miles with 315 locations in 100 communities across five states in the Upper Midwest. That includes eight affiliated hospital campuses in Iowa.